Food Service Manager Jobs in California
Food Service Manager jobs in California are concentrated in full-service restaurants, hotel food and beverage operations, healthcare dining, and large-scale corporate and educational dining programs, with openings at every level from assistant manager to multi-unit director. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the most active hiring metros, and established employers like Sodexo, Compass Group, and Aramark maintain a consistent California presence alongside major hospital systems and resort properties. The highest demand is in institutional dining, casual dining chains, and catering operations requiring volume-scale oversight. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Position Summary
The Food Service Manager is responsible for planning, preparing, and overseeing the preparation of food for daily meal service and special events. This position ensures compliance with all applicable sanitation, health, food safety, and personal hygiene standards while following established food production programs, policies, and procedures. The Food Service Manager oversees all food service operations, including food and supply ordering, inventory management, and large-scale meal preparation. The position also ensures the proper use, care, and maintenance of facility supplies and equipment while minimizing loss, waste, and misuse of resources.
PAY RATE: $26.00-$28.00/hr
Essential Functions
- Ability to train, schedule, and motivate kitchen staff.
- Provide Orientation to volunteers, community service workers, and staff on kitchen safety and service.
- Perform pre-safety checks and routine inspections of food equipment, report major repairs or services needed and all emergencies, accidents or equipment breakdowns immediately.
- Plans, prepares, or directs preparation of food served daily or requested catering services using established production procedures and systems.
- Determines amount and type of food and supplies required using production systems.
- Ensures availability of supplies and food or approved substitutions in adequate time for preparation.
- Sets steam table; serves or ensures proper serving of food for tray line or dining room.
- Skills to manage food and labor costs, track inventory, and stick to a budget.
- Orders food and supplies and processes invoices
- Maintain inventory of all food, supplies, and Equipment
- Work with the Events Coordinator for Catering requests.
- Comply with established sanitation standards, personal hygiene, and health standards. Observes proper food preparation and handling techniques.
- Stores food properly and safely, marking the date and item.
- Reports necessary equipment repair and maintenance to the supervisor.
- Correctly prepares all food served following standard recipes and special diet orders.
- Plans food production to coordinate with meal serving hours so that excellence, quality, temperature, and appearance of food are preserved.
- Apportions food for serving.
- Maintains daily production records.
- Always keeps work area neat and clean; cleans and maintains equipment used in food preparation.
- Completes food temperature checks before service.
- Is subject to frequent interruptions by members, staff, volunteers, visitors, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
- Communicates with department personnel and other department staff.
- Works beyond normal working hours and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
- Is subject to callback during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
- Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
- Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, and other air contaminants
Working Conditions
The employee is required to sit, stand, reach, lift, bend, kneel, stoop, climb, push and pull items weighing 50 pounds or less. The position requires manual dexterity; auditory and visual skills; and the ability to follow written and oral instructions and procedures.
This job operates in a kitchen environment with equipment such as an oven, stove, dishwasher, slicer, coffee machine, steamer, mixer, and chef’s knives. The employee is frequently exposed to heat, steam, fire, and noise.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be a certified food handler under the California Safety Code 97-0071.
- Preferred Culinary Arts degree and/or 2 years of food handling experience.
- Valid California Driver's License with a clean driving record
- Ability to understand written information and keep accurate stats/inventory.
- Must be TB cleared & CPR and First Aid Certificate upon hire date
- Microsoft Office applications and excel a plus.
- Ability to place orders and calculate inventories for production.
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
- Must have work experience in kitchen/food service (knife skills, health, sanitary regulations, cooking skills, and working with large equipment).
- Ability to carry out assignments independently, maintain good rapport and communication with other staff members, clients and the public.
- Education or experience working with diverse populations.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong work ethic, personable, dependable, and must be efficient.
- Must be able to work any shift and assigned schedule.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
See All 72 Food Service Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Food Service Manager JobsFood Service Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Food Service Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Aramark10

- Arc of San Diego4

- Pacific Seafood3

- Sodexo2

- Target2

Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in food service manager jobs across California.
- Food Handler Manager Certification issued or recognized by a California-accredited provider
- Three or more years of food service or restaurant management experience
- Demonstrated experience managing food cost, labor budgets, and inventory controls
- Proven ability to hire, train, and supervise hourly and shift-lead staff
- Familiarity with California health code, sanitation standards, and local health department inspections
- Experience with point-of-sale systems, scheduling software, and ordering platforms
Food Service Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a food service manager in California?
California requires food service managers to obtain a Food Handler Manager Certification from an American National Standards Institute-accredited provider, such as ServSafe or the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, before supervising a food facility. Most California employers also expect at least an associate degree in hospitality, culinary arts, or business alongside hands-on kitchen or front-of-house experience. Community colleges throughout California, including the California Culinary Academy system, offer programs that align with these requirements.
Which companies hire food service managers in California?
Companies currently hiring food service managers in California include Aramark, Arc of San Diego, and Pacific Seafood, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's mix of large hospital networks, university systems, resort hotels, and contract dining operators means consistent year-round demand across both commercial and institutional settings.
Which California cities have the most food service manager jobs?
Los Angeles, San Diego, and Irvine have the most food service manager openings in California. Los Angeles dominates because of its sheer density of full-service restaurants, hotel properties, and entertainment-venue dining, while San Francisco and San Diego draw volume from corporate dining accounts, healthcare campuses, and a strong convention and tourism industry that keeps institutional and catering operations staffed year-round.
Are there remote food service manager jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Food service management is an inherently on-site role, requiring direct oversight of kitchen operations, staff, and health compliance. About 8% of food service manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those roles typically involve district-level oversight, menu development, or training coordination rather than day-to-day floor management.
How can I get hired as a food service manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving up from a lead cook, shift supervisor, or assistant manager role within the same operation. Large California contract dining companies like Sodexo and Compass Group run management development programs that recruit candidates with limited formal experience, prioritizing candidates who already hold a California-recognized Food Handler Manager Certification. Applying as a dining services coordinator or catering supervisor at a California university or hospital gives structured exposure to budget, staffing, and compliance without requiring prior management experience.
Where can I find and apply to food service manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to food service manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Search the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 72 Food Service Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Food Service Manager Jobs