Kitchen Manager

Position Summary

The Kitchen Manager is responsible for directing the day‑to‑day operation of the kitchen to ensure Opaa! standards are met and maintained, and the kitchen is compliant with all safety and health regulations. Opaa! Food Management, Inc. operates across 10 states. Pay rates vary depending on state and position; a Hiring Manager will discuss pay in detail.

Essential Functions

Production

• Monitor food and food preparation to maintain quality standards for preparation, presentation, and sanitation.
• Promote customer service by investigating and resolving food quality and service complaints.
• Coordinate the preparation and daily transportation of meals to all satellite buildings, where applicable.

Supervisory

• Conduct daily safety and production meetings with kitchen staff.
• Demonstrate and promote Opaa’s Core Values and report concerns to the DNS immediately.
• Supervise kitchen staff in all areas of production; delegate workflow and inform DNS of any personnel issues.
• Train, cross‑train, and certify all kitchen job stations; be prepared to perform any kitchen function as required.
• Ensure overall cleanliness and organization of the kitchen and storage areas.

Compliance

• Maintain compliance with Opaa! recipes and menu plans; obtain approval for menu changes from the DNS at least 24 hours in advance.
• Adhere to Opaa! Timekeeping Policy; submit all hours worked via ADP or edit sheet.
• Maintain compliance with all HACCP processes and procedures.
• Maintain compliance with HHFKA and CACFP Meal Patterns.
• Follow all Opaa! safety processes, worker and health safety regulations, and State/Local Health Department requirements; report unsafe conditions and incidents promptly.

Administrative

• Coordinate and submit food and supply orders to Boss.
• Ensure production records are complete and accurate daily, per student grade groups.
• Oversee commercial/commodity physical inventory count and input into Boss; enforce FIFO standards in storage.
• Verify product receipt, count, and note discrepancies on receiving documents; approve invoices the day received.
• Enter participation counts into Boss daily.
• Maintain accurate and timely completion of all required logs.
• Perform daily tray counts and reconcile with district report to ensure meals are reimbursable.
• Maintain open communication with the building principal; conduct weekly update meetings.
• Conduct “Daily Dish” meetings and use the production board to plan and monitor service flow.
• Attend and actively participate in weekly Kitchen Manager meetings with DNS.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by Opaa! Food Management.

Physical/Visual Activities or Demands

Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, squat, climb, balance, kneel, crawl, push, pull, grasp, feel, taste, smell, talk, hear, and reach with hands and arms. Must occasionally exert over 60 pounds of force and frequently lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects up to 25 pounds. Vision requirements include concentrated attention, depth perception, ability to focus sharply, and color vision.

Working Conditions

Work is performed both inside and outside. Frequently around moving mechanical parts and exposed to wet/humid conditions and extreme heat. Occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, and loud noise levels.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma, GED, or relevant experience required.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Effective presentation skills in one‑on‑one and small‑group settings.
• Mathematical ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, compute rates, ratios, percentages, and interpret bar graphs.
• Reasoning ability to apply common‑sense understanding to detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions and solve problems with a few concrete variables.

Skills – Machines, Tools, Equipment and Work Aids

• Dishwasher, Steamer/Kettle, Mixer, Oven, Stove, Fryers, Slicer
• Thermometers, Gauges, Knives, Box Cutters
• Meal Counting Software, Desktop PCs, Calculator
• Telephone, Fax, Scanner, Copier, Printer

Licenses/Certifications

• Serve Safe Certification (additional certifications may vary by state)