Kitchen Manager
Full-Time | Leadership Position Pay: Competitive, based on experience
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Our Purpose
At Artists Colony, we create memorable experiences that renew people through hospitality, food, and place.
Our property exists to renew our guests. Our culture renews our teammates. Our leadership renews Brown County.
We're building more than a restaurant—we're creating a destination known for elevated comfort food, genuine hospitality, and a team culture that people are proud to be part of.
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Position Summary
We are seeking a hands-on Kitchen Manager who leads from the front.
This is a player-coach leadership role. While you will oversee staffing, scheduling, inventory, food cost, ordering, and kitchen operations, the majority of your time will be spent cooking on the line and working alongside your team during prep and service.
This is not an office-based management position.
We believe the best kitchen leaders earn respect by working beside their team, coaching in real time, and setting the standard through their actions.
You'll be responsible for building a kitchen that consistently delivers exceptional food while developing people, improving systems, and creating a culture where teammates enjoy coming to work every day.
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Key Responsibilities
Lead Every Shift
Lead by example and set the standard for every service.
· Cook alongside the team during prep and service
· Lead the line while maintaining quality, consistency, and ticket times
· Step into any station when needed
· Coach employees in real time
· Set the pace, energy, urgency, and professionalism for every shift
· Ensure every guest receives an exceptional dining experience
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Build an Exceptional Team
Great hospitality starts with great teammates.
You'll be responsible for:
· Recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding kitchen employees
· Creating schedules that align with business demand
· Training employees on recipes, techniques, and standards
· Providing regular coaching, accountability, and performance feedback
· Building a positive, respectful, team-first culture
· Developing future leaders within the kitchen
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Build Systems That Create Consistency
Excellence isn't accidental.
You'll create repeatable systems by:
· Maintaining documented recipes and kitchen standards
· Completing daily line checks
· Managing prep sheets and production planning
· Training employees to consistent expectations
· Keeping the kitchen clean, organized, and prepared
· Continuously improving kitchen systems and processes
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Deliver Outstanding Food
Every plate represents Artists Colony.
You'll ensure:
· Recipe consistency
· Proper portioning
· Exceptional food quality
· Consistent presentation standards
· Food safety and sanitation compliance
· A kitchen that's always guest-ready
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Own Kitchen Operations
Take ownership of the daily operation of the kitchen by:
· Managing inventory and food ordering
· Receiving deliveries and maintaining vendor relationships
· Monitoring food rotation and minimizing waste
· Maintaining prep systems and production planning
· Monitoring kitchen equipment and maintenance needs
· Keeping operational tools, recipes, and documentation current
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Own Financial Performance
Help the restaurant achieve its financial goals by:
· Managing food cost
· Building labor-efficient schedules
· Monitoring overtime and labor productivity
· Maintaining accurate inventory
· Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency while maintaining quality
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Raise the Standard
We're building something special.
We expect our leaders to:
· Look for opportunities to improve our food, systems, and guest experience
· Welcome feedback and new ideas
· Solve problems instead of making excuses
· Help refine recipes and operational processes
· Embrace change with optimism and ownership
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How We Lead at Artists Colony
Every leader at Artists Colony is expected to live our RENEW values.
Raise the Standard
See what could be.
We never settle for "good enough." We continually look for opportunities to improve our food, systems, and guest experience.
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Elevate Each Other
Be the teammate you'd want beside you.
We coach, encourage, support, and challenge one another because great teams create great hospitality.
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Nurture Excellence
Build systems that make success repeatable.
We believe consistency comes from preparation, documentation, training, and execution—not luck.
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Everyone Contributes
Our job is hospitality.
No task is beneath anyone. We jump in wherever the team needs us because every guest experience belongs to all of us.
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We Find a Way
Be open before you're certain.
When challenges arise, we focus on solutions instead of excuses and work together to move forward.
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What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who:
· Has 2+ years of kitchen leadership experience (preferred)
· Is passionate about cooking and hospitality
· Leads with humility and serves alongside their team
· Has experience with hiring, scheduling, inventory, and food cost management
· Understands food safety and sanitation best practices
· Communicates clearly and coaches people effectively
· Thrives in a fast-paced environment
· Enjoys working on the line for the majority of each shift
· Has a continuous improvement mindset
· Wants to help build something special
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Success in This Role
Success means:
· The kitchen runs smoothly every day.
· Team members are trained, engaged, and growing.
· Food quality is consistent regardless of who's working.
· Labor and food costs are managed intentionally.
· Recipes and systems are documented and followed.
· Guests receive memorable dining experiences.
· Problems are solved proactively.
· The kitchen is cleaner, more organized, and more efficient than when you started.
· You leave the team, the kitchen, and every shift better than you found it.
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Physical Requirements
This position requires:
· Standing for extended periods throughout each shift
· Frequently lifting up to 50 pounds
· Working in a fast-paced kitchen environment with exposure to heat and moderate to high noise levels
· Working evenings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs
· Regularly working on the line throughout the majority of each shift
Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
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About Artists Colony
Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, Indiana, Artists Colony Inn & Restaurant has been welcoming guests since 1985. We're investing in our people, our food, and our future as we continue building one of Indiana's premier boutique hotel restaurants.
If you're looking for a place where you'll lead from the front, develop others, and help create memorable experiences through hospitality, food, and place—we'd love to meet you.
Pay: $22.00 - $26.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Paid training
Experience:
- Kitchen management: 2 years (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
