Shift Leader / Key Holder
Nibble Nation is looking for a dependable, motivated Shift Leader/Key Holder who is ready to take the next step in restaurant leadership. This hands-on role is ideal for someone who leads by example, keeps the team focused, and knows how to create a fast, friendly, and well-organized customer experience.
As a Shift Leader/Key Holder, you’ll help direct restaurant operations during assigned shifts, support team members, maintain food-quality and cleanliness standards, and safely open or close the restaurant. You’ll work closely with restaurant management while building the skills needed for future advancement.
What You’ll Do
Lead the Shift
- Direct team members and assign positions and responsibilities during assigned shifts.
- Keep the team focused on speed, accuracy, food quality, cleanliness, and customer service.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and support to help team members succeed.
- Lead by example through professionalism, urgency, dependability, and a positive attitude.
- Take responsibility for restaurant operations when a higher-level manager is unavailable.
- Communicate staffing, customer, equipment, or operational concerns to management.
Deliver an Excellent Customer Experience
- Ensure customers receive fast, friendly, and professional service.
- Confirm that orders are prepared accurately, completely, and within service-time goals.
- Maintain high standards for product freshness, quality, appearance, and availability.
- Address basic customer concerns promptly and professionally.
- Escalate serious or unresolved concerns to restaurant management when necessary.
Support Daily Operations
- Perform opening and closing duties and ensure the restaurant is ready for business.
- Verify that food preparation, cleaning, stocking, and shift checklists are completed.
- Monitor food production and product levels to meet customer demand while reducing waste.
- Ensure all workstations remain clean, organized, stocked, and safe.
- Follow company food-handling, sanitation, health, and safety procedures.
- Respond appropriately to staffing shortages, equipment problems, and unexpected shift issues.
- Help complete inventory counts and receive deliveries when assigned.
Protect the Business
- Follow all cash-handling, register, deposit, safety, and security procedures.
- Count cash drawers and complete opening or closing cash documentation accurately.
- Secure the restaurant, keys, cash, equipment, and company property.
- Report cash discrepancies, safety concerns, policy violations, and unusual incidents immediately.
- Complete required shift paperwork and documentation accurately and on time.
- Enforce company policies and workplace expectations consistently and respectfully.
Support and Develop the Team
- Help train new team members on restaurant stations, food preparation, customer service, and safety procedures.
- Provide clear instructions and constructive feedback during assigned shifts.
- Encourage teamwork, accountability, and respectful communication.
- Recognize strong performance and help maintain a productive work environment.
- Support promotions, suggestive selling, and other restaurant sales