Kitchen Lead Jobs
Kitchen Lead jobs are open across restaurants, hotels, catering operations, and institutional foodservice, from entry-level line supervision to senior kitchen leadership, with specializations in prep coordination, station management, and culinary team training. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Kitchen Lead JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 102+ Kitchen Lead jobs
Wage: Starting at $25+ per hour DOE
Hours: 9PM to 5AM | 40 hours per week
Schedule: Sunday through Thursday
Benefits:
- Medical/Dental/Vision
- Paid Time Off - PTO
- 401K with Company match.
- Must pass a background check and drug test.
- Must have valid Drivers License
- Must provide clean driving record for the last 3 years.
- The set-up and take-down of equipment including hanging plastic sheeting, mixing chemicals, setting up ladders, wet/dry vacuums, pre-sprayers, garden hoses, and high-pressure hoses
- Pressure washing the interior of kitchen exhaust systems (fans, ducts, and hoods).
- Pre-scraping greasy buildup from affected areas of kitchen exhaust systems
- Final clean-up in kitchens by wiping down the hoods, mopping up the floors, etc.
- Independent completion of work projects with limited supervision
- Reporting mechanical deficiencies of equipment to management
- Maintain clean company tools, equipment, and vehicles each night.
- Have reliable transportation.
- Have a working cellphone and have effective communication with Management
- Be dependable; able to show up on time, read and follow instructions
- Be able to climb ladders, able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
- Have excellent attention to detail, and be able to work quickly and efficiently
- Be able to work flexible hours and some weekends
- Be able to work safely in both hot, cold, and/or inclement weather
- Be fluent in English; able to communicate well with customers and other team members
- Be able to learn new procedures quickly to assist with the exhaust cleaning process
About us:
Since our founding, Bare Metal Standard is known for quality services, exceptional efficiency, and the highest level of professionalism in the Portland, OR community. No matter what service you’re looking for, we guarantee to not only meet but exceed your expectations and ensure your satisfaction. Our team is up for every job, managing projects with the skill and experience our clients have come to expect.
You can also apply:
In-person at our Office located on: 15790 SE Piazza Avenue, Suite 102, Clackamas OR, 97015 Monday - Thursday from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM and Fridays from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM Phone: 503-905-5065
This franchise is independently owned and operated by a ServiceMaster Clean® franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of this franchisee. All inquiries about employment at this location should be made directly to the franchisee, and not to The ServiceMaster Company, LLC.
Kitchen Lead Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Kitchen Lead JobsKitchen Lead Job Market
Who's Hiring
- goop Kitchen11
- Habit Burger & Grill9
- DoorDash7
- CoreLife Eatery4
- Balls Foods3
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in kitchen lead jobs.
- Two or more years of kitchen or line cook experience in a commercial setting
- ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent food safety credential
- Ability to supervise, train, and direct kitchen staff during service
- Experience with prep scheduling, par levels, and inventory management
- Strong knowledge of food handling, sanitation, and health code compliance
- Availability for early morning, late night, weekend, and holiday shifts
Tips for Your Kitchen Lead Job Search
Tailor your resume to each kitchen type
A fast-casual kitchen lead role and a hotel banquet operation want very different things. Rewrite your resume's summary line and top bullet points to match the volume, cuisine style, and service format of each specific listing you apply to.
List your certifications above the fold
ServSafe Manager certification and food handler cards often filter applications before a hiring manager reads a word. Put certifications in a dedicated line near the top of your resume so they're visible immediately, not buried in a skills section.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists kitchen lead openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Show prep and ordering experience clearly
Many kitchen lead postings specifically screen for cost control and food waste reduction. If you've managed par levels, written prep lists, or placed supply orders, name those tasks explicitly in your resume rather than folding them into a general 'supervised kitchen operations' phrase.
Prepare a staffing story for interviews
Interviewers for kitchen lead roles almost always ask how you've handled call-outs, short staffing, or training a new hire mid-service. Have a specific, story-ready example that shows your decision-making under real kitchen pressure, not a theoretical answer.
Negotiate schedule and station authority
Pay negotiation matters, but kitchen leads often gain more day-to-day satisfaction from clarifying shift structure, station ownership, and ordering authority before accepting. Ask directly which decisions you'll own versus escalate to the head chef or kitchen manager.
Kitchen Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most kitchen leads?
goop Kitchen, Habit Burger & Grill, and DoorDash are hiring the most kitchen leads right now, with openings concentrated in California, New York, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. High-volume employers in hospitality, contract foodservice, and national restaurant groups tend to post the most consistently.
How many kitchen lead jobs are remote?
About 0% of kitchen lead openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most kitchen environments. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or flexible arrangements are culinary training coordination, menu development support, and foodservice consulting roles.
How do you become a kitchen lead?
Start by building several years of line cook or prep cook experience in a consistent, high-volume kitchen environment. Earn a food safety certification such as ServSafe Manager, then step into closing duties, prep list ownership, or shift coverage responsibilities that give you supervisory exposure. Telling that progression clearly in your resume and interview is what gets you hired.
Can you get hired as a kitchen lead with little experience?
Some employers will hire candidates with limited formal kitchen lead experience if you can demonstrate strong line cook skills, reliability, and initiative on a team. Focus your application on roles at smaller independent restaurants or cafes, where leads are developed internally, and highlight any time you've trained a new hire, run a station solo, or covered a supervisor's absence.
What does the kitchen lead interview process look like?
Most kitchen lead interviews start with a phone or in-person screening that covers your background, certifications, and availability. A working interview or practical skills assessment is common, where you may be asked to run a prep station, demonstrate knife skills, or lead a mock service briefing. Final conversations usually focus on how you handle conflict, call-outs, and quality control under pressure.
Where can I find and apply to kitchen lead jobs?
You can find and apply to kitchen lead jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your experience and preferred kitchen environment, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 102+ Kitchen Lead Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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