Daytime hours, no late nights, no dinner rushes. If you've spent years grinding through restaurant nights and weekends, this is the change you've been looking for.
Who We Are
UpMeals is a technology-enabled food manufacturing company at the forefront of expanding access to healthy, nutritious, ready-to-eat meals. By combining advanced technology with disciplined manufacturing and operational execution, we have established ourselves as a leader in the Canadian food-tech space.
Our B2B prepared meal solutions serve a diverse client base, including Fortune 500 companies, leading grocery chains, universities, and healthcare institutions. We are scaling rapidly and focused on building durable, profitable operations across key markets.
The Role
The Kitchen Manager is a hands-on operational leader who runs the daily prep cycle at UpMeals. You bridge the night prep team and the day prep team, taking ownership from reviewing completed overnight work through to setting up the kitchen and team for the next production day. You lead from the floor, work alongside your team, and make sure every shift runs with precision, accountability, and a commitment to food quality. This is a production kitchen, not a restaurant: consistent daytime hours, real structure, and a clear path to grow as we scale.
What You'll Own
Kitchen Operations & Food Quality
- Run all daily kitchen operations: food prep, food quality, and the day-to-day flow of the production kitchen
- Maintain consistent food quality and food safety standards across every shift, ensuring all products meet UpMeals specifications
- Monitor inventory of prepped items and ingredients, flagging shortages before they affect production
Night & Day Team Oversight
- Oversee both the night prep team and the day prep team, ensuring a smooth, accountable handover between shifts
- Review the night team's completed work at the start of each shift, verifying output against production requirements
- Follow up on outstanding tasks and complete remaining work to keep production on track
- Set up the day prep team with clear priorities from the start of the shift
Daily Prep & Task Assignment
- Work hands-on alongside the prep team, leading from the floor
- Assign daily tasks and make sure each person knows their priorities and responsibilities
- Track completion throughout the shift and adjust assignments to meet deadlines
Bulk Preparation & Production Planning
- Prepare bulk items in the quantities needed for the next production day
- Plan prep volumes against upcoming production schedules so the kitchen is fully set up the following day
- Coordinate with the Production Manager on production needs, schedule changes, and priorities
- Manage inventory and ingredient ordering
What You Bring
- Experience in a commercial, commissary, or production kitchen, with time spent in a lead or supervisory capacity (2+ years preferred)
- Strong knowledge of food preparation, food quality standards, and food safety
- Proven ability to lead a team, assign tasks clearly, and hold others accountable
- Highly organized, able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced shift
- Reliable, detail-oriented, and comfortable working hands-on every shift
- FoodSafe Level 1 an asset (or willingness to obtain)
Why Join UpMeals
- Daytime schedule with shifts wrapped up by early afternoon: no late nights, no weekend dinner service
- Lead a team in a real, hands-on operational role with direct impact on output every day
- Be part of a fast-growing, technology-enabled food company making healthy eating more accessible across Canada
- Clear reporting line, supportive leadership, and room to grow as we scale
- Competitive hourly pay, discounted/free meals, and paid time off
Schedule: Full-time, daytime shifts. Some early morning and Sunday availability required (specific schedule discussed at interview).
Pay: $49,000.00-$55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Paid time off
Experience:
- Cooking: 3 years (required)
Location:
Work Location: In person
