Tamar is a fast-growing fast-casual restaurant in Santa Barbara. We operate with the technical standards of a fine dining kitchen inside a fast-casual format — precision, consistency, and ownership are non-negotiable here.
We are expanding and looking for a serious kitchen manager who can run a tight operation, develop a team, and help us build something lasting. This is a hands-on leadership role — you will own your shift from the moment you walk in to the moment the kitchen is clean and closed.
RESPONSIBILITIES
-Run the kitchen
-Prep strategy, organization, and hands-on technical execution
-Write and manage the full chef schedule — proactively flag gaps to the other managers and Executive team
-Train new and existing staff on SOPs and new menu items
-Ordering, waste management, FIFO, and portion control
-Enter and manage invoices in Xtrachef
-Primary contact for all shift changes and callouts
-Open and close register
-Expedite during service and oversee setup and full kitchen breakdown nightly
-Report directly to the Executive Chef
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
-3+ years chef experience with at least 1+ year in a lead or management role
-Strong organizational skills and systems mindset
-Leads by example — earns trust before demanding it
-Can hold a team accountable without burning them out
-Comfortable with ordering, scheduling, and food cost awareness
-Bilingual English/Spanish preferred
-Calm, decisive, and organized under pressure
THIS ROLE IS NOT FOR YOU IF
-You need to be told what to do every shift
-You are not ready to own your position
-You expect respect before you have earned it