Assistant Kitchen Manager

Assistant Kitchen Manager Gentle Ben's | Tucson, AZ Great kitchens aren't built by one chef—they're built by leaders. At Gentle Ben's, we believe every unforgettable guest experience starts in the kitchen. We're looking for an Assistant Kitchen Manager who is passionate about developing people, maintaining high standards, and leading with confidence in one of Tucson's highest-volume restaurants. This role is more than managing tickets and inventory—it's about creating a culture where accountability, teamwork, consistency, and pride in the craft drive every shift. As the Assistant Kitchen Manager, you'll work side-by-side with the Kitchen Manager to lead daily operations, coach and develop the back-of-house team, maintain food quality, and ensure every guest receives an exceptional experience. If you're ready to grow your leadership career while making a real impact on your team, we'd love to meet you. What You'll Do Every day looks a little different, but your focus will always be the same: supporting your team, protecting our standards, and ensuring the kitchen operates efficiently. Lead People Great leaders build great teams. You'll help recruit, interview, onboard, train, and develop kitchen staff while creating a workplace built on accountability, respect, and continuous improvement. You'll lead by example, coach in the moment, recognize great performance, and provide constructive feedback when needed. Most importantly, you'll create an environment where people enjoy coming to work and feel supported in their growth. Drive Kitchen Excellence You'll help oversee every aspect of kitchen operations, ensuring food is prepared consistently, recipes are followed, prep is completed efficiently, and every plate leaving the kitchen reflects Gentle Ben's standards. From organizing the walk-in to managing prep priorities and maintaining smooth service during our busiest shifts, you'll help keep the kitchen running at its best. Own the Details Success is found in the details. You'll assist with: Weekly inventory and food cost management Ordering food and kitchen supplies Maintaining XtraCHEF invoices and reporting Monitoring labor costs Equipment maintenance and repair coordination Kitchen organization and cleanliness Daily prep sheets and production planning BOH opening and closing procedures Protect Food Safety You'll ensure sanitation procedures, temperature logs, and health department standards are consistently followed while maintaining an organized, clean, and inspection-ready kitchen. Support Business Success You'll work closely with the Kitchen Manager to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, control costs, develop employees, and create a kitchen culture built around consistency and hospitality. What Makes You Successful We're looking for someone who naturally steps into leadership. You don't wait to be asked—you anticipate needs, solve problems, and support your team before challenges become bigger issues. You're calm under pressure, organized during busy services, and understand that consistency is what separates good restaurants from great ones. You believe the best leaders aren't the loudest people in the room—they're the ones their teams trust. What You'll Bring Previous kitchen leadership experience in a high-volume restaurant Strong communication and coaching skills A passion for developing others Excellent organization and time management Experience managing food quality, inventory, labor, and kitchen operations Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards Experience with Toast, XtraCHEF, Microsoft Office, or similar restaurant systems Arizona Food Protection Manager Certification (or the ability to obtain one) Must be at least 18 years old and able to pass a background check Why Gentle Ben's? At UniConcepts, we don't just build restaurants—we build careers. We invest in our leaders through hands-on development, mentorship, and opportunities to grow within our company. Whether your goal is to become a Kitchen Manager, Executive Chef, or multi-unit leader, we'll help you get there. When our leaders succeed, our teams succeed. And when our teams succeed, our guests keep coming back. What We Offer Competitive salary starting at $55,000+, depending on experience Paid Time Off Health benefits Employee dining discounts Leadership development and advancement opportunities A collaborative, team-focused culture The opportunity to lead at one of Tucson's busiest and most iconic restaurants Join Our Team If you're passionate about leading people, building high-performing teams, and delivering exceptional food in a fast-paced environment, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and help shape the future of Gentle Ben's.