How to Become a Kitchen Manager

About Kitchen Manager

In a fine dining establishment, you will oversee the back of the house as the kitchen manager. The kitchen staff will be hired, trained, and you'll make sure ServSafe guidelines are followed. As a Kitchen Manager, you will be in charge of placing food and supply orders, as well as haggling with vendors to get the best deals and stay within budget. You'll make sure the food is quickly and correctly prepared. You are also in charge of ensuring that the kitchen area is kept clean.

Kitchen manager is someone who oversees the activities and functionality of the kitchen in a hospitality establishment. He or she makes sure the kitchen of a restaurant runs smoothly and effectively. A degree in hospitality and management is required to work as a kitchen manager. The best hotel management schools in the world are located in IHM Pusa, IHM Bangalore, and IHM Kolkata. The course fee ranges from INR 2,50,000 - INR 3,00,000. There are also a number of certificates, full-time diplomas, undergraduate and graduate degrees, and programmes in tourism, catering, and hospitality management. Candidates must have achieved a 10+2 grade point average of at least 60%.

Kitchen Manager: In a Nutshell

In a nutshell, Kitchen Manager is a person who oversees the operations and functioning of the kitchen in a hospitality establishment. He/she ensures that the kitchen of a restaurant is running smoothly and efficiently. Kitchen Managers are responsible for supervising the kitchen staff in operation related areas as well as taking care of tasks such as management of the pantry, quality control, adding new items to the menu, place orders of equipment and products, organise food orders. Kitchen Managers have a vital role, especially in large kitchens. In small-scale operations, a chef or a Restaurant Manager may act as the kitchen manager but for large kitchens, a separate vacancy is usually required.

The job of a Kitchen Manager is to ensure that a kitchen is operating as per the required quality and safety standards set by the organisation and the government. He/she also has to ensure that the customers are receiving their food on time and are satisfied with the taste. In case a customer as any complaint, a Kitchen Manager must be able to deal with it cordially and provide a quick solution to ensure customer satisfaction. At the same time, a Kitchen Manager also has to keep his/her team motivated and efficient especially in rush hours when it can get hectic inside a kitchen. A well-managed kitchen will not only help the employees do their jobs better but also ensure that the customers are getting hot, delicious dishes without having to wait for their food for too long.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Kitchen Manager

The responsibility of a Kitchen Manager is to ensure that a kitchen operates in accordance with the organization's and government's quality and safety standards. He or she must also ensure that customers receive their food on time and are satisfied with the taste. The Kitchen Manager must keep his or her staff motivated and productive, especially during peak hours when the kitchen can become chaotic. A well-managed kitchen not only helps employees do their jobs more efficiently, but it also ensures that customers receive hot, delicious dishes without having to wait too long.

Some of the most common roles and responsibilities of a Kitchen Manager are as follows:

• In the kitchen, train and supervise personnel and new recruits on day-to-day responsibilities
• Oversee the meal's preparation, presentation, and service
• Place orders for the kitchen's products and equipment
• Maintain a record of how products and equipment are used and eliminate any waste
• Work shifts should be scheduled in accordance with the needs
• Ascertain that the kitchen complies with all health and safety regulations

Eligibility to become Kitchen Manager

Given below are the requirements to become a Kitchen Manager.

Steps to Become a Kitchen Manager?

To become a Kitchen Manager, there are a few straightforward but important steps to take:

Making Decisions: Aspirants must be aware that they can only pursue this career path once they have earned the required educational credentials. A managerial background is ideal in this situation.

Subject Options: A high school diploma is a requirement for kitchen managers, but most employers also value culinary arts or restaurant management bachelor's degrees. Choose your topic in light of this.

Exam Syllabuses and Exam Patterns: Exam syllabuses as well as exam patterns have been subject to change. As a result, understanding the exam's syllabus and subject weighting is critical. Depending on the exam major, most syllabuses include questions from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, quantitative aptitude, and vocational courses. To improve your quantitative ability, try to increase your speed while maintaining accuracy.

