How to hire an assistant food service manager

How to hire an assistant food service manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant food service manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assistant food service manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant food service manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the assistant food service manager you need to hire. Certain assistant food service manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An assistant food service manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, assistant food service managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of assistant food service managers.

   Type of Assistant Food Service Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Food Service Manager	Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants and other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages. They direct staff to ensure that customers are satisfied with their dining experience, and they manage the business to ensure that it is profitable.	$11-26
   Chef Manager	The primary role of a Chef Manager is to supervise food preparation. They may work in varies settings, such as restaurants, schools, and hospitals.	$17-37
   Hourly Manager	An hourly manager will lead and supervise a team of employees. As an hourly manager, you will maintain the shift operations you are assigned to and keep staff informed of operational issues... Show more	$12-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Cleanliness
   • Food Handling
   • Cash Control
   • Gross Profit
   • Inventory Control
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • POS
   • Cash Handling
   • Safety Standards
   • Plan Menus
   • Food Production
   • HACCP
   • Food Quality

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage inventory, ordering and delivery of groceries.
   • Follow and enforce all safety OSHA procedures and HACCP.
   • Work with outside vendor in implementation of new POS system.
   • Perform seafood HACCP training for SYSCO distribution centers on an annual basis.
   • Assist in supervising and scheduling employees, placing orders and maintaining the sanitation and cleanliness of the kitchen.
   • Maintain and regulate cleanliness and proper sanitation in food storage, heating, and serving areas per state requirements.

   More assistant food service manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant food service manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An assistant food service manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an assistant food service manager in Arkansas may be lower than in California, and an entry-level assistant food service manager usually earns less than a senior-level assistant food service manager. Additionally, an assistant food service manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average assistant food service manager salary

   $37,144yearly

   $17.86 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant food service manager salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average assistant food service manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$48,423	$23
   2	New York	$47,192	$23
   3	District of Columbia	$42,635	$21
   4	Utah	$41,202	$20
   5	Ohio	$38,208	$18
   6	Texas	$36,806	$18
   7	Alabama	$36,291	$17
   8	Idaho	$35,454	$17
   9	New Jersey	$35,292	$17
   10	Michigan	$34,619	$17
   11	Mississippi	$30,672	$15
   12	Minnesota	$30,135	$14
   13	South Dakota	$29,941	$14
   14	Oklahoma	$29,152	$14
   15	South Carolina	$29,129	$14
   16	Arkansas	$28,913	$14
   17	Georgia	$26,957	$13

   Average assistant food service manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University of California-Berkeley	$48,469	$23.30
   2	Department of Public Social Services	$40,977	$19.70
   3	Minneapolis Public Schools	$37,621	$18.09	1
   4	Goodwin Recruiting	$37,341	$17.95	1
   5	Management & Training	$36,781	$17.68	4
   6	Pico de Gallo	$36,298	$17.45	5
   7	P&S Surgical Hospital	$35,911	$17.26	8
   8	Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta	$35,910	$17.26	2
   9	Byrne Dairy	$35,712	$17.17
   10	Newport	$34,844	$16.75
   11	Blackstone Consulting	$34,693	$16.68	20
   12	Price Chopper Supermarkets-Market 32	$34,587	$16.63
   13	Food City	$34,379	$16.53	75
   14	County Of Los Angeles Public Library	$34,276	$16.48
   15	Guest Services	$33,941	$16.32	23
   16	Delek US Holdings	$33,743	$16.22
   17	Cypress Fairbanks Isd	$33,287	$16.00	9
   18	Reasor's	$32,569	$15.66
   19	Aramark	$30,925	$14.87	1,311
   20	Cosentino	$30,836	$14.82

4. Writing an assistant food service manager job description

   An assistant food service manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an assistant food service manager job description:

   Assistant food service manager job description example

   Correctional Officer Training Required. Food industry experience a must. $18 per hour.
   
   Begin a meaningful career in criminal justice with Management & Training Corporation at Bridgeport Correctional Center located in Bridgeport, Texas . At Bridgeport, our foundation is based upon the philosophies of caring about others, giving back and making a social impact. We provide a safe and secure working environment for our staff while helping at-risk populations obtain the tools necessary for success on their road back to a healthy, productive life. In addition to competitive wages and an opportunity to impact lives, MTC team members enjoy a variety of benefits including:

   • Medical, vision, and prescription drug benefits
   • Dental benefits
   • Life insurance
   • Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
   • Short-term and long-term disability benefits
   • 401(k) retirement plan
   • Employee assistance program
   • Paid time off (PTO)
   • Paid holidays
   • Bereavement leave
   • Civic duty and military leave
   • Travel insurance
   • Education assistance

   Pay is $18 per hour
   

   Position Summary

   This position requires a dedicated individual to supervise offenders assigned to the dining and kitchen area. Responsible for maintaining a clean, safe and sanitary kitchen area, food preparation area, tools and equipment and assisting in the service and preparation of facility meals based on pre-planned menus in compliance with MTC and Texas Department of Criminal Justice directives.

   Education and Experience Requirements

   Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent or GED. One (1) year of full-time, wage-earning experience in correctional, commercial or institutional food preparation management experience OR eighteen (18) months of correctional custody or law enforcement experience required.

   Post Hire Requirements

   Must successfully complete annual in-service training requirements to include physical agility testing and pass an annual background check, which must be approved by TDCJ.
   
   #Talent #ZR

   Management & Training Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right assistant food service manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with assistant food service managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit assistant food service managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant food service manager job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant food service manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit assistant food service managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant food service manager

   Once you've selected the best assistant food service manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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