Kitchen Lead

Kitchen Lead

Equator Coffees was founded in 1995 by Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell, with a commitment to sustainable and fair trade coffee practices. Today, Equator Coffees is a retail and wholesale coffee roaster with twelve retail cafes across California. The company is known for its industry-leading sourcing and roasting practices and progressive partnerships.

The Kitchen Lead plays a key role in maintaining smooth daily kitchen operations at the café level. This position is responsible for high standards of food quality, safety, organization, and prep, while leading and supporting a strong team culture. The Kitchen Lead is a working lead position with no direct people management responsibilities, but one that sets the tone for excellence through example and training.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee kitchen prep and execution during service, ensuring consistent quality and presentation
• Maintain back-of-house standards for cleanliness, sanitation, and organization
• Collaborate with the General Manager on kitchen schedules by providing input on team availability and operational needs
• Place vendor orders and manage vendor relationships to ensure quality, timeliness, and competitive pricing
• Perform inventory counts and manage product rotation to minimize waste
• Lead the team in food safety and sanitation practices, modeling correct procedures
• Support the training and onboarding of new BOH staff; demonstrate prep methods and kitchen systems in alignment with standards
• Collaborate with General Manager and retail team on seasonal menus, specials, and café events
• Support recipe development and documentation in collaboration with retail operations
• Communicate proactively with General Manager regarding team performance, scheduling needs, or kitchen-related concerns
• Act as a key contributor to a positive and supportive kitchen culture

Qualifications and Requirements:

• 2+ years of BOH experience; lead or supervisory experience strongly preferred
• Strong food safety knowledge and current Food Handler Card required
• Knowledge of kitchen equipment, prep techniques, and cooking procedures
• Ability to maintain a clean, efficient, and organized kitchen under pressure
• Excellent communication and follow-through
• Works well independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrates leadership, maturity, and professionalism
• Experience reviewing financial reports and meeting budgets
• Able to work full time (the work regularly demands more than 45 hours per week) including variable hours such as early morning, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays
• Ability to lead change, deal with ambiguity, and prioritize in a fast-paced environment
• Experience with POS touch screen, Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and other computer skills
• Minimum High School or GED
• Must be 16 years of age or older

Compensation will be commensurate with experience.