Kitchen Manager

Production Kitchen Manager

At Arden’s Garden, we are committed to fueling our communities with fresh, cold-pressed juices, plant-based meals, and wellness-driven products made daily. The Kitchen Manager – Production is a highly skilled culinary and operational leader responsible for overseeing all batching, plant-based prep, cold-press production, and kitchen execution.

This role ensures the highest standards of freshness, food safety, consistency, and efficiency in a high-volume production environment. The Kitchen Manager leads from the front — setting the pace, maintaining excellence, and developing a strong, accountable production team.

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Production & Execution

• Oversee daily production of cold-pressed juices, smoothies, plant-based meals, wellness shots, and grab-and-go items
• Manage batching, recipe scaling, and production scheduling to meet retail and wholesale demand
• Ensure strict adherence to standardized recipes and portion controls
• Monitor product quality, flavor consistency, texture, and appearance
• Oversee cold-press operations, juice extraction processes, and plant-based food preparation
• Maintain production flow to ensure on-time delivery to retail locations

Food Safety & Quality Assurance

• Ensure full compliance with local, state, and federal food safety regulations
• Enforce sanitation procedures across prep tables, cold-press machines, bottling lines, and storage areas
• Oversee temperature logs, production logs, labeling accuracy, and shelf-life management
• Ensure FIFO (First In, First Out) inventory practices are strictly followed

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop production team members across prep, batching, juicing, bottling, and packaging
• Create efficient production schedules aligned with demand forecasting
• Train team members on equipment use, safety standards, and Arden’s Garden quality expectations
• Hold team accountable to speed, precision, and cleanliness standards
• Foster a culture rooted in wellness, teamwork, urgency, and pride in product

Inventory & Cost Management

• Oversee raw ingredient inventory including produce, plant-based ingredients, dry goods, and packaging materials
• Monitor yield and minimize product waste
• Partner with purchasing to forecast volume needs
• Track production metrics to maintain cost efficiency and productivity goals

Equipment & Facility Oversight

• Ensure proper operation and maintenance of cold-press machines, grinders, mixers, sealers, and refrigeration systems
• Coordinate preventative maintenance and repairs
• Maintain a clean, organized, inspection-ready production facility

Core Competencies

• Strong operational leadership
• Advanced knowledge of batching and production scaling
• Detail-oriented with a high quality standard
• Process-driven and efficiency-focused
• Strong communicator and team motivator
• Physically able to stand for extended periods and lift 50+ lbs

What Success Looks Like

• Products consistently meet Arden’s Garden quality standards
• Production runs on schedule with minimal waste
• Health inspections and audits are seamless
• Team members are trained, engaged, and accountable
• Retail stores receive fresh, accurate, and timely deliveries

At Arden’s Garden, we don’t just make juice — we make wellness accessible. The Kitchen Manager plays a critical role in ensuring every bottle and every meal reflects our commitment to freshness, integrity, and community health.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of high-volume culinary or food production experience
• 2–3 years of leadership experience in a production kitchen, commissary, or food manufacturing environment
• Experience with juice production, batching, plant-based preparation, or cold-press systems strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP principles, and regulatory compliance
• Lean Manufacturing knowledge (strongly preferred)
• Experience managing production teams in fast-paced environments
• Bilingual: English and Spanish