General Manager & Lead Cooking Instructor

Benefits

• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Base salary and performance bonus
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Growth opportunity as the business scales
• A creative, fun and high‑energy work environment
• The ability to truly run a business, not just manage shifts

Company Overview

Taste Buds Kitchen has taken the country by storm with a refreshingly simple concept. We provide culinary entertainment to kids, families and adults in a fun, beautiful and state‑of‑the‑art Kitchen Studio. Kids ages 2 to teen love our hands‑on cooking classes, camps, birthday parties and field trips. Adults love our BYOB date night cooking classes, birthday parties and corporate events. Our innovative programs are as entertaining as they are educational! We always strive to engage and delight our guests. Taste Buds Kitchen – San Antonio opens in July. The General Manager role will begin in mid‑June.

Job Description

We are looking for a General Manager & Lead Culinary Instructor to play a critical role in the success of the first Taste Buds Kitchen in San Antonio! You will have the skills and experience to teach our cooking classes, manage the day‑to‑day operations and staff in our Kitchen, create an exceptional guest experience and be a natural leader. This is the perfect opportunity to interact with guests on a daily basis to create a supportive and meaningful community. You are the face of the studio!

Responsibilities

• Open availability is required, including nights and weekends. Taste Buds Kitchen hosts events 7 days a week.
• This role will assist the owner in the setup and running of this new business. You can expect to spend 50%-75% of your time instructing classes initially. The time spent instructing classes will decrease over time as our business and our team grows.
• Instruct classes – Instruct cooking classes, camps and parties. Engage and teach guests about various cooking / baking skills related to the class menu. Turn every class into a memorable experience that drives repeat business. Be the perfect example and role model of what is expected of a Culinary Instructor. As part of your training, you will learn all aspects of event operations.
• Customer service – Ensure all clients have a great experience.
• Human resources – Lead, coach and schedule a high‑energy team. Act as an emergency substitute if an employee cannot attend their shift.
• Operations – Manage inventory, food prep and operational efficiency.
• Sales – Drive revenue through bookings, upselling and event execution. Own and deliver against monthly revenue and profitability targets.
• Facility – Maintain high cleanliness and brand standards in the kitchen.

Qualifications

• An engaging and fun personality
• Great leader capable of recruiting and training staff as well as managing and maintaining a motivated team
• Comfortable with a range of cooking techniques; formal culinary education or equivalent experience a plus
• Experience working in an events, hospitality or experiential retail role
• 1-3 years experience in a management position
• Strong customer service skills; a business or management degree is a plus
• Must enjoy the atmosphere of a small business

What Success Looks Like

• 5-star event reviews with guests saying, "That was amazing! We’re coming back."
• Strong repeat bookings and private event conversions.
• Monthly revenue targets met or exceeded.
• Fully staffed, trained and energized team.