Find & Apply For Restaurant / Food Service Manager Jobs in Irmo, South Carolina

The Spirit of Lake Murray is seeking an experienced Kitchen Manager / Chef to lead our onboard kitchen operation. This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who enjoys cooking, organization, consistency, and working in a unique hospitality environment. Our kitchen supports public dinner cruises, private charters, weddings, corporate events, and seasonal specialty cruises. We are looking for someone who can take ownership of the kitchen from prep through service while maintaining strong standards for food quality, cleanliness, safety, and cost control. Responsibilities Lead daily kitchen operations, including prep, service, and cleanup Prepare and oversee consistent execution of menu items Develop and maintain prep lists and production quantities based on reservations and event counts Manage food inventory, ordering, receiving, labeling, rotation, and storage Maintain a clean, organized, inspection-ready kitchen Ensure compliance with DHEC requirements and proper food-safety procedures Monitor food cost, waste, portioning, and inventory levels Create and collaborate on menus and seasonal offerings for GM approval Plan food production for public cruises, weddings, private events, and large groups Train, supervise, and communicate clearly with kitchen staff Coordinate with management, captains, servers, and event staff Ensure food is prepared on time and holds well throughout cruise service Maintain kitchen equipment and communicate repair or maintenance needs Use everyday technology to run the kitchen — digital inventory tracking, Google Calendar, and Google Drive for schedules, menus, and records Help establish practical kitchen systems, recipes, procedures, and standards What We're Looking For The ideal candidate has strong restaurant or hospitality kitchen experience and is comfortable taking responsibility for an entire kitchen operation. Experience as a Kitchen Manager, Sous Chef, Chef, Executive Chef, Banquet Chef, or Culinary Manager is preferred. Experience in any of the following environments would be especially valuable: High-volume restaurants Country clubs Resorts or hotels Catering and banquet operations Event venues Cruise ships or excursion operations We are especially interested in someone who is: Organized and dependable Calm under pressure A strong communicator Comfortable leading a small team Focused on cleanliness and food safety Able to plan ahead instead of constantly reacting Consistent with recipes, portions, and presentation Conscious of food and labor costs Willing to jump in and cook alongside the team Flexible and comfortable with an operation where guest counts and events vary from week to week Schedule This position includes a combination of prep and cruise/event shifts. Evening and weekend availability is required, particularly during our busy season and for private events. Our schedule is event-driven, so flexibility is important. About the Spirit of Lake Murray The Spirit of Lake Murray is a passenger cruise vessel operating public cruises, dinner cruises, weddings, corporate events, private charters, and specialty events on Lake Murray.

Our kitchen is unique:

we are producing restaurant-quality food in a working marine environment while serving guests during cruises and special events. We need a chef who sees that challenge as exciting and takes pride in creating a kitchen that is organized, dependable, and consistent.

Pay:

$50,000.00 - $56,000.00 per year Ability to

Commute:

Irmo, SC 29063 (Required)

Work Location:

In person