🌱 About Farmer J
Farmer J is a fast‑casual, farm‑driven restaurant concept born in London in 2016. We serve bold, honest, scratch‑cooked, seasonal food made from high‑welfare and mindful ingredients. Known as “Home of the Fieldtray,” we invite guests to “Eat What Comes Natural”—bold, vibrant, honest food built around fresh produce, sustainably sourced meats and fish, and nearly 100% biodegradable packaging. With 18 London locations and rapid expansion, we brought our mission to NYC in January 2026, aiming to redefine fast‑casual dining with integrity, flavor, and civic-minded hospitality.
👨🍳 Position: Kitchen Manager – NYC
What You'll Do
As Kitchen Manager, you’re the engine of our kitchen—leading a passionate team to deliver flavorful food, fast, without ever compromising on quality or integrity.
Kitchen Operations & Food Quality
- Own the execution of every dish: hot line, prep, service line, and open kitchen
- Maintain exceptional quality, consistency, and presentation—scratch-cooked, every time
- Lead food safety, hygiene and allergen protocols (NYC DOH compliance + Farmer J standards)
- Optimize prep systems, line setup, and team workflows to keep pace with high-volume service
- Support seasonal menu rollouts with training, tastings and kitchen readiness
Team Leadership & Development
- Recruit, train and motivate back-of-house team (~5-7 people)
- Foster a learning culture rooted in our values: We Give a Fork, Start From Scratch, Bold but Humble
- Create daily prep schedules and team lineups that match expected volume
- Mentor line cooks and prep team—grow future Kitchen Leads and Managers
Stock & Cost Control
- Manage ordering, deliveries, inventory, and kitchen waste with precision
- Ensure accurate daily prep levels—minimizing food waste, maximizing freshness
- Maintain kitchen labor targets while ensuring smooth operations and team morale
Culture & Collaboration
- Work closely with General Manager to ensure seamless FOH/BOH coordination
- Be a visible leader—jump on the line when needed, lead by example
- Champion our mission of sustainability, community, and scratch cooking
✅ What We’re Looking For
Experience & Skillset
- 3+ years in a Kitchen Manager or Head Chef role in a fast-paced, quality-driven fast-casual or QSR concept
- Strong knife skills, line cooking experience, and knowledge of batch cooking systems
- Deep understanding of food safety, allergens, and compliance
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to give clear direction and build strong working relationships across the team and with guests; must be able to communicate effectively in English with guests and staff
- Systems proficiency including Microsoft Office, Toast, CrunchTime, and others
Leadership & Drive
- Calm under pressure, clear communicator, and a motivator by nature
- Strong organizational skills—you love systems, checklists, and prep plans
- Passionate about scratch cooking, seasonal produce, and training new cooks
Farmer J Fit
- You Give a Fork—about food, about people, about doing things the right way
- You care about where ingredients come from and the impact of how we cook
- You bring energy, warmth, and a humble desire to keep improving
🎁 What We Offer
- Salary ranging from $70,000-$85,00/annually + performance-based bonus structure
- Benefits package; health coverage support, paid time off, paid sick time, paid birthday off, pre-tax commuter benefits
- Staff perks: free meals & coffee, 50% off for family/friends, team socials,
- Career progression: clear paths to Senior Manager, Area Manager or HQ roles
- A real team, with values that actually mean something
This role requires the ability to see, hear, speak, reach, lift up to 25 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally, and to be on your feet for extended periods (typically 8 hours). You will also need to bend, move, and shift positions throughout your shift. These physical requirements can be met with or without reasonable accommodations.
Farmer J is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, ancestry, national origin, alienage or citizenship, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, or other protected status.
