Join the Loveless Cafe Family!
At The Loveless Cafe, we’re more than just a restaurant - we’re a Nashville tradition with a heart for hospitality. Our vibrant team supports a variety of operations, including our world-famous full-service restaurant, charming retail shops, lively event venues (The Barn and the Harpeth Room), on-site and off-site catering, and a food truck. Every day, we welcome guests from all over the world who come to experience our warm Southern hospitality and home-cooked goodness.
If you’re passionate about great food, genuine service, and being part of something special, we’d love to meet you!
The Loveless Cafe is currently seeking a full-time Assistant Kitchen Manager.
Starting pay rate: $50-$55k/year DOE + potential operational bonuses
Excellent benefits are available for eligible employees such as:
- Employee referral bonuses
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and various supplemental insurances - we offer family coverage, PPO and HDHP options, and cover 80% of your medical premiums!
- Company Matched 401(k)/ROTH retirement options - up to a 4% match on your contributions with immediate vesting!
- Student Loan Payment assistance through Gradifi - we help you pay down your principle balance!
- Paid Parental Bonding Leave for new mothers AND fathers
- Paid Time Off starts accruing on day one
- Holiday Pay - salaried managers receive floating holidays!
- Professional Development opportunities - Anything from Excel to CPR training and more!
- Employee recognition programs and engagement events throughout the year!
Benefits are available for eligible employees beginning as early as 60 days. Promoting from within the company is encouraged and practiced regularly.
Note: Must be able to work nights.
* Please make sure you are comfortable with our location and commute before applying. Located in the Bellevue TN area (West Nashville). *
Assistant Kitchen Manager – Key Responsibilities
As an Assistant Kitchen Manager at The Loveless Cafe, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring exceptional food quality, team leadership, and smooth kitchen operations. Your passion for great food, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence will help us maintain the high standards our guests know and love.
Your responsibilities will include:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Taking full ownership of food quality, ensuring every dish meets our high standards.
- Mastering and upholding all company policies, procedures, recipes, and training protocols.
- Consistently following proper portion sizes, cooking methods, and food presentation guidelines.
- Supporting a welcoming, friendly, and courteous environment for both guests and team members.
- Maintaining consistent food preparation and service aligned with our time-tested recipes and quality expectations.
- Leading by example to meet company goals in food quality, service, cleanliness, and team morale.
- Overseeing cash handling and reconciliation procedures to ensure accuracy and accountability.
- Assisting with hiring and termination decisions in collaboration with the General Manager.
- Stepping into kitchen roles as needed to ensure service standards and workflow are maintained.
- Coaching and developing kitchen staff, supporting their professional and managerial growth.
- Completing necessary administrative duties—reports, logs, and schedules—efficiently and accurately.
- Conducting regular equipment checks and maintaining a clean, safe, and organized kitchen space.
- Monitoring deliveries for accuracy and quality, ensuring proper receiving procedures are followed.
- Creating efficient labor schedules based on business needs while managing labor costs.
- Enforcing consistent and fair application of company policies and corrective actions when necessary.
- Ensuring full compliance with health, safety, and labor regulations at all levels.
- Serving as a trusted advisor to the Kitchen Manager and General Manager by offering operational insights and feedback.
What We’re Looking For:
The ideal candidate will bring a positive attitude, strong leadership, and a passion for great food. Key skills and qualities include:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to lead, motivate, and collaborate with the team
- Ability to read, understand, and accurately follow recipes and kitchen instructions
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Proven ability to produce high-quality work under pressure and meet deadlines—with or without direct supervision
- Commitment to maintaining a clean, safe, and health-compliant kitchen environment
- Professional and respectful communication with team members, guests, and vendors
Core Competencies:
We value individuals who bring both skill and heart to their work. Key competencies for this role include:
- Strong Leadership – Ability to guide, support, and inspire kitchen staff to perform at their best
- Food Quality Focus – Commitment to upholding high standards in food preparation, presentation, and safety
- Flexibility – Willingness to adapt to changing priorities and assist where needed to ensure smooth operations
- Time Management – Skilled in prioritizing tasks and managing time efficiently in a high-paced environment
- Teamwork Orientation – Collaborative spirit with a focus on building a positive, respectful team culture
Supervisory Responsibility:
This position directly supervises all kitchen and BOH staff.
Work Environment:
Work involves considerable exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, grease, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors and/or loud noises.
Physical Demands:
The employee must be able to stand for long periods of time, up to 9-hours. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift or move objects up to 40 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Must have stamina to work 50+ hours per week as needed.
Work Authorization:
Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Qualifications:
- HS diploma or GED required
- Must be 21 years of age
- A minimum of one year of back-of-the-house management operations
Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
- Valid Tennessee Driver’s License
- Must have availability to work a changing schedule, including nights, holidays, and weekends
Preferences:
- Multi-lingual
- Serve Safe Certified (company will pay for you to get certified if needed)
- ABC certified
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Experience with Food and Beverage Industry Software (POS, Reservation, To Go)
- Creative, highly motivated, eager, and enthusiastic while implementing company policies, standards, programs and procedures
- Ability to manage in a diverse environment with focus on client and customer services is essential to success in this role
Why Join the Loveless Cafe Family?
We’re a proud, locally owned Nashville landmark committed to supporting our community - and our team. With competitive benefits, transparent leadership, and a culture that values growth and inclusion, we offer more than just a job. At Loveless Cafe, you’ll be part of a tradition that cares about people and gives back every step of the way!
Background Check Disclaimer
Employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check. Convictions involving violent or sexual offenses will result in disqualification. All other convictions will be reviewed based on their nature, recency, and relevance to the position, in accordance with company policy and applicable laws including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and EEOC guidance.
The Loveless Cafe LLC is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and maintaining a capable and committed workforce. EOE/M/F/D/V
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- This position requires employees to work safely with coworkers, customers, vendors, and the public. Have you ever been convicted of a violent offense (including assault, aggravated assault, domestic assault, robbery involving force, or similar offenses) that may affect your ability to meet this requirement?
- This position is fully onsite in West Nashville and does not offer relocation assistance. To be considered, applicants must currently reside within 50-miles of the work location (West Nashville, near Bellevue). Do you currently meet this requirement?
- When would you be available to start?
Experience:
- similar restaurant supervisor or manager: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
Shift availability:
- Day Shift (Preferred)
- Night Shift (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
