Job Description

Why Join MadTree as a Assistant Kitchen Manager?

If you want to lead in a place where people genuinely care — about each other, about craft, and about the community we serve — then MadTree is where you belong. As an Assistant Kitchen Manager, you’ll help shape a kitchen culture rooted in connection, growth, and giving a f*ck. You’ll guide a team that supports one another, celebrates wins together, and takes pride in creating experiences that bring people closer to nature and to each other. This role is more than running a line or managing a shift. It’s about building a team that feels valued, crafting exceptional food with consistency and care, and leading with purpose every day. You’ll collaborate across departments, mentor emerging talent, and help create a kitchen environment where people feel supported, heard, and inspired.

Total Rewards & Benefits:

✓ Transparent compensation — Compensation Range: $44,500 – $55,000 – $60,000
✓ 401(k) — with company match
✓ FREE mental health support — 8 in-person/video sessions + unlimited text-based therapy
✓ Paid volunteer time annually + company-wide Community Impact Day
✓ Enjoy what we create — Regular gift cards for MadTree food, beverages, and merch
✓ Continued growth — Cross-training opportunities across hospitality operations
✓ Nature-inspired workspaces — Designed to connect people to nature and each other
✓ Face-to-face humanity — Real human connection, not screen isolation
✓ A team that gives a f*ck — People who are passionate and genuinely care

About MadTree Brewing

Founded in 2013, MadTree is an award-winning brewery that’s rooted in Cincinnati and planted in purpose. Driven to craft great beer - but more importantly - build a business dedicated to doing good, MadTree protects and celebrates nature while reducing impact on the environment. MadTree is a B-Corp certified company and proud member of 1% for the Planet with a commitment to donate 1% of sales to local, sustainable nonprofits. MadTree strives to create warm and welcoming experiences, exceed expectations, and most importantly, plant a better community. They put purpose in every pour, and raise a glass to doing things differently.

WHAT IS ALCOVE - OTR?

Alcove - OTR is the first evolution of the MadTree hospitality experience; a space intentionally designed to connect people to nature and each other in the heart of Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

Located in one of Cincinnati’s most historic and storied German beer halls, Alcove - OTR lives inside a building that was beautifully restored in 2022 and thoughtfully reimagined for a new generation of gathering and hospitality. The LEED-certified space blends approachable dining with warm hospitality, thoughtful design, and a nature-inspired atmosphere that feels both elevated and inviting. Complete with more than 2,500 live plants, stunning living walls, patio space, and our signature greenhouse bar, the space blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors while creating a nook of nature in the middle of the city.

As the foundation of the Alcove concept, the space carries forward our commitment to crafted food and beverage offerings, immersive hospitality, and experiences that feel memorable without feeling pretentious. Alcove - OTR is a living expression of who we are as a company and the experiences we aspire to create every single day.

We are MadTree. Rooted in Cincy. Planted in Purpose.

MadTree is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce that inspires madness while being rooted in purpose. We offer a competitive compensation package plus great benefits like subsidized health insurance, a retirement plan with a match, paid time off, and many other great perks

The Assistant Kitchen Manager supports the Kitchen Manager in all operational aspects, providing leadership during service while assisting with administrative functions including invoices, scheduling, hiring, and inventory management. They will also be an avid MadTree Brewing Company ambassador who lives out our behaviors of Connect, Grow, and Give a F*ck.

LOCATION: Cincinnati, OH

STATUS: Full-Time (Exempt - Salaried)

REPORTS TO: Kitchen Manager

COMPENSATION RANGE: $44,500 – $55,000 – $60,000 with eligibility for additional variable compensation

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Cultural Development

• Drive cultural alignment by modeling our behaviors (Connect, Grow, Give A Fuck) and creating an environment where team members feel valued and heard
• Lead by example in demonstrating our Points of Difference (We are warm and welcoming. We craft to exceed expectations. Together we plant a better community) through every interaction with team members and guests
• Develop team members through regular coaching conversations, skill-building opportunities, and clear career pathing discussions
• Foster cross-departmental collaboration by building strong relationships with FOH, Private Events, and bar teams to ensure unified service delivery

