Culinary Operations Manager (san rafael)

Woodlands Market, Marin and San Francisco's premier gourmet grocery store, has an opening for Culinary Operations Manager at our Commissary Kitchen location! Woodlands Market is seeking a strategic and systems-minded Culinary Operations Manager to lead daily operations at our Offsite Kitchen. This role is a key leadership position and will work in close partnership with our Executive Chef. This position fulfills a dynamic role in the organization and is laser-focused on all aspects of brining class-leading food to market – from development through procurement, commercialization and fulfillment for our prepared foods, catering programs and more. This is not just a management role—it’s a builder’s role. We’re looking for someone who thrives in creating and implementing systems from the ground up. You’ll be the program owner for our Offsite Kitchen’s operational infrastructure, leading everything from production workflows to procurement systems and fulfillment logistics. In addition, you will be an integral part of Woodland’s innovation engine, working cross-functionally while reporting to the SVP of Culinary. Key Responsibilities: • Oversee daily operations of the Offsite Kitchen, ensuring efficient flow from development through production and fulfillment • Lead and oversee the catering program, ensuring seamless coordination from menu development through production, packaging, and delivery. Build systems that support growth, quality, and customer satisfaction while working closely with Catering Sales, Culinary, and Fulfillment teams. • Build, document, and implement systems for production planning, labor scheduling, inventory management, and quality control •Own and evolve SOPs and operational playbooks to support scale, consistency, and cross-team clarity •Work with the SVP of Culinary and OSK Executive Chef to refine Woodland’s Innovation Process, which will seamlessly develop fresh, innovative offerings across all house made categories. •Partner with the Executive Chef and Culinary team to align operational needs with culinary vision, menu updates, and seasonal changes •Manage vendor relationships, purchasing, and product sourcing, with a focus on cost control and ingredient quality •Drive KPIs across fulfillment accuracy, COGS, spoilage, labor productivity, and service levels •Collaborate with Retail, Catering, and Merchandising teams to ensure timely and accurate product delivery to stores and customers •Lead, coach, and develop a team of culinary operations staff; create strong communication loops and build a culture of accountability and excellence. Who You Are: • A hands-on builder who’s excited to own and scale a production program from the inside out • At least 5+ years of experience in culinary, commissary kitchen, or food production environments—preferably in grocery, catering, or CPG • Adept at creating systems, not just managing existing ones—you can identify operational gaps and build tools or workflows to fill them • Highly proficient in G Suite and/or Microsoft Office, especially Google Sheets or Excel, with strong comfort around digital documentation, scheduling tools, and inventory systems •A clear communicator—verbally and in writing—who can distill operational needs into plans, training, and cross-functional updates •Organized, detail-oriented, and driven by a passion for great food and operational excellence •Experience that is rooted in food with a proven track record of driving change and excellence. •Comfortable balancing short-term execution with long-term process improvement and strategic scale Why Apply For This Role? Woodlands Market is more than just a grocery store; we are a community-centered destination for fresh, innovative, and locally inspired foods. As our Executive Chef, you will have the opportunity to shape the culinary direction of our commissary kitchen while leading a talented team dedicated to crafting exceptional food. Join us and play a pivotal role in delivering the quality and creativity that sets Woodlands Market apart. Who Are We? Woodlands Market is a leader in gourmet retailing, service and innovation in the grocery industry. We are a flourishing Marin County-based employer who believes in supporting our community in many ways. One of these ways is to employ talented individuals from within our communities and surrounding areas. We currently operate grocery stores in Kentfield, Tiburon and San Francisco. We also operate a Pet Shop in San Francisco as well as an off-site kitchen in San Rafael. We engage approximately 330 individuals on staff, many of whom have come to us with an in-depth knowledge of the specialty food industry. These members of our extended Woodlands family and their commitment to community, food, service and to each other are what set us apart from other grocery stores. Benefits of working at Woodlands Market include: •Competitive wages •Comprehensive Health/Dental/Vision Insurance* •Full-time employees receive a generous benefits package including Health/Dental/Vision Insurance, 401(k), paid vacation and paid holidays •Holiday premium pay for time worked on recognized holidays •20% store discount , 50% shift meal discount* •Vouchers towards the purchase of shoes and apparel •Awesome, team-oriented environment •Opportunities for growth and development *Must meet minimum hours for some benefits/max lunch discount $6.00 Salary Range: $90,000-120,000 annually (based on a 40hr workweek) Click Here For Current Employment Opportunities