Pei Wei Asian Diner, LLC-Restaurant Shift Leader

Shift Leader

The Shift Leader supports restaurant management by leading daily shift operations, coaching team members, ensuring excellent guest service, and maintaining Pei Wei Asian Kitchen standards for food quality, safety, cleanliness, and hospitality. This role is responsible for assisting with both front-of-house and back-of-house execution and may lead the restaurant in the absence of management. Success in this position requires strong communication, accountability, operational knowledge, and the ability to guide team members in a fast-paced restaurant environment.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Lead team members during assigned shifts through coaching, delegation, follow-up, and verification of tasks.
• Support front-of-house and back-of-house operations and assist at stations as business needs require.
• Follow and execute shift responsibilities, including opening, closing, administrative tasks, reporting, checklists, and shift handoff communication.
• Support scheduling, inventory, ordering, and other operational tasks as assigned by management.
• Attend required store meetings and complete assigned training or leadership responsibilities.
• Model professional guest interaction and Pei Wei service standards at all times.
• Handle guest concerns promptly and professionally, escalating issues to management when appropriate.
• Coach team members on behaviors that improve the guest experience.
• Maintain awareness of service performance and communicate guest service opportunities to management.
• Support onboarding and training of new team members as directed by management.
• Communicate effectively with team members, management, and Restaurant Support Office partners as needed.
• Promptly escalate employee relations concerns, policy issues, or workplace concerns to the General Manager.
• Perform cash handling and register procedures according to company policies.
• Support assigned reporting, shift documentation, register reconciliation, and other administrative procedures.
• Protect company assets by following cash control, loss prevention, and security procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality when handling employee, guest, operational, or company information.
• Maintain required food handler certification or training where applicable.
• Teach, reinforce, and follow company safety, health, food handling, sanitation, and cleaning procedures.
• Ensure team members follow proper handwashing, hygiene, illness reporting, glove use, and sanitation practices.
• Report food safety concerns, injuries, accidents, equipment issues, or unsafe conditions to management immediately.
• Support a safe, clean, and organized restaurant environment throughout the shift.

Qualifications:

• External candidates: minimum of 6 months of shift lead or similar leadership experience preferred.
• Internal candidates: minimum of 4 months of Pei Wei experience preferred.
• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent preferred.
• Certification or training in culinary and front-of-house operations preferred or required based on company standards.
• Current Food Handler certification required where applicable.
• Ability to lead, coach, and communicate effectively with team members, guests, and management.
• Ability to work all aspects of the restaurant, including guest service, cashiering, kitchen execution, cleaning, and shift support.
• Ability to understand and use restaurant systems, back-office tools, and required reporting processes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong leadership, communication, delegation, and follow-up skills.
• Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure in a fast-paced restaurant environment.
• Ability to coach team members and verify proper execution of standards and procedures.
• Knowledge of cash handling, guest service, food safety, and restaurant operations.
• Ability to multitask while maintaining accuracy, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• Ability to model company standards for dress, behavior, guest interaction, and teamwork.
• Ability to accept feedback and use it to improve individual and team performance.

Core Competencies:

• Action oriented and willing to take on challenges.
• Customer focused and committed to exceeding guest expectations.
• Self-motivated and accountable for individual and team success.
• Team-focused and committed to supporting brand standards and team development.
• Problem-solving oriented and able to escalate concerns appropriately.

Physical Requirements:

• Stand and walk for extended periods, typically 8-10 hours per shift.
• Frequently reach, bend, balance, lift, carry, push, pull, and transport restaurant supplies or equipment.
• Lift and transport objects weighing up to 30 pounds during a shift.
• Use hands and fingers to operate POS systems, restaurant equipment, phones, computers, and cleaning tools.
• Work safely around hot surfaces, steam, sharp objects, cleaning chemicals, wet floors, refrigerated areas, and restaurant equipment.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in a fast-paced restaurant environment that includes front-of-house and back-of-house areas.
• Exposure may include heat, steam, cold storage areas, cleaning chemicals, noise, wet floors, sharp objects, and varying temperatures.
• Requires frequent interaction with guests, team members, vendors, management, and support partners.
• Work schedules may include mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying shifts based on business needs.
• Employees may be required to work overtime as permitted by business needs and applicable law.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Pei Wei Asian Kitchen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. The Company provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Disclaimer:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. Management reserves the right to modify job duties as business needs require and in accordance with applicable law.