Kitchen Lead/Lder de Cocina

Kitchen Lead

The kitchen lead plays a key role in maintaining smooth daily kitchen operations at the caf 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.

Compensation: Starting $22/hour

About Equator: In 1995, Equator founders Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell began their values-driven path, roasting coffee in a Marin County, CA garage. Possessing an obsessive commitment to green coffee sourcing and unparalleled roasting expertise, Equator has committed over 30 years to sustainable and fair trade coffee practices all in the name of creating a remarkable coffee experience for consumers. Today, Equator Coffees is a retail and wholesale coffee roaster and coffee farm owner with twelve retail cafes throughout Californiafrom Marin County to San Francisco to Oakland to Los Angeles and beyond. Throughout the years, Equator Coffees has spearheaded industry-leading sourcing and roasting practices, and has forged progressive partnerships with Michelin-starred chefs, specialty grocers, tech campuses, and more. Women-owned, LGBTQ-founded, and an early adopter of Fair Trade and Regenerative Organic certifications, Equator Coffees is the first California coffee roaster to achieve B Corp Certification.

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 GM 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 GM and retail team on seasonal menus, specials, and caf events
• Support recipe development and documentation in collaboration with retail operations
• Communicate proactively with GM 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.