Songbird

Chef & Operations Manager — Songbird (Food Truck & Commissary Operations)

Austin, TX (Meanwhile Brewing Co.) | Full-Time, Wednesday–Sunday | Competitive Salary + Profit Sharing 

About Songbird

Songbird started as an ambitious idea. Today, we're a staple food truck at Meanwhile Brewing Company, serving fried chicken sandwiches, smash burgers, and fries to a massive, loyal crowd every single week. Over four years, we've continuously refined our systems, elevated sales year over year, and on pace for our best year yet.

We're one of four food trucks at Meanwhile — a special place with a genuine community where trucks support each other, collaborate, and grow together. We love the culture we've built here, and we're looking for someone who wants to be part of it.

The Opportunity

Our longtime chef and partner is moving on, and we're looking for an invested, driven chef to step into a true leadership role. You'll run the show: leading the team, scaling systems, refining operations, and solving problems before they happen.

You won't be thrown in the deep end. You'll step in with the full guidance and support of our current chef, learning our systems on the truck, on-site at Meanwhile, and at our commissary kitchen before taking the reins.

The ideal candidate is excited to cook, hungry to lead, and motivated to take a proven, high-volume operation to the next level.

What You'll Own

Food Truck Operations

• Lead daily service: opening and closing procedures, staff coordination, food preparation, and service execution
• Onboard, train, develop, and retain a strong team
• Ensure food quality is never compromised — uphold food safety standards, maintain a clean and organized workspace, and deliver consistent product every shift

Business Management

• Inventory control, ordering, and supplier management
• Track sales and meet performance and service goals
• Support marketing efforts and drive revenue growth

Guest Experience

• Own customer interactions during service — manage orders, resolve issues, and monitor guest satisfaction
• Represent Songbird with professionalism, energy, and a friendly attitude

Commissary Operations

• Manage product organization, deliveries, and relationship building
• Ensure adherence to on-site policies and procedures
• Ensure food production is completed in a timely and efficient manner, scaling production with seasonality and volume

Catering & Growth

• Build catering systems and menus that run alongside daily operations
• Lead client communications to deliver a great experience end to end
• Support seasonal menu development tied to on-site happenings

Community & Brand

• Integrate with and promote our fellow Meanwhile food trucks — friendships here are imperative to success
• Collaborate with local restaurants, bakeries, and community members to drive sales
• Act as an on-site brand ambassador at festivals, events, and activations

Equipment & Facilities

• Troubleshoot kitchen equipment and fix problems on the fly — minimal downtime is the goal, and you don't wait for direction
• Coordinate with plumbers and electricians to support permitting and ensure zero downtime during service
• Maintain our support van: routine maintenance, insurance, repairs, and staying ahead of yearly state inspection and registration renewal
• Support truck signage, wayfinding, and QR menus for visibility

Growth & Partnerships

• Work with partners to drive new development and explore new opportunities

Compliance

• Handle inspections, permitting, and offsite permit renewals

Who You Are

• 3+ years of kitchen management experience (food truck, fast-casual, or high-volume kitchen a plus)
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) Preferred
• Available Wednesday–Sunday during high-volume periods on the truck, and you understand how your schedule connects to the success of the operation
• A genuine love of cooking paired with strong operational instincts
• A natural leader who develops people and builds team culture
• A systems thinker who spots problems before they happen and fixes them
• Hands-on and self-directed — you handle maintenance and fix problems on the fly without waiting for direction
• Organized, reliable, and comfortable owning inventory, ordering, and P&L-level details
• A people person — with guests, with staff, and within the Meanwhile community

Qualifications

• Valid Texas Food Manager Permit required
• Clean driver's license required
• Catering experience and truck equipment knowledge are a big bonus

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Profit sharing — when Songbird wins, you win
• Health insurance stipend
• Paid time off and paid sick leave
• A structured transition with hands-on training from our current chef
• A leadership role in a proven, growing operation
• A one-of-a-kind work environment in the Meanwhile Brewing community

How to Apply
More detail about Songbird, please visit https://culinaryagents.com/entities/1021641-Songbird