Kitchen Director

Brand Summary

Working at a Chick-fil-A® restaurant is more than a job—it’s an opportunity to grow as a leader, develop others, and make a meaningful impact in a positive, people-focused environment. Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent franchised Operators who invest in their Team Members and the communities they serve.

Our vision is:

To shine brightly in our community by serving with unmatched excellence and intentional care.

We are looking for a leader who is passionate about developing people, building strong teams, and delivering operational excellence.

Position Overview

The Kitchen Director is a senior leader responsible for the overall health and performance of our Back of House operation.

This leader owns the systems, people, and results that allow our kitchen to consistently serve safe, high-quality food with remarkable speed and accuracy. Just as importantly, the Kitchen Director is responsible for building a healthy kitchen culture where Team Members are cared for, leaders are developed, expectations are clear, and excellence becomes the standard.

This is not simply a position for someone who can run a great shift. We are looking for someone who can build leaders, solve problems, improve systems, and take ownership of an entire area of the business.

The Kitchen Director works closely with the Owner/Operator and Director Team to advance the restaurant's vision and achieve both operational and people-related goals.

What You'll Own

Leadership & Culture

• Champion our vision of Unmatched Excellence and Intentional Care throughout the Back of House.
• Lead with humility, integrity, initiative, and a servant-leadership mindset.
• Build a positive, high-performing kitchen culture characterized by accountability, teamwork, and care.
• Set clear expectations and hold leaders and Team Members accountable to those expectations.
• Serve as a trusted member of the Director Team and contribute to restaurant-wide strategy and decision-making.
• Lead by example during restaurant operations while developing others to lead effectively without your direct involvement.

Leader & Team Development

• Recruit, train, coach, and develop high-capacity Back of House leaders.
• Build a strong leadership pipeline by identifying potential and intentionally developing future leaders.
• Conduct regular one-on-one coaching conversations with kitchen leaders.
• Provide timely, clear, and constructive feedback.
• Partner with the Training and Human Resources teams to ensure Team Members are trained effectively and performance concerns are addressed appropriately.
• Create an environment where Team Members have opportunities to grow personally and professionally.
• Ensure kitchen leadership is capable of consistently executing expectations across all dayparts.

Operational Excellence

• Take ownership of the daily performance of all Back of House operations.
• Develop and maintain systems that produce consistent execution regardless of who is leading the shift.
• Ensure proper positioning, preparation, production, and deployment during peak periods.
• Improve speed of service while protecting food quality, accuracy, and Team Member experience.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement sustainable solutions.
• Use restaurant data, guest feedback, and operational observations to identify opportunities and establish improvement goals.
• Partner with Front of House leadership to create excellent communication and seamless restaurant operations.

Food Quality & Food Safety

• Serve as the restaurant's primary champion for exceptional food quality and food safety in the kitchen.
• Ensure Chick-fil-A food quality, preparation, holding, and safety standards are consistently executed.
• Develop a culture where food safety is everyone's responsibility.
• Ensure required food safety assessments, temperature checks, procedures, and documentation are completed accurately and consistently.
• Coach Team Members and leaders immediately when standards are not met.
• Prepare the restaurant for Chick-fil-A food safety and quality assessments and local health inspections.
• Maintain an exceptionally clean, organized, and food-safe kitchen.

Financial Stewardship

• Partner with the Owner/Operator and Director Team to steward food cost and labor responsibly.
• Monitor food waste, portioning, inventory, and production practices.
• Identify the root causes of food-cost gaps and create action plans to improve results.
• Develop systems that reduce unnecessary waste without compromising food quality or the guest experience.
• Help ensure appropriate staffing and deployment to meet productivity goals.
• Understand that excellent operational stewardship allows us to invest more deeply in our Team Members, Guests, and community.

Inventory, Equipment & Facilities

• Ensure the kitchen has the product, equipment, and resources necessary to execute at a high level.
• Oversee or partner in inventory, ordering, receiving, and product organization.
• Maintain systems for proper kitchen organization and storage.
• Ensure preventative maintenance and cleaning standards are followed for kitchen equipment.
• Identify equipment issues quickly and coordinate appropriate solutions.
• Maintain a kitchen that is always prepared—not simply cleaned or organized before an inspection.

What We're Looking For

The ideal Kitchen Director is someone who:

• Loves developing and serving people.
• Has a high standard for excellence and attention to detail.
• Takes ownership rather than waiting for someone else to solve a problem.
• Can lead effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Is organized and capable of creating systems that simplify complex operations.
• Communicates expectations clearly and respectfully.
• Can provide accountability while maintaining strong relationships.
• Remains composed and decisive under pressure.
• Is comfortable using data and operational metrics to improve performance.
• Has the humility to receive feedback and the drive to continually improve.
• Wants to build something better—not simply maintain what already exists.

Job Requirements

Preferred: 

• 2+ years of leadership or management experience , preferably in restaurant, hospitality, retail, or another high-volume operational environment.
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Demonstrated experience developing and coaching others.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and follow projects through to completion.
• Food-safety certification preferred or willingness to obtain certification.
• Ability to work on-site in a fast-paced restaurant environment.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform the physical responsibilities associated with restaurant operations.
• Availability to work a combination of opening, closing, and Saturday shifts based on the needs of the business.

Perks & Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k) Matching
• Annual Clothing Allowance
• Tuition-Free College Program through University of the Cumberlands
• Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship Opportunities
• Employee Meal Discount
• Leadership Development and Professional Growth Opportunities
• Sundays Off

Why This Role Matters

Great restaurants aren't built by one exceptional leader running every shift. They're built by leaders who develop other leaders, create excellent systems, and build cultures where people know what is expected and are equipped to succeed.

As our Kitchen Director, you will have the opportunity to shape one of the most important areas of our business. You will influence the development of dozens of Team Members and leaders, steward significant operational resources, and help ensure that every Guest experiences the Unmatched Excellence and Intentional Care we want our restaurant to be known for.

If you are passionate about people, energized by operational excellence, and excited about building teams and systems that make a lasting impact, we would love to meet you.

Working at a Chick-fil-A® restaurant is more than a job – it’s an opportunity for teamwork and leadership development in a positive, people-focused environment. Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent, franchised Operators who invest in the future of their Team Members and give back to their communities.