Production Kitchen Manager (Part-time)
28 days ago
Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
Secondz launched America’s first Ready-to-Cook curry puff brand — handcrafted, bold, globally inspired flavors designed for modern convenience. Even though we started as a Direct-to-Consumer & Retail Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), most of our customers are buying Ready-to-Eat at pop up events across Brooklyn. This year, we are entering our next phase of growth and have been selected by Smorgasburg to be a food vendor. We're looking for a Production Kitchen Manager to lead the kitchen, raise the bar on quality and food safety, and build systems that allow us to increase production without sacrificing craftsmanship. We currently operate out of a shared kitchen space and we're not a restaurant. The Role You will own day-to-day kitchen leadership, production execution, and operational excellence. You will turn recipes into repeatable systems, elevate standards, and scale output while protecting product integrity. You will report directly to the Founder. What You’ll Own 1. Kitchen Leadership • Lead, train, and schedule kitchen crew, • Build a culture of accountability, precision, and urgency, • Develop clear SOPs for fillings, dough, assembly, proofing, and baking, • Ensure consistent crimping, portioning, and finishing standards 2. Quality & Food Safety • Implement and enforce strict food safety protocols, • Maintain DOH compliance and kitchen audit readiness, • Establish batch tracking and labeling systems, • Reduce waste and improve yield efficiency 3. Production Scaling • Increase production capacity while maintaining quality, • Improve batching processes for fillings and dough, • Optimize workflow layout for speed and efficiency, • Manage prep forecasting for pop-ups, wholesale, and DTC 4. Product & Process Innovation • Collaborate on new flavor launches and seasonal specials, • Improve dough texture, consistency, and bake performance, • Standardize cold proofing and frozen production methods, • Test and document improvements for repeatability Who You Are • 5+ years of professional kitchen experience, • 2+ years in a leadership or head baker/head chef role, • Strong understanding of dough systems, pastry production, or dumpling-style products, • Deep knowledge of food safety, compliance, and kitchen organization, • Experience scaling small-batch production into higher-volume output, • Calm under pressure and highly organized, • Systems thinker who values documentation and repeatability Bonus If You Have • Experience in CPG or frozen food production, • Experience building kitchens from early-stage to scaled operations, • Familiarity with Southeast Asian flavors, • NYC Food Protection Certificate, • Experience preparing for wholesale or retail distribution What Success Looks Like (First 6 Months) • Production volume increased meaningfully without quality loss, • Kitchen SOPs documented and implemented, • Food safety systems tightened and audit-ready, • Reduced ingredient waste and improved margin efficiency, • Kitchen crew performing at a higher, more consistent level Why This Role Matters Secondz is moving from founder-led production to systems-led production. This role will help build the backbone of the brand’s operational engine. If you want to help scale a bold, globally inspired food brand from the inside out — this is your seat at the table.
