Kitchen Manager

Full-Time · Cafe Bewilderment · Buffalo, NY

At Cafe Bewilderment, we believe food is a connection—an invitation to slow down, taste deeply, and discover something new. Our kitchen is small but mighty, built on creativity, collaboration, and the joy of working with seasonal ingredients. We make everything in-house, we care about sustainability, and we value people who bring curiosity, initiative, and heart to their craft.

We’re looking for a Kitchen Manager/BOH Supervisor who thrives in a close-knit team environment, loves working hands-on with fresh, local produce, and can keep the rhythm of a busy cafe kitchen running smoothly.

What You’ll Do:

Culinary Production & Leadership

- Work alongside the team to prep, cook, taste, and plate dishes with consistency and care.

- Lead the kitchen during service—keeping energy positive, pace steady, and communication clear.

- Support a small team with guidance, coaching, and example-setting.

- Maintain quality control of every ingredient coming in and every plate going out.

Inventory, Ordering & Systems:

- Manage BOH inventory: track par levels, monitor product rotation, minimize waste, and record shortages.

- Place and receive orders twice weekly; build relationships with our local farmers and suppliers.

- Maximize ingredients by creating “use-first” solutions and specials so nothing goes to waste.

Organization & Operations:

- Uphold food safety and sanitation standards with intention and pride.

- Open and close the kitchen following established procedures.

- Keep spaces clean, stocked, and thoughtfully arranged so the team can move with ease.

- Communicate kitchen needs with ownership—your voice matters here.

Who You Are

- You have professional kitchen experience—cafe, brunch, scratch kitchens, or small-team operations are a plus.

- You're comfortable leading a shift with calm confidence and collaborative energy.

- You’re excited about seasonal cooking, sustainable practices, and ingredient-driven menus.

- You’re organized, detail-oriented, and genuinely enjoy inventory systems and being “the one who knows where everything is.”

- You’re not above any task—prep, dishes, deep cleaning, helping a teammate—you jump in because you care.

- You bring warmth, curiosity, and good energy to the kitchen every day.

Why Work With Us:

- A creative kitchen that values experimentation, seasonal change, and fresh ideas.

- A supportive, inclusive, LGBTQ-friendly team environment.

- A place where your input helps shape the menu, the systems, and the experience.

- Room to grow as we expand our culinary offerings and private events program.

If this feels like a place you could call home—and a team you want to build with—we’d love to meet you. Please email me at [email protected] and tell us why you think you'd be a great fit and your favorite winter food.

Pay: $22.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 30.0 – 35.0 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Paid training

Work Location: In person