Choosing the Best Colleges: Collegedekho, for example, is a website that recommends the best universities based on geography, ranking, cost, and positioning. To learn more about the programme, instructors, and placement options, candidates should use these resources and visit the website.

After Passing their Qualifying Exam: In accordance with the requirements of their qualifications, students have a wide range of options after earning their Bachelor's degree in the pertinent field: At any level, they can start their career as a kitchen manager. By taking on an internship, you can learn more about the position. You can earn a degree in the right fields, which will give you a better chance of finding employment as a kitchen manager.

Types of Kitchen Managers

The following is a list of the most typical job responsibilities for a kitchen manager:

A Cook or Sous-Chef

Food is prepared by chefs and cooks in dining establishments like restaurants. They are in charge of managing other chefs, running a kitchen, and, in some cases, running an entire dining establishment. With 10 years of experience, one can expect to make between INR 40,000 and INR 50,000 per month, while newcomers can expect to make between INR 10,000 and INR 15,000.

Food and Beverage Manager 

The responsibilities of the F&B manager include leading the F&B team by attracting, recruiting, training, and evaluating qualified individuals as well as managing food and beverage operations within budget and to the highest standards. The typical salary for a food and beverage manager in India is INR 46,500.

Catering Supervisor

Catering managers play a crucial role in making sure that ordered food is delivered on time and meets quality standards. To give customers excellent service, catering managers must also work closely with their cooks and make sure that the wait staff is knowledgeable. The typical catering manager salary in India is INR 29500 per month.

Manager of Food and Beverages

The entire business operations of a restaurant are under the supervision of the food and beverage supervisors. Common duties include hiring, scheduling, training, and managing staff as well as managing inventory, which includes supplies, food, and other restaurant equipment. A food and beverage supervisor makes an average salary of INR 20,800 in India.

Food Service Supervisor

The duties of a food service manager include, among others, welcoming customers at the door, ordering food supplies, resolving customer problems and complaints, and hiring and training new employees. They must also create reports that inform owners about the operation of the restaurant. The typical annual salary in India for a food service manager is INR 51,500.

How to Become a Kitchen Manager in India?

Preparation at the School Level

The following requirements must be met in order to qualify for either the BHMCT or the BVoc, which are entry-based or merit-based exams. The Class XII Boards exam is the final qualification test that candidates must pass. A minimum aggregate of 55 percent from an accredited board is required for admission to the BHMCT or BVoc or other courses mentioned below.

Prepare for UG

While pursuing a course, candidates will gain knowledge about additional relevant industries like housekeeping and general management. Candidates will benefit if a course offers any specialisations, like baking. A master's degree can be pursued after receiving a bachelor's degree.

Prepare for PG

One needs a natural passion for food and the ability to try new things to succeed as a kitchen manager. Knowing a dish or ingredient's nutritional value is also important because many people are quite picky about their diet's nutritional value. A conventional chef course can be supplemented with a nutritional diploma degree, which will significantly strengthen their resume.

Courses to Become a Kitchen Manager

Given below are the courses you can consider to become a kitchen manager.

If you want to take admission to top hotel management colleges in India, you can fill the Common Application Form (CAF). For any queries regarding admission, please call our helpline number 18005729877.

Types of Job Roles Kitchen Manager

Given below are the common type of job roles related to a Kitchen Manager.

• Chef
• Sous Chef
• Food and Beverage Manager
• Food and Beverage Supervisor
• Catering Manager
• Food Service Manager etc.

Job Responsibilities of a Kitchen Manager

Some of the common responsibilities of a Kitchen Manager have been given below.

• Train and supervise staff and new recruits on the day-to-day tasks in the kitchen area.

• Supervise the food preparation, presentation and service.

• Place orders of the products and equipment required by the kitchen.

• Monitor the utilisation of products and equipment, and curb any wastage.

• Schedule work shifts as per the requirement.

• Ensure that the kitchen complies with all the health and safety standards.

