Role Summary
The Kitchen Director serves as the Executive Director's key assistant, a hands-on leader in planning, executing, and overseeing all restaurant kitchen operations. This role involves coordinating operational strategies, ensuring effective leadership development, and managing shift execution to maintain seamless restaurant performance. The Kitchen Director focuses on anticipating and resolving challenges, supporting the leadership team, and driving continuous improvement across all service areas.
The Kitchen Director models Chick-fil-A Forsyth’s core values (“Passion for Excellence,” “Achieve Together,” “Commit to Integrity,” and “Excel Every Day”) while supporting the vision of the Executive Director and the Operator. They must be growth-minded, organized, and passionate about building effective teams and processes.
Expectations
- Serve as a trusted partner to the Executive Director and Operator, providing operational insights and solutions.
- Exemplify integrity, discipline, and professionalism in all tasks and interactions.
- Take ownership of shift management and operational outcomes.
- Support and mentor Team Leaders and Department Managers in daily operations.
- Identify kitchen operational challenges, lead initiatives, and effectively delegate responsibilities to managers and team leaders to proactively address them.
- Ensure a forward-focused approach to food safety as a critical responsibility, alongside driving consistency in food quality, speed of service, and cleanliness.
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Get results, hunger for wisdom, and increase personal leadership capacity.
- Directly provide leadership, management, and accountability by leading shifts.
Primary Responsibilities
- Assist the Executive Director in planning and executing kitchen (back of the house) operations strategies.
- Lead daily shifts, ensuring optimal deployment of team members and resources.
- Oversee the implementation of LEAN principles, including Flow and Pull Systems, Continuous Improvement (Kaizen), Waste Reduction (Muda), Standardized Work, 5S (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain), Just-In-Time (JIT), and structured problem-solving techniques like A3 Thinking, to optimize efficiency and foster a culture of operational excellence.
- Collaborate with Team Leaders and Managers to meet service and quality goals.
- Analyze performance data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
- Develop and train Managers and Team Leaders to prepare them for future leadership roles.
Primary Tasks
Daily
- Monitor and adjust labor deployment to maintain efficiency during shifts.
- Provide real-time coaching and support to Managers, Team Leaders, and team members.
- Maintain a proactive focus on a culture of food safety, ensuring standards are consistently met alongside service quality and cleanliness.
Weekly
- Review operational performance metrics with the Executive Director.
- Conduct one-on-one meetings with Managers and Team Leaders to improve performance and leader development.
- Lead planning meetings to align on upcoming initiatives and priorities.
- Follow up on junior leader’s delegated responsibilities to ensure they are being completed in a timely manner and to the agreed standard.
Monthly/Quarterly
- Collaborate on operational improvement projects, including the application of AI and LEAN principles.
- Review training progress and development plans for Team Leaders.
- Evaluate progress toward operational goals and recommend adjustments.
What Winning Looks Like
- Elite Food Safety Rating because food safety standards are consistently maintained through proper storage, handling, and audits, ensuring compliance and reducing risks.
- Shift operations run smoothly, with minimal disruptions and consistently high service levels.
- Team Leaders and Managers are effectively coached and developed.
- Operational metrics, such as speed of service and food safety, meet or exceed benchmarks.
- LEAN principles are effectively implemented, driving measurable improvements in efficiency.
- Tour and inspection-ready level of cleanliness is maintained at all times for equipment and the facility.
- The Kitchen Director’s leadership fosters a collaborative, high-performing culture aligned with Chick-fil-A Forsyth’s mission of “Connecting with Excellence.”
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Food Safety Score
- Quality Improvement Visit (QIV) Score
- Automated Holding Assistant (AHA)
- Daily SAFE
- eRQA
- Labor Productivity
- Customer Experience Monitor (CEM): Speed of Service, Order Accuracy, and Taste of Food
- Team Leader retention rate
- Chicken Tracking
This role is essential to ensuring the kitchen operates at peak performance while maintaining Chick-fil-A Forsyth’s high standards of excellence. The Kitchen Manager must be a proactive leader, passionate about food safety, quality, and the development of others.
Qualifications and Requirements
Leadership Skills
Must possess leadership traits that Chick-fil-A Vicksburg seeks in future leaders:
- Character – values-driven,
- Chemistry – relationship builder, coaches others to perform
- Competency – results-oriented. systems thinker, quick study
- College – formal education continued
- The HEART of Leadership
- SERVE Leadership Model
Leads with Vision and Purpose:
- Communicates a compelling, inspired vision and a sense of common purpose.
- Talks about possibilities beyond today and shapes behaviors to achieve them.
- Create milestones and symbols to rally support.
- A servant leader who sets the pace, team-oriented, with a passion for people and world-class service.
- Possess the ability to drive and manage change.
- Well-organized manager with excellent verbal, written, and electronic communications skills
- Meet with the Leadership Team as a strategic partner
- Build effective relationships with operators, directors, managers, and leaders to: a) share learning and best/next practices, b) create alignment and support for change and growth
Position Type:
- Full-time
Our Benefits Include:
- A fun work environment where you can positively influence others
- Flexible scheduling (and closed on Sundays)
- Learning firsthand from an experienced Operator and Restaurant Leaders
- Intentional growth and development to help you reach your professional goals
- Scholarship opportunities
- Competitive pay - Starting at $25.00 per hour
Most Chick-fil-A® Restaurants are operated by independent franchised business owners who make all their own employment decisions and are responsible for their own content and policies.
Work schedule
- Weekend availability
- Holidays
- Day shift
- Night shift
- Other
- Overtime
Benefits
- Flexible schedule
- Employee discount
- Paid training
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Health insurance
- Referral program