Groundwork Business Advisory

Job Description Templates · Retail & food service

Food Service Manager Job Description Template

A free food service manager job description template for small businesses, a filled-in example, and what to know about duties, requirements and pay before you post.

Food Service Manager job description template preview

Free food service manager job description template

Fill in the [brackets] and cut anything that doesn’t fit your job. Unlock one-tap copy and PDF download free with your email.

Unlock this template free at projects.groundworkbusinessadvisory.com/job-description-templates/food-service-manager/ to save it as a PDF.

Food Service Manager job description template · Fill in the [brackets]

Food Service Manager

[Business name] · [City, State]
Reports to: [Owner or manager’s title]
Schedule: [Full-time or part-time], [days and hours]
Pay: $[__] per hour [plus tips, bonuses or benefits]

About the job

[Business name] is hiring a Food Service Manager who runs the daily operation of a restaurant, cafe or kitchen: staff, food safety, supplies and guest satisfaction. [One or two sentences about your business and why someone would want to work there.]

What you’ll do

  • Hire, train, discipline and sometimes fire employees
  • Order food, beverages, equipment and supplies
  • Oversee food preparation and other kitchen operations
  • Inspect supplies, equipment and work areas
  • Ensure employees comply with health and food safety standards
  • Address complaints about food quality or service
  • Schedule staff hours and assign duties

What you need

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Several years of food service experience
  • Food safety certification [if required in your state or locality]
  • Weekend and evening availability

Nice to have

  • Food Protection Manager Certification
  • Experience with [inventory and labor cost control]

How to apply

[Apply link, email or phone], by [date].

[Business name] is an equal opportunity employer.

Free · No credit card

Unlock copy and PDF for every template

Enter your email to unlock one-tap copy and PDF download on all 100 job description templates. You’ll also get the Groundwork Brief: one email a month plus quarterly tax reminders. Unsubscribe anytime.

We never sell your email.

Example: the template filled in for a small business

Hypothetical example for Corner Table Cafe, a 45-seat neighborhood cafe.

Corner Table Cafe is hiring a Food Service Manager for day-to-day operations (five days a week, including weekends). You'll schedule the team, order supplies, keep us inspection-ready and handle guest concerns. A Food Protection Manager Certification is required within [__] days of hire.

Notice what makes it work: real hours, the actual tools, who they report to, and one honest reason to want the job. That’s the difference between a blank template and a job description that gets the right applicants.

What a food service manager does

A food service manager runs the daily operation of a restaurant, cafe or kitchen: staff, food safety, supplies and guest satisfaction. Typical duties include:

  • Hire, train, discipline and sometimes fire employees
  • Order food, beverages, equipment and supplies
  • Oversee food preparation and other kitchen operations
  • Inspect supplies, equipment and work areas
  • Ensure employees comply with health and food safety standards
  • Address complaints about food quality or service

Duties adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Requirements, training and licenses

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says some states and localities require food service managers to have food safety certification, and managers can earn the Food Protection Manager Certification by passing a food safety exam. Check with your health department.

Training: Short-term on-the-job training after several years of food service experience.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Food Service Managers.

How much does a food service manager make?

$33.36median hourly pay (about $69,390 a year) for food service managers, May 2025

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median means half earned more and half earned less. Pay in your area may be higher or lower; check postings for similar jobs near you. A growing number of states and cities require a pay range in job postings, so check your local rules before you post.

Before you set the rate, run the free hiring cost calculator. It adds payroll taxes and other costs and shows how much work the hire needs to bring in to pay for itself.

Free template or written for you?

Free templateJob Description
$30
Hiring Kit
$299
Written forAny businessYour businessYour business
Duties and scheduleTypical, with blanksYours, filled inYours, filled in
PayNational figureSet for your local marketSet for your local market
State rules“Check your state”Checked for your stateChecked for your state
Ready to postNo, you edit itYesYes, plus the job posting
Performance review form—Included freeIncluded
Interview guide and 30-60-90 day plan——Included
Use the templateHave us write itGet the Hiring Kit

Free template

  • Typical duties with blanks to fill in
  • National pay figure
  • You edit it before posting
Use the template →

Job Description · $30

  • Written for your business: your duties, schedule and pay
  • Checked for your state’s rules
  • Ready to post
  • Free matching performance review form
Have us write it

Hiring Kit · $299

  • Everything in the $30 job description
  • The job posting
  • Interview guide
  • 30-60-90 day plan for the new hire
Get the Hiring Kit

Fixed prices. See what’s included in Job Description Writing and the Hiring Kit.

Common questions

Does my manager need a food safety certificate?

Some states and localities require it, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ask your county health department which certification applies to the person in charge, and put it in the posting.

Can I use this template for free?

Yes. Copy it, edit it and post it. It's a starting point written for any business, so fill in the brackets and adjust the duties to your actual job. If you'd rather have it written for your business, ready to post, our Job Description service is $30.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page is general information. Requirements for some roles, especially in healthcare, vary by state. Check your state's rules, and talk to an employment attorney if you're unsure.

Published by Groundwork Business Advisory. Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Pay data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage estimates.