KITCHEN MANAGER
Reports To: General Manager
Direct Reports: Culinary Coaches
Collaborates With: Program and Operations Teams
Employment Type: Non-Exempt, Hourly
Schedule: Full-Time, approximately 40 hours per week, including evening service, catering, weekends, and special events as needed
Location: On-site at Old Skool Cafe, with off-site catering/events as needed
Who We Are
Old Skool Cafe is a faith-based violence prevention program and youth-run social enterprise providing workforce development and marketable employment skills to justice-involved, system-impacted, and foster youth ages 16–22. We provide more than employment; we offer a structured, supportive environment where young people develop the confidence, discipline, and skills needed to succeed in the workplace and in life.
Our work is grounded in Christian faith and the belief that every young person has dignity, purpose, and the capacity to grow. We expect staff to lead with compassion, accountability, humility, and excellence while creating an environment where youth feel supported, challenged, and valued.
Role Summary
The Kitchen Manager oversees the day-to-day operation of Old Skool Cafe's kitchen, including food production, prep, service execution, food quality, safety, staffing, inventory, and cost control.
This is a hands-on leadership position responsible for directing Culinary Coaches, maintaining operational standards, and ensuring consistent kitchen performance. The Kitchen Manager works alongside staff and youth, modeling professional standards while holding the kitchen team accountable for execution, quality, and conduct.
Youth development is an essential responsibility. The Kitchen Manager owns the execution of culinary training within daily operations, ensuring youth receive structured, hands-on instruction, progress through required stations and skill benchmarks, and develop the technical abilities and workplace habits needed for professional employment.
Key Responsibilities
Kitchen Operations & Staff Leadership
● Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring prep, production, service, sanitation, and closing are organized and executed consistently.
● Plan and direct daily prep, ensuring ingredients, recipes, equipment, and stations are ready for service.
● Supervise Culinary Coaches, including scheduling, assignments, performance management, coaching, and accountability.
● Work alongside staff and youth, modeling culinary techniques, safety practices, service standards, and professional conduct.
● Maintain compliance with food safety regulations, health requirements, and OSC policies.
● Oversee kitchen execution for catering, special events, and off-site operations as needed.
● Lead BoH execution during live service, coordinating with FoH leadership to maintain ticket times, food quality, communication, and timely resolution of service issues
Youth Training Ownership & Documentation
● Own day-to-day execution of culinary training, ensuring youth progress through required stations, skills, and program milestones.
● Direct Culinary Coaches in integrating OSC's workbook curriculum and skill benchmarks into daily kitchen assignments.
● Ensure youth receive consistent instruction, demonstration, practice, feedback, and opportunities to apply learned skills.
● Maintain accurate training records and communicate youth progress, concerns, and milestone completion to culinary and program leadership.
● Coordinate Practical Exams, Skills Tests, and quarterly program reviews.
● Recognize and promptly escalate youth safety concerns, significant behavioral incidents, and suspected abuse or neglect in accordance with OSC policies and applicable mandated-reporting requirements.
Budget & Resource Management
● Oversee ordering, receiving, inventory, par levels, waste reduction, and vendor relationships.
● Monitor financial performance, identify variances, and communicate budget risks to the General Manager. Major spending decisions and final budget authority remain with executive leadership.
Team Development & Culture
● Recruit, train, coach, and evaluate Culinary Coaches, ensuring they meet required certifications and performance standards.
● Address performance and conduct issues promptly, documenting concerns and escalating significant or safety-related issues appropriately.
● Build a kitchen culture that combines accountability, professionalism, learning, and respect for both staff and youth.
● Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and ensure BOH staff follow OSC’s youth protection, communication, and conduct policies.
Success Metrics
● Youth Progression: At least 90% of youth demonstrate documented skill progression within six months.
● Service Execution: At least 95% of dinner services are executed on time and meet established quality standards.
● Financial Performance: Food and labor costs remain within approved budget parameters, with variances identified and communicated promptly.
● Food Safety: Health, safety, and sanitation standards are consistently maintained, with deficiencies promptly corrected.
● Staff Performance: Culinary Coaches consistently meet operational, training, and professional expectations.
Qualifications
Required
• 3+ years professional kitchen experience, including experience supervising staff.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budget, cost controls, and inventory.
• Genuine commitment to youth development, mentorship, and equity.
• Strong organizational and documentation habits; comfortable owning a training/tracking system, not just informal notes.
• ServSafe Manager Certification, or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to pass a background check consistent with Old Skool Cafe youth-safety policies.
Preferred
● Experience in workforce development, nonprofit, culinary education, or training kitchens.
● Prior experience balancing hands-on production work with supervisory responsibility
Old Skool Cafe’s Compensation Policy
This full-time, non-exempt position offers $32-$38 per hour, commensurate with experience. OSC provides medical, dental, and vision benefits to eligible full-time employees, along with paid time off in accordance with organizational policy and applicable California law.Equity and Inclusion
Why This Role Matters
The Kitchen Manager is the operational heartbeat of Old Skool Cafe. What happens in this kitchen every shift - the standards held, the instruction delivered, the culture maintained - directly shape the trajectories of young people who have often been told they are not capable of excellence. Every plate that leaves this kitchen is a statement about what our youth can do. Every skill benchmark met, every station mastered, every moment of accountability delivered with dignity is an investment in a life that extends far beyond these walls. This role is not for someone looking to run a kitchen. It is for someone who understands that running this kitchen well is one of the most meaningful things they will ever do with their craft.
Application Process
Applications, which will be reviewed as received, must include a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, and your resume in Word or PDF format. Please send to matthew@oldskoolcafe.org with “Kitchen Manager” in the subject line.
Position open until filled. No telephone calls, please.
