Location: Ocean Township, NJ Employment Type: Full-Time Schedule: Based on Kitchen Operations and Business Needs Salary: Based on Experience
Position Overview
A growing kosher-certified ghost kitchen in Ocean Township, NJ is seeking an experienced, hands-on Kitchen Manager to take ownership of daily kitchen operations.
The business serves wholesale accounts, a daily lunch program, meal prep, and catering, with no retail or dine-in operation. The Kitchen Manager will work closely with the owner, who focuses primarily on business development, sales, and other non-kitchen functions.
This is a leadership role for someone who wants genuine responsibility and autonomy. The Kitchen Manager will be expected to run the kitchen like their own operation, with compensation structured to reward growth through base pay plus a revenue-share opportunity.
Key Responsibilities
Kitchen Operations & Production
Oversee daily kitchen operations across wholesale, lunch program, meal prep, and catering.
Actively participate in food preparation and cooking.
Establish and maintain recipes, portions, preparation methods, and production standards.
Step onto the line and assist with production whenever needed.
Coordinate multiple orders and production schedules with different deadlines and requirements.
Ensure food is prepared accurately, consistently, and on schedule.
Kosher Compliance & Food Safety
Maintain strict adherence to the kitchen's kosher certification requirements.
Coordinate appropriately with the mashgiach and certifying agency.
Maintain proper kosher kitchen procedures throughout food preparation, storage, and production.
Ensure compliance with applicable health, sanitation, and food safety requirements.
Maintain a clean, organized, and properly functioning kitchen.
Ensure staff consistently follow established food safety procedures.
Inventory, Purchasing & Vendors
Manage food and supply inventory.
Place, track, and receive vendor orders.
Monitor food costs, usage, and waste.
Source products and supplies as needed.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors.
Identify opportunities for better pricing, quality, and purchasing efficiency.
Staff Management
Schedule, train, supervise, and support kitchen staff.
Assign responsibilities and ensure daily production goals are met.
Maintain accountability for performance, cleanliness, food quality, and safety.
Provide hands-on leadership during busy production periods.
Help develop efficient kitchen procedures as the business grows.
Operational Management
Plan production across multiple simultaneous revenue streams.
Improve kitchen workflow, labor utilization, and overall efficiency.
Identify opportunities to reduce waste and control costs.
Maintain consistent quality across all orders and programs.
Take ownership of kitchen-related challenges and resolve issues proactively.
Work closely with ownership regarding production needs, growth, staffing, and operational priorities.
Qualifications
Professional kitchen management experience required.
Strong hands-on cooking and food preparation skills.
Experience supervising and managing kitchen staff.
Experience with inventory management, purchasing, and vendor relationships.
Knowledge of kosher kitchen practices.
Strong understanding of food safety and sanitation procedures.
Ability to coordinate multiple production streams and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
Comfortable taking ownership and making day-to-day operational decisions.
Ability to work independently without constant oversight.
Experience with wholesale food production, catering, meal preparation, or high-volume kitchens is a plus.
ServSafe or equivalent food safety certification preferred.