Kitchen Manager- Berkeley Culinary Center Berkely, IL, USA Requisition Number 14008 Location Berkely Il Job Description Kitchen Manager – Lead Quality, Power Efficiency, Drive Excellence! Do you have a passion for high-volume kitchen production and the operational talent to match? Join Whitsons Culinary Group as a Kitchen Manager and play a vital role in delivering safe, consistent, and high-quality meals to thousands every day. From running cook/chill lines to managing labor and optimizing production schedules, this is your opportunity to lead a fast-paced culinary manufacturing environment where every process matters—and every improvement makes a difference. What You’ll Do: Oversee Daily Production Operations Manage and monitor all aspects of kitchen manufacturing, including run rates, labor, quality control, and food safety. Lead with Technical Know-How Work hands-on with equipment like Lyco Cookers, Blentech Systems, Rovema pouch fillers, and more to ensure optimal settings and performance. Schedule & Optimize Develop production schedules, coordinate decanting with batch cycles, and make real-time adjustments to increase throughput and reduce downtime. Track & Report Ensure work orders are accurate and completed on time. Monitor labor efficiency, product counts, and cost benchmarks. Develop Your Team Mentor, motivate, and grow your kitchen staff—your leadership will be measured by their success and engagement. Support R&D & Commercialization Collaborate with our culinary innovation team to translate new recipes into scalable, repeatable, and texture-consistent batch programs. Uphold Safety & Quality Standards Champion food safety, SQF protocols, and occupational safety practices in every step of the production process. Meet Operational KPIs Drive results that align with Whitsons’ key performance indicators in customer service, efficiency, and inventory accuracy. What You Bring: Strong knowledge of food production equipment and kitchen operationsHigh school diploma required; culinary certificate preferredServSafe or local food handler certificationMicrosoft Office proficiency; experience with ERP systems like X3 a plusExperience managing and training production staffSpanish/English bilingual preferred Physical & Work Environment: + Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs and stand/walk most of the day + Work includes exposure to hot and cold environments and moderate to loud noise + Occasional evening/weekend work or travel may be required Why Join Us? + Leadership role with room to grow + Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance + Paid Time Off + 401K with Company Match + Purpose-driven culture built around quality, care, and continuous improvement About Whitsons: At Whitsons Culinary Group, we’re not just producing food—we’re Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™. As our next Kitchen Production Manager, you’ll ensure that every batch delivers the safety, flavor, and care our communities deserve. Ready to lead a kitchen that feeds thousands? Apply now and make your impact count—every day, every plate. Salary 85K+ dependent on experience Requirements REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES: Education : + High School or Similar degree required + Culinary certificate preferred Certifications : + ServSafe or Local Food Handlers Ordinance Computer Skills : + Knowledge of Microsoft office suite + X3 Other Qualifications, Experience and Competencies : + Ability to manage and train staff + Bilingual Spanish preferred PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. + While performing the duties of this job, the team member is frequently required Sit, walk, talk and hear + Use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. + Be standing on feet majority of the workday in addition to walking back and forth. + Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Lifting while turning side to side is sometimes necessary. + Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Position sometimes requires extended hours including evenings and/or weekends, travel to multiple work sites and occasional out-of-state travel. WORK ENVIRONMENT: + The work is performed primarily in a manufacturing environment, specifically the packing and warehousing areas + Standing most of the workday is required. + Work requires movement in and out of storerooms, near heavy machinery and freezers + Exposure to extreme temperatures (hot and cold) due to cooking and refrigeration equipment. + The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work and duties that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position, and the Company reserves the right to add additional duties or modify existing duties. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Company and employee and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and requirements of the job change. Work Schedule Monday thru Friday Supervisor Paul Burnup Salary Target 85K+