Job Title: Kitchen Manager/ Head Chef
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Reports To: Owners
Job Type: Full-Time
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Position Overview
The Kitchen Manager is responsible for the leadership, performance, and daily operations of HyperCafe, the food and beverage operation at Hyper Kidz Fort Worth. This role oversees kitchen and concession staff, inventory and ordering, food safety compliance, food quality, and party and event food execution.
The Kitchen Manager ensures the kitchen operates cleanly, safely, and profitably while delivering fast, consistent service to families and party guests. This position requires a hands-on leader who works the line during peak hours and balances people management, inventory control, and food cost accountability in a fast-paced family entertainment environment.
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Key Objectives
- Ensure smooth, safe, and sanitary daily kitchen operations
- Maintain accurate inventory levels with no stockouts and minimal waste
- Meet or exceed food cost and labor targets
- Build and lead a well-trained, guest-focused kitchen team
- Deliver consistent food quality and speed of service during peak and party volume
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Primary Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, train, coach, and discipline employees
- Develop team members through continuous training and performance feedback
- Conduct performance evaluations and implement improvement plans
- Recognize and reward high-performing employees
- Ensure all employees understand company goals, expectations, and sales targets
- Maintain appropriate staffing levels based on guest occupancy
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Inventory and Stocking
- Track inventory levels daily and place vendor orders to prevent stockouts and over-ordering
- Receive, inspect, date, and rotate all deliveries using FIFO
- Maintain organized and labeled dry storage, refrigeration, and freezer areas
- Keep the concession display, menu board, and service area fully stocked at all times
- Conduct weekly inventory counts and reconcile against usage
- Monitor food and paper costs against budget and report variances to the General Manager
- Control waste, portioning, and spoilage
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Kitchen Operations
- Oversee all day-to-day kitchen operations in accordance with the Hyper Kidz Operations Manual
- Execute the HyperCafe menu to spec, including snacks, pizza, candy, and beverages
- Prepare and stage food for birthday parties and private buyouts, including high-volume pizza orders
- Maintain speed of service so families are not waiting during peak hours
- Open and close the kitchen, including equipment startup, shutdown, and POS handling as assigned
- Report equipment issues and coordinate repairs promptly
- Maintain cleanliness standards throughout the kitchen and service areas at all times
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Financial Management
- Create, manage, and maintain location budgets
- Review daily sales reports and implement corrective actions when necessary
- Monitor monthly financial performance against projections
- Prepare and submit financial reports to Owners
- Ensure all accounting activities follow approved company procedures
- Make daily bank deposits as required
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Food Safety and Compliance
- Enforce all Tarrant County health department and food safety regulations
- Maintain temperature logs, sanitation schedules, and cleaning checklists
- Uphold the nut-free facility policy without exception, including ingredient and vendor verification
- Lead the kitchen through health inspections
- Maintain incident and guest complaint documentation related to food service
- Promote guest and staff safety at all times
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Guest Experience and Customer Service
- Ensure exceptional guest service standards are consistently met at the counter
- Resolve food-related guest concerns professionally and effectively
- Support allergy and dietary questions with accurate ingredient knowledge
- Drive repeat visits through consistent quality and friendly service
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Financial Management
- Manage the food and beverage budget in partnership with the General Manager
- Review daily food sales and implement corrective actions when necessary
- Track food cost percentage against projections
- Ensure all cash handling and POS activities follow approved company procedures
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Reporting and Communication
- Communicate daily with the General Manager regarding inventory, staffing, and performance
- Prepare and submit inventory, ordering, and food cost reports as required
- Document all kitchen activities in accordance with company procedures
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Additional Responsibilities
- Maintain working knowledge of all facility positions
- Work nights, weekends, and holidays as required
- Perform additional management duties as assigned by the General Manager or Ownership
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Required Qualifications
- Minimum 2 years of kitchen leadership experience (Kitchen Manager, Sous Chef)
- Food Handler certification required; ServSafe Manager certification required
- Hands-on experience with inventory management, ordering, and vendor relationships
- Strong leadership, team-building, and conflict-resolution skills
- Experience with POS systems, cash handling, and scheduling
- Ability to manage food cost and basic financial reporting
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, child-focused environment
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for extended periods
- Availability on weekends, evenings, and holidays
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in family entertainment, quick service, or high-volume event catering
- Proven success reducing food cost or waste
- Familiarity with inventory management software and booking or POS platforms
- Bilingual English and Spanish
Why Join Hyper Kidz Fort Worth?
At Hyper Kidz Fort Worth, we create unforgettable experiences for children while fostering a fun, supportive, and growth-driven workplace. As Kitchen Manager, you will build the HyperCafe operation from the ground up, lead a team that takes pride in clean and consistent work, and help make every birthday and family visit something guests want to repeat.
Hyper Kidz Fort Worth is an equal opportunity employer.
Pay: $17.00 - $20.00 per hour
Experience:
- Supervising: 3 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
