Position Summary

Title: Assistant Kitchen Manager (AKM)

Reports to: Kitchen Manager (Kitchen Manager Role & Expectations )

Direct Reports: Line Cooks, Prep Cooks, Dishwasher

The Assistant Kitchen Manager supports the Kitchen Manager in leading back-of-house operations and ensures consistent execution of Waverly Stone’s food, safety, and cultural standards. This role is designed to provide direct oversight during service and prep, assist with training, and ensure accountability on daily operational tasks.

The AKM is a hands-on working leader who actively participates in prep, line, expo, and dish, while also holding the team accountable to standards. This role requires professionalism, timeliness, and strong communication skills, ensuring that the BOH operates efficiently and in alignment with FOH.

The position is both a support role and a leadership development role. While the KM owns the strategy, systems, and cost control, the AKM ensures execution on the floor, provides coverage when the KM is not present, and builds leadership skills to grow into a higher-level management position in the future. They also work closely with the Kitchen Manager and General Manager to maintain alignment with overall restaurant standards and objectives.

Purpose of the Role

• Support the Kitchen Manager in ensuring daily prep, line execution, and dish operations are completed to standard.
• Provide direct oversight and accountability for staff during assigned shifts.
• Reinforce kitchen culture: timeliness, follow-through, teamwork, and “nobody is above any job.”
• Act as a liaison between BOH staff and the KM/FOH managers to ensure smooth communication.
• Develop leadership skills and knowledge of cost control, inventory, and scheduling in preparation for future advancement.

Core Responsibilities

Operational Support

• Assist in overseeing daily BOH operations: prep, line, expo, and dish.
• Lead kitchen communication during shifts, ensuring timing and accuracy with FOH.
• Monitor station readiness and enforce setup/cleaning checklists.
• Step into expo or any station to support the team during high-volume periods.
• Support and help develop systems and processes established by the Kitchen Manager, offering ideas and feedback that improve consistency and efficiency across all shifts.

Food Quality & Safety Standards

• Enforce food safety, sanitation, and health code standards during shifts.