Kitchen Manager

Kitchen Manager
Head Pinz & Fast Trax Entertainment Centers

Department: Food & Beverage / Kitchen
Location: Head Pinz and Fast Trax Entertainment Centers (All Locations)
Reports To: Food & Beverage Manager, Assistant General Manager, or General Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt

About Us

Head Pinz and Fast Trax Entertainment Centers are premier, family-friendly entertainment destinations offering bowling, arcade attractions, food and beverage, and high-energy experiences for guests of all ages. Our operations are built on a commitment to safety, sanitation, and operational accountability, with strong back-of-house leadership ensuring consistent quality and compliance.

About the Role

The Kitchen Manager is a full-time, exempt leadership position responsible for leading all back-of-house kitchen operations at Head Pinz and Fast Trax Entertainment Centers across all locations. This role places primary emphasis on food safety, sanitation, regulatory compliance, and risk prevention while overseeing kitchen staff, enforcing health department standards, and maintaining a clean, organized, and hazard-free kitchen environment. The Kitchen Manager supports efficient service execution and quality control through disciplined operational leadership.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Food Safety, Sanitation & Risk Management (Primary Responsibility)

• Enforce all food safety, sanitation, and hygiene standards in compliance with local, state, and federal health regulations.
• Maintain accountability for temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and proper food storage, labeling, and dating.
• Conduct routine kitchen safety inspections and ensure corrective action for hazards, equipment issues, or procedural gaps.
• Ensure proper use and maintenance of kitchen equipment, knives, fryers, ovens, and appliances.
• Lead incident response and documentation for kitchen-related injuries, safety violations, or health concerns.
• Maintain readiness for health department inspections and audits at all times.

Kitchen Operations & Staff Oversight

• Supervise, train, and schedule kitchen staff to maintain safe and efficient operations.
• Enforce opening, mid-shift, and closing kitchen checklists.
• Ensure consistent execution of recipes, portion standards, and presentation guidelines.
• Coordinate food preparation, prep schedules, and line flow to support service demands.
• Monitor cleanliness and organization of all back-of-house areas.

Compliance, Inventory & Cost Controls

• Ensure compliance with company policies, SOPs, and operational standards.
• Oversee inventory management, ordering, receiving, storage, and rotation of food products.
• Monitor waste, spoilage, and food costs while maintaining safety and quality standards.
• Ensure proper disposal of grease, waste, and expired products according to regulations.

Leadership, Training & Accountability

• Lead by example through visible presence, professionalism, and strict policy enforcement.
• Train and coach kitchen staff on food safety, sanitation, and operational procedures.
• Enforce accountability, corrective action, and discipline in alignment with company policy.
• Collaborate with FOH leadership to maintain safe food flow and service timing.

Administrative & Reporting Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate food safety logs, temperature records, and inspection documentation.
• Communicate maintenance needs, equipment issues, and supply concerns to management.
• Support menu rollouts, specials, and operational changes as directed.
• Participate in leadership meetings and operational planning as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 2-4 years of kitchen leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety regulations and sanitation standards.
• Experience leading teams in high-volume food service environments.
• Serv Safe or equivalent food safety certification preferred.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

• Ability to stand and work in a kitchen environment for extended periods.
• Frequent bending, lifting, reaching, and repetitive motions.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in hot, fast-paced kitchen environments and flexible hours.