Employment Sector/Industry for Kitchen Manager

Kitchen Manager is not a very common job position in the hospitality industry. The position is mostly clubbed with other jobs such as Chefs, Restaurant Managers, Service Managers etc. However, their services may be required in large-scale kitchen operations such as hotels or catering companies. The following graph provides a rough estimate of the ratio of employment opportunities for Kitchen Managers in different areas.

Benefits of Career as Kitchen Manager

A Kitchen Manager's salary is among the highest in the world. When compared to other job categories, Kitchen Manager positions are rapidly growing. This field has its own set of advantages. Let us examine them more closely:

Salary: Did you know that a kitchen manager's average annual salary is INR 5,00,000? That comes to INR 2000 per hour (approx.)! The salary range for kitchen managers is INR 3,00,000 to INR 6,00,000 indicating that they can earn more once they advance beyond entry-level positions.

Job Security: In order to avoid being seen as fallible in any way, a manager must constantly seek to suck up to those above them, soothe those at the same level in order to avoid opponents who may backstab them, and throw those below them under the bus.

Positive Career Impact: You may discover that prior work experience will help you become a kitchen manager. In fact, many kitchen management positions require prior experience as a line cook. Many kitchen managers, on the other hand, have worked as cooks or sous chefs in the past.

Unique Experience: Specialized skill sets are developed by kitchen managers or chefs who work in fine dining, high-volume kitchens, or banquet settings. These skills frequently don't translate well to other genres.

Skills Required to Become a Kitchen Manager

To be a successful kitchen manager, you'll need a variety of skills, including:

• This ability entails creating a daily schedule and prioritising tasks based on their importance, completion time, and deadlines. Kitchen managers use time management to organise their days, weeks, months, and quarters in order to complete tasks efficiently. They also use this skill when scheduling meetings, travel, and other appointments for the CEO or administrator they work with on a daily basis
   
• A kitchen manager must communicate politely and clearly with staff members, coworkers, and suppliers. A kitchen manager's interpersonal skills set the tone for the rest of the staff. The kitchen manager's responsibility is to maintain composure under pressure while working in a fast-paced, frequently stressful environment and to encourage others to do the same
   
• A kitchen manager must interact politely and clearly with all employees, coworkers, and suppliers. A kitchen manager's interpersonal skills set the tone for the rest of the staff. The kitchen manager's responsibility is to maintain composure under pressure while working in a fast-paced, frequently stressful environment and to encourage others to do the same
   
• Technical abilities are required of kitchen managers, including inventory monitoring and ordering software, as well as timekeeping tools for employee payroll and the restaurant's point-of-sale system. Working with accounting or payroll software, using email, and producing inventory and operational cost reports are all examples of additional technical skills
   
• A good manager in any field must be able to effectively communicate. A kitchen manager uses verbal and nonverbal communication to interact with vendors, resolve issues, interview potential employees, create menus, and write schedules
   
• Organization entails devising simple strategies for dealing with difficult tasks and establishing order in the workplace. Kitchen managers use their organisational skills to properly store documents, filter incoming and outgoing communication, and create routines for carrying out daily tasks

Pay Scale/Salary of Kitchen Manager

Books & Study Material to Become Kitchen Manager

Given below are some of the best reference books that can help improve the skills of any Kitchen Manager.

• Making the Cut: What Separates the Best From the Rest by Chris Hill

• Front of the House: Restaurant Manners, Misbehaviors & Secrets by Jeff Benjamin

• Restaurant Success By the Numbers by Roger Fields

• Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton

• Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Pros of becoming a Kitchen Manager

• There is not really a requirement for specialised education and expensive courses to get into this field.

• Job opportunities can be sought in a wide range of establishments.

• Kitchen Managers have supervisory responsibilities, which means they can make many major decisions in the kitchen area.

Cons of becoming a Kitchen Manager

• Kitchen Managers have to stay on their feet for long periods and often face long working days.

• The work can be hectic as they have to deal with the customers as well as the staff.

• Starting salary is below average but improves drastically in the late-career stage.