Kitchen Manager

Location: Ruston, LA
Reports to: General Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt (Salaried)
Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

Make every plate you cook count. At Rhythm & Rooster dba. Party Fowl, we’re all about great food and exceptional service.

Did you know Party Fowl is Nashville’s first full-service hot chicken restaurant? Here, hot chicken isn’t just a menu item—it’s an experience. We offer a contemporary, chef-inspired Southern concept that brings fun to classic favorites. Sure, we can hold our own with the white-tablecloth crowd, but we’re not above serving up good old-fashioned chicken tenders.

We are currently seeking a full-time, exempt Kitchen Manager to lead our back-of-house team. The Kitchen Manager is responsible for the overall operation of the kitchen, including food preparation, staff management, inventory, scheduling, and cost control. This salaried leadership role is critical to maintaining the quality, safety, and consistency that Party Fowl guests expect.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring food quality, consistency, and presentation.
• Order food, materials, and supplies based on forecasted demand and par levels.
• Recruit, hire, train, and develop kitchen staff.
• Supervise and schedule kitchen employees to meet labor targets and coverage needs.
• Conduct weekly inventory counts and monitor inventory usage and costs.
• Collaborate with the General Manager and Culinary Leadership on menu pricing and updates.
• Maintain food safety and sanitation standards in accordance with local health department regulations.
• Ensure kitchen cleanliness, organization, and operational readiness at all times.
• Analyze food and labor costs and prepare weekly/monthly reports.
• Step in and support kitchen stations as needed during high-volume periods.
• Lead pre-shift meetings, staff development initiatives, and performance evaluations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive kitchen experience, including lead or supervisory roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, or related field preferred.
• Culinary Arts certificate or equivalent training preferred.
• Proven leadership in a high-volume, full-service kitchen environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety procedures, cooking methods, and kitchen operations.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Professional appearance and a solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and lift 25 lbs or more.
• Must be available to work full-time, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Compensation and Schedule

• Status: Full-Time, Salaried, Exempt
• Compensation: Competitive base salary plus bonus opportunities.  Compensation may vary depending on the level of experience of the candidate.=\
• Schedule: Must be available for flexible scheduling based on business needs, including holidays and weekends.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• This role operates in a fast-paced kitchen setting with exposure to hot surfaces, sharp tools, and ambient noise. Candidates must be comfortable standing for long periods, working in a physically demanding environment, and performing repetitive tasks.

Party Fowl is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

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