Kitchen Manager

Lucky Duck, the newest addition to the Delaware Waterfront opening March 2026, is looking to fill the Kitchen Manager position! Lucky Duck is a Riverside Tavern reimagined - focusing on great cocktails & Guinness pours and modern Americana fare with warm and comforting aesthetics and upbeat tunes. Lucky Duck will be the first bar on the waterfront open year-round.

We're looking for an experienced Kitchen Manager who is passionate about hospitality, and capable of creating and establishing a tight, detailed BOH Operation from scratch. This Manager is ideally a Swiss army knife, capable of back office management and expo like a traditional Kitchen Manager and the ability/experience to step in as a line or prep cook if need be.

The Kitchen Manager will report directly to the Chef Owner and Director of BOH Operations. The Chef Owner and Director of BOH Operations will largely set the menu but the Kitchen Manager has the opportunity to introduce specials and work on dishes so long as experience is exemplified. The menu will feature jersey style bar pizzas (a hybrid between Chicago thin and NY style) with an additional 14-16 tavern style items. If you have experience with pizza making that is a plus but not required.

Job responsibilities at a glance:

• Serve as direct liaison to Business Owners, specifically Chef Owner and Director of BOH Operations, who will oversee the food program with Kitchen Manager
• Manage recruiting and hiring alongside Head Chef
• Trains, develops and appraises staff effectively. Takes corrective action as necessary on a timely basis and in accordance with company employee warning and termination policy. Consults with ownership as appropriate.
• Manage BOH scheduling using scheduling app alongside Head Chef - ensuring shifts have proper coverage, fair distribution and employee relations
• Manage all BOH staff communications - staff meetings, kitchen deep cleans, menu updates etc..
• Manage clock in/clock out time entries and update event tip sheet before the GM processes payroll
• Manage COGS, waste/theft and major expense category control based on established key performance indicators
• Ensure food vendor deliveries and invoices are accurate. Pay invoices if applicable.
• General maintenance of kitchen equipment and repairs
• Oversee and manage in house catering for private events
• Responsible for planning and directing food preparation in the kitchen, using the Yearly Calendar for food specials, alongside ownership
• Responsible for updating recipe book, adhering to established written recipe formats
• Responsible for ensuring daily stock checklists, cleaning checklists and other associated procedural checklists are completed on a daily basis
• Work with ownership on developing new menu items, specials, tastings and staying on top of industry trends
• Checks stocks and maintains sufficient levels of food products at line stations to assure a smooth service period
• Assumes 100% responsibility for quality of products served

Qualifications include:

• 2+ years of kitchen experience in a high volume, excellence driven environment
• Minimum 1 year in a management position within the bar & restaurant industry
• A sincere passion for the hospitality industry and all things food and drink
• Extensive experience hiring and training across all service areas
• Uphold the integrity of the workplace culture and overall customer experience provided at Lucky Duck
• Outstanding written and verbal communication acumen
• The ability to successfully lead the BOH team
• Conflict resolution
• Special event execution
• Knowledge of pizza making, general preparation and pastry are a plus
• Food Safety Knowledge
• High organizational skills
• Must be comfortable with POS systems, Microsoft Office and inventory tools
• ServSafe and Food Handling certification are necessary