Back of House Director of Food Safety & Food Quality

The Back of House Director — Food Safety & Quality is responsible for the daily execution of kitchen excellence, ensuring consistent food quality, food safety, order accuracy, and throughput performance. This leader works in the heart of daily BOH operations, co-owning kitchen performance during operating hours and partnering with the BOH Director of Leadership & Maintenance to maintain both short-term execution and long-term system strength.

This position provides hands-on leadership to ensure the kitchen runs smoothly, safely, and with a commitment to Chick-fil-A’s highest standards.

Primary Purpose

Ensure daily execution of food quality, food safety, accuracy, and throughput. Co-own kitchen performance during operating hours.

Core Responsibilities

1. Daily Kitchen Operations Leadership

• Lead day-to-day Back of House operations with a focus on speed, accuracy, and food quality.
• Serve as the primary in-shift kitchen leader, ensuring strong communication and alignment with all BOH team members.
• Maintain shift readiness by ensuring stations are stocked, organized, and prepared for peak times.
• Actively coach leaders and team members during operations to sustain Chick-fil-A service and production standards.

2. Food Safety Oversight & Compliance

• Ensure all food safety procedures are executed flawlessly throughout each day.
• Verify proper completion and documentation of:
• Safe Daily Criticals (SDCs)
• Temperature logs (hot holding, cold holding, and cooking temps)
• All required food safety checklists and documentation
• Maintain an active presence during prep, cooking, holding, and assembling to ensure safe practices.
• Immediately correct safety risks or violations to protect guests and the restaurant.

3. Food Quality Assurance

• Monitor food quality at every stage of production, ensuring Chick-fil-A standards are met across all dayparts.
• Provide real-time coaching to team members regarding cook times, hold times, seasoning, appearance, and product freshness.
• Ensure strict adherence to product lifecycle systems, including cool-down times and holding standards. Strict adherence to the Automatic Holding Assistance (AHA)
• Conduct quality checks throughout shifts and communicate findings to leaders.

4. Throughput, Accuracy & Production Rhythm

• Co-own throughput and accuracy performance in partnership with Drive-Thru and FOH leaders.
• Maintain a proactive production rhythm that supports sales volume and protects food quality.
• Use real-time data (KPS, dashboards, guest flow) to make informed production decisions.
• Ensure accurate order assembly and seamless coordination between production and meal fulfillment.

5. Training & Team Development (Daily Execution Focus)

• Train BOH leaders and team members on food safety, cooking procedures, quality standards, and accuracy systems.
• Reinforce daily expectations through coaching, accountability, and hands-on leadership.
• Ensure all new BOH hires receive proper onboarding and skill certification related to food quality and safety.
• Support the BOH Director — Leadership & Maintenance with ongoing skill development and feedback.

6. System Compliance & Operational Accountability

• Ensure consistent execution of:
• LEAN cooking and holding systems
• AHA (Automatic Holding Assistant)
• Chicken cool-down and storage processes
• Prep systems and portioning standards
• Maintain high accuracy and accountability for all BOH cleaning lists and opening/closing duties.
• Identify system breakdowns and immediately implement corrective actions.

7. Communication & Coordination

• Maintain real-time communication with the BOH Leadership & Maintenance Director to report system concerns, equipment issues, or quality observations.
• Collaborate closely with FOH leaders to support throughput, meal accuracy, and guest experience.
• Communicate clearly with BOH team members throughout each shift regarding production demands, safety reminders, and expectations.

Key Expectations

• Highly organized, detail-driven, and consistent in daily food safety and quality enforcement.
• Strong leadership presence in the kitchen during peak hours.
• Ability to remain calm, clear, and strategic in fast-paced, high-volume situations.
• Models Chick-fil-A’s commitment to serving safe, high-quality food every day.
• Works collaboratively with the Director Team to develop and support a unified leadership team.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Daily Operations Performance

• Achievement of throughput goals across all dayparts
• Order accuracy at or above 96%
• Strong shift communication and teamwork

Food Safety Compliance

• 100% completion of SDCs
• High scores in food safety and temperature audits
• EcoSure – 2 or higher
• Zero critical food safety violations

Food Quality Execution

• High scores in quality evaluations (ERQA, local audits, QIV)
• Deloitte – 96% or higher
• Proper adherence to holding times, cook times, and discard systems
• Consistent visual presentation of all products

System Compliance

• Strong adherence to LEAN systems and AHA
• Accurate completion of BOH cleaning and opening/closing checklists
• Reduced system failures and preventable errors

Team Development & Training

• Improved performance of BOH team members
• High skill competency in cooking, prep, holding, and quality standards
• Consistent in-shift coaching and documentation

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of Chick-fil-A food safety and quality standards.
• Experience leading BOH operations in a high-volume environment.
• Ability to coach, lead, and correct team members in real time.
• Deep knowledge of BOH systems, prep processes, and production flow.
• Commitment to Chick-fil-A’s culture, values, and servant leadership approach.

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.