Culinary Operations Manager

FIND YOUR FIRE!

At Sally's Apizza we have been creating New Haven Style Apizza since 1938 and are now expanding to locations across the United States. Famous for our distinctive tomato sauce and chewy, crispy crust with an iconic oven-kissed char, Sally’s draws pizza fans from around the world. We hand-craft authentic pizza in custom-designed ovens, using the original recipes. Sally’s mission is to make great pizza available to everyone.

As a key management team member, the Sr. Culinary Operations Manager collaborates with Leadership, Management, and Store-Level Employees to ensure culinary excellence and operational consistency. This role oversees all aspects of culinary operations, including menu development, recipe execution, cost management, quality control, and staff training. Additionally, this position plays a critical role in new restaurant openings.

The Role:

The Culinary Operations Manager oversees all culinary operations across Sally’s Apizza, ensuring operational consistency, culinary excellence, and brand standards are maintained at every location. This hands-on leadership role involves kitchen systems management and innovation, culinary training development, new location openings, event preparation, and team development both locally and at off-site events across the country. The ideal candidate thrives in dynamic environments, is detail-oriented, and passionate about Italian American cuisine and hospitality.

As The Operations Manager You Will...

• Embody Sally Apizza core values, culture and brand.

• Be an Expert on Sallys Apizza historical evolution.

Culinary Leadership & Standards

• Oversee culinary operations across multiple restaurant locations.

• Ensure consistent execution of recipes, plating, and presentation.

• Create, test, and implement new recipes for core menus, seasonal features, and special events.

• Develop, maintain, and update build sheets, prep lists, and kitchen systems to standardize operations.

• Conduct regular kitchen visits and audits to maintain food quality, cleanliness, and safety standards.

Operational Oversight

• Create and maintain comprehensive build sheets for every menu item, detailing portion sizes, plating instructions and allergen information

• Develop and oversee prep lists, production schedules, batch recipes and par level guides for all Back of House operations.

• Lead regular documentation audits to ensure systems are properly followed and up to date.

• Monitor and manage prep lists, cleaning lists, food cost, labor, inventory, and operational efficiencies.

• Partner with purchasing to source and manage ingredients, equipment, and vendor relationships.

• Travel as needed to support off-site events and ensure operational execution aligns with company standards.

Guest Experience

• Partner with the Front of House Leadership to ensure seamless food service and guest satisfaction.

• Uphold and enhance the Sally’s Apizza reputation for outstanding Italian American cuisine and service.

Operational Oversight & Event Execution

• Oversee food production systems, inventory management and BOH labor scheduling across all units

• Travel as needed to support new store openings, special events and culinary activations.

• Participate in new store openings with a focus on training Sally’s culture, core values, history, and brand language.

• Conduct Back of House orientation for Sally’s culinary employees..

• Provide strategic support to restaurant management by offering shift coverage when needed.

• Plan and organize kitchen operations for on-site and off-site events, including festivals, pop-ups, brand activations, and private events both locally and nationally, including placing and receiving orders, coordinating staff for prep and production.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Technical

• Strong Computer Skills (Microsoft Office, Brink POS preferred)

• Ability to calculate theoretical food costs.

• Ability to forecast revenue, purchasing, and labor.

Language

• English

• Basic Spanish, Portuguese, French-Creole (preferred but not required)

Experience

• A minimum of 3 years as a successful leader in a full-service restaurant.

• Extensive experience in recipe development, build sheet creation, and BOH operational documentation.

• Experience planning and executing food festivals and marketing events of all guest counts.

Certifications

• ServeSafe Certified

• Basic Allergy and Choke Training Certified

Travel

• This is a highly mobile role. You are expected to be circulating throughout all open restaurants outside of your home base a minimum of 80% of your scheduled work week.

• You must have a reliable form of transportation.

Work Environment:

• This position is a corporate, project-focused, hands-on restaurant operations role.

• Anticipated Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday 10 hrs per day (Available 7 days a week for full hours of business).

• Your schedule around restaurant openings will adjust to include weekends based on the opening training schedule 2 weeks prior to an opening and 2 weeks after an opening.

• Every Tuesday, in-person attendance is required at the corporate office in Stamford.

• As with all restaurant operations roles, this is subject to change based on the needs of the company.

• Must be able to work on your feet for up to 10 hours at a time and can lift up to 50lbs.

• Must be able to travel to all locations, based on the needs of the company.
  
  

ROLE COMPETENCIES:

Detail Oriented

• Working attentively, thoroughly, and responsibly.

Functional Expertise and Usage

• All corporate appropriate systems, finance, and HR management.

Organizational awareness

• Possessing and utilizing knowledge about the organization's systems, culture, and procedures to spot potential issues and opportunities.

Oral communication

• Effectively formulating and communicating ideas and information.

• Ability to eloquently communicate to groups of all sizes.

Financial Awareness

• Strong financial acumen for food cost control, inventory management, and labor efficiency

• Actively optimizing costs and investments when making financial decisions

Integrity

• Upholding generally accepted social and ethical standards in job-related activities and behaviors.

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SALLY’S CORE VALUES

Obsession for Apizza: True passion for the uncompromised quality and tradition of New Haven Apizza. Strive for excellence and bring your personal best to work every day.

Commitment To Our Guest s: Demonstrate warmth and care while creating memorable moments of hospitality for all guests.

Strength of Character: Take pride in your job and use best judgment to do what is right and fair even when no one else is looking. Actively seek to build trust with colleagues and guests.

We Are Family: We are a hard-working crew that takes care of and supports one another while courageously providing honest feedback to hold each other accountable.