Highlights
This role combines active kitchen leadership with time dedicated to developing managers, improving production, controlling costs, and building reliable systems. Keep growing as a leader - Work directly with our Owner/Operator, receive intentional coaching, and gain experience leading people, improving operations, and managing business performance.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Lakewood, CA |
| Salary | $31 |
Description
Build a strong kitchen. Develop great leaders. Serve food you’re proud of.
Chick-fil-A Lakewood | Lakewood, CA
Full Time
$31.50–$40.00 per hour
50% in Restaurant Operations | 50% focused on leadership, planning, and development
About the Role:
A great kitchen runs on more than recipes. It runs on leadership.
As the Back of House Director at Chick-fil-A Lakewood, you’ll lead the people, processes, and standards behind every meal we serve. You’ll build a kitchen where food safety comes first, quality stays consistent, and teammates work together with confidence and purpose.
This role combines active kitchen leadership with time dedicated to developing managers, improving production, controlling costs, and building reliable systems. You’ll work directly with our Owner/Operator and partner with other restaurant leaders to turn a busy kitchen into a well-organized, dependable operation.
We’re looking for someone who takes pride in the details, enjoys developing others, and follows through. Someone who can guide the team through a lunch rush while building the training, routines, and leadership that make the next one run better.
Our mission is simple: To showcase our care for others through compassion, hospitality, and great food.
Perks That Go Beyond Your Paycheck:
Sundays are yours - We’re closed every Sunday, giving you a dependable day to rest, recharge, and spend time with the people you love.
Health coverage for your family - PPO medical coverage with a significant employer contribution toward eligible employee and dependent premiums.
Dental coverage, too - PPO coverage with a significant contribution toward eligible employee and dependent premiums.
Invest in your future - 401(k) with an employer match of up to 4% for eligible team members.
Added peace of mind - $75,000 in life insurance coverage for eligible team members.
Time to recharge - Accrued PTO begins after 90 days, with up to five days during your first year and up to 10 days after your first year, subject to the PTO policy’s accrual rules and limits.
Free college tuition - Pursue your degree with free tuition for eligible online undergraduate programs through our partnership with Hope International University (HIU), subject to program eligibility requirements.
Scholarship opportunities - Apply for Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarships to help support your education.
Good food comes with the job - Enjoy a food allowance worth up to $2,860 annually, depending on your schedule and program eligibility.
Keep growing as a leader - Work directly with our Owner/Operator, receive intentional coaching, and gain experience leading people, improving operations, and managing business performance.
What You’ll Own:
- Lead kitchen operations across preparation, breading, cooking, assembly, and production support.
- Own daily execution of food safety standards, including temperature controls, holding times, product rotation, sanitation, and corrective action.
- Maintain consistent food quality, portioning, presentation, and recipe execution.
- Develop managers and team leaders who can direct production, coach effectively, and maintain standards across every shift.
- Partner with HR and restaurant leadership on hiring, onboarding, staffing needs,and performance management.
- Own BOH training execution, ensuring team members demonstrate station proficiency and understand the reasons behind procedures.
- Plan schedules and station deployment around demand, balancing production needs, labor goals, and appropriate break coverage.
- Manage production planning and product availability to support fast service while limiting overproduction and waste.
- Oversee ordering, inventory counts, receiving, storage, and rotation to maintain availability and control food costs.
- Build and maintain dependable routines for cleaning, opening, closing,equipment care, and shift handoffs.
- Review kitchen performance, identify the causes of recurring issues, and follow through on improvements.
- Partner with the FOH Director to anticipate demand, communicate delays, and coordinate food production with guest service.
- Set expectations, recognize strong performance, and address gaps promptly through direct,respectful coaching.
- Model our CHOICE values: Community Focused, Have Fun, Own Your Growth, Integrity, Cooperation, and Excellence.
How Success Is Measured:
You’ll be accountable for agreed-upon department goals, with regular performance
reviews alongside the Owner/Operator. Key measures include:
- Food quality, freshness, and consistency.
- Production speed, product availability, and kitchen-related service delays.
- Food safety inspection results and timely correction of identified issues.
- Food cost, waste, inventory accuracy, and stock availability.
- Labor productivity and execution of staffing and scheduling plans.
- Training completion, station proficiency, and leadership development.
- Team retention and consistent follow-through on coaching.
- Kitchen cleanliness, equipment readiness, and completion of operational routines.
What You’ll Bring:
- Experience leading a kitchen or food production team in a busy environment.
- A strong understanding of food safety, kitchen workflows, and quality standards.
- A track record of developing leaders and improving team performance.
- Confidence managing inventory, production planning, labor, and waste.
- The ability to use performance data to identify problems and make practical improvements.
- Strong organization, attention to detail, and follow-through.
- A willingness to have direct conversations, receive feedback, and hold yourself accountable.
- Composure during busy periods and a readiness to work alongside your team.
- Availability to support the opening, closing, and peak periods required by the role.
- Ability to perform essential kitchen duties, including standing for extended
- periods and working around heat and kitchen equipment, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and applicable program terms. Pay within the posted range depends on qualifications, experience, and position requirements.
Ready to Build a Kitchen That Delivers?
Bring your pride in great food, your commitment to people, and your drive to make the team better.
Working at a Chick-fil-A® restaurant is more than a job – it’s an opportunity for teamwork and leadership development in a positive, people-focused environment. Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent, franchised Operators who invest in the future of their Team Members and give back to their communities.