Operational Management & Service Execution

• Act as the designated person-in-charge of kitchen operations during assigned shifts when the Kitchen Manager is not present; supervising food preparation, cooking techniques, presentation, and maintaining consistency and quality
• Provide a strong presence in the kitchen and on the line
• Skillfully and knowledgeably work all kitchen stations
• Lead and guide kitchen team members during service, ensuring quality, efficiency, and adherence to standards (i.e. recipe, ticket time, cleanliness, plate presentation, etc)
• Conduct pre-shift meetings and quality checks before, during, and after service periods
• Troubleshoot operational issues that arise during service and implement appropriate solutions
• Document and communicate shift notes, concerns, and successes on log notes

Guest Experience & Quality Standards

• Partner with location leadership to provide outstanding guest experiences through delivery of our Points of Differentiation: We are Warm & Welcoming, We Craft to Exceed Expectations, and Together, We Plant a Better Community
• Monitor and maintain food quality and consistency through active oversight and hands-on involvement
• Monitor guest feedback and strive to continuously improve food quality and service
• Collaborate regularly with the Private Events team to plan and execute event catering
• Support execution of special events and catering functions as needed

Team Development & Talent Management

• Participate in interviews, onboarding, training, and developing the kitchen team and hold them accountable to high standards of operations, safety, and sanitation
• Assist with staff scheduling, hiring, and team member development
• Participate in performance management including coaching conversations and documentation
• Communicate the "why's and how's" to team members when giving direction to create an engaged team in a trusting atmosphere
• Clearly conveying expectations and feedback while developing positive relationships and connection with team members and management
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and a training program for all kitchen operations

Financial & Inventory Management

• Support the Kitchen Manager with administrative tasks including invoice processing, inventory management, and ordering
• Monitor and manage food inventory, including ordering, receiving, and storage, to minimize waste and control costs
• Work within budget constraints to optimize food costs while maintaining quality, portion control, and pricing
• Analyze the cost-effectiveness of menu items and make recommendations for adjustments as needed

Safety, Compliance & Equipment Management

• Ensure comprehensive compliance with all health, safety, and sanitation standards throughout each shift
• Supervise proper food handling, storage, and preparation according to established procedures
• Extensive knowledge of safety, sanitation, and food handling procedures; conduct regular quality checks on food items, ensuring they meet company standards and guest expectations
• Enforce health and safety regulations, ensuring a clean and organized kitchen environment; stay up-to-date with health department and food safety regulations to ensure compliance and safety
• Monitor kitchen equipment and ensure it is kept in good repair; make sure malfunctioning equipment is repaired as quickly as possible
• Report equipment maintenance needs and facility issues to the Kitchen Manager

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with front-of-house leadership to ensure smooth coordination between kitchen and service teams
• Collaborate with the location management team to ensure seamless service and a positive guest experience
• Collaborate on and oversee execution of seasonal menu changes and event calendar to ensure operations teams maintain quality and flow

Community Impact & Values

• Enthusiastically spend a minimum of 16 hours per year volunteering (paid) for MadTree Impact initiatives with excitement, encouraging teammates to do the same

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform essential duties, accountabilities, and responsibilities satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be at least 21 years of age or older.

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent education preferred
• 2+ years of kitchen leadership, inventory management, training, and development (with teams 20+) in a high-volume ($5M+) restaurant required
• ServSafe PIC/Manager certified

IMPORTANT SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Availability Required to work evening hours, weekends, and holidays; management work week averages 45-50+ hours per week and more as deemed necessary at various times
• Attitude Positive attitude and strong desire to be helpful with a friendly, service-oriented mindset to be in the service of guests and staff at all times
• Leadership presence: Able to earn respect from team, provide direction, and inspire confidence
• Time Management: Strong skills in time management and organization with the ability to prioritize tasks and work under pressure
• Initiative Comfort with working independently, multitasking, and maintaining efficiency and productivity during high-pressure service periods
• Communication Effective and frequent communication with management and support staff, regardless of department, location, or shift
• Culinary Comprehensive culinary knowledge and ability to skillfully work all kitchen stations
• Tech Proficiency comfort with restaurant management platforms including R365, Toast, Google Suite, etc.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to regularly sit, stand, and walk.
• Ability to frequently talk and hear.
• Ability to frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to frequently reach with hands and arms. Use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• The work environment is usually that of a kitchen, restaurant, and bar.
• The employee occasionally works near hazardous materials.
• The employee frequently works on wet floors.