Kitchen Manager

Kitchen Manager

Quotes Willowbrook is seeking an experienced, hands-on Kitchen Manager to lead our culinary team in a high-volume, casual fine dining environment. We are looking for a proven restaurant leader who understands that a successful kitchen requires more than great food-it requires strong leadership, organization, accountability, consistency, food safety, and teamwork.

The ideal candidate has at least five years of experience managing kitchen staff and a demonstrated ability to successfully lead kitchen operations in a busy restaurant environment.

This full-time food service leadership opportunity offers competitive compensation and an outstanding benefits package.

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and supplemental insurance
• Company pays for medical benefits
• Complimentary drinks and 50% off meals while working
• Complimentary meals when working double shifts
• 15% off meals on days off
• Shortened operating hours on Christmas and New Year's
• Company shirts
• Biannual team-building events
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement

Successful candidates should have:

• 5+ years of experience managing kitchen staff
• 5+ years of professional restaurant kitchen experience
• Proven leadership experience as a Kitchen Manager, Sous Chef, Assistant Kitchen Manager, BOH Manager, or similar role
• Casual fine dining restaurant experience
• Experience successfully managing a high-volume restaurant kitchen
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, train, schedule, and hold kitchen employees accountable
• Strong knowledge of food preparation, plating, portion control, food quality, and kitchen execution
• Experience managing multiple kitchen stations during peak-volume periods
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, health department standards, and proper food handling
• Experience managing opening and closing kitchen procedures
• Ability to maintain composure and provide leadership in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with front-of-house management and restaurant leadership
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and other shifts based on business needs

As the Kitchen Manager at Quotes Willowbrook, you will take ownership of daily back-of-house operations and provide direct leadership to the kitchen team.

• Lead, supervise, train, coach, and develop kitchen employees
• Set clear expectations and hold team members accountable for performance
• Coordinate kitchen staffing and station assignments based on anticipated business volume
• Ensure employees are properly trained before independently working assigned stations
• Monitor food preparation, cooking, presentation, portioning, and ticket execution
• Maintain the quality and presentation standards expected in a casual fine dining environment
• Lead the kitchen effectively during high-volume service periods
• Monitor ticket times and address operational bottlenecks quickly
• Ensure kitchen lines are properly stocked, organized, and prepared before service
• Conduct pre-shift checks to ensure the kitchen is ready for business
• Monitor food inventory, product levels, waste, and proper storage
• Assist with inventory management and food-cost controls
• Reduce unnecessary food waste through proper preparation, portioning, rotation, and accountability
• Enforce FIFO procedures, labeling, dating, temperature controls, and proper food storage
• Maintain compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health department requirements
• Ensure kitchen equipment, workstations, coolers, storage areas, and floors are properly cleaned and maintained
• Conduct regular kitchen inspections and immediately address compliance concerns
• Partner with restaurant leadership to resolve staffing, performance, food quality, and operational issues
• Document and communicate employee performance concerns when appropriate
• Support employee onboarding and ongoing kitchen training
• Manage opening, shift-change, and closing procedures
• Ensure the kitchen is properly secured, cleaned, stocked, and prepared for the next shift
• Lead by example and maintain a professional, respectful, team-focused kitchen culture

This is a full-time restaurant leadership position requiring flexibility based on operational needs.

Quotes Willowbrook operates:

Sunday-Wednesday: 11:00 AM-11:00 PM

Thursday-Saturday: 11:00 AM-12:00 AM

Kitchen Managers must be available to work a flexible schedule that may include days, evenings, closing shifts, weekends, and holidays.

At Quotes Willowbrook, we believe our people are essential to delivering an exceptional guest experience. We value leaders who demonstrate accountability, consistency, teamwork, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence.

Our Kitchen Manager must be willing to be present, engaged, and accountable for the operation-not simply manage from the sidelines. We are looking for someone who can develop people, establish standards, solve problems, and build a kitchen team capable of consistently executing in a high-volume environment.

If you have five or more years of kitchen management experience, understand casual fine dining, and have successfully led teams in a high-volume restaurant, we want to hear from you. Bring your leadership, culinary operations experience, and commitment to excellence to Quotes Willowbrook and help us build a kitchen team that delivers consistency and quality every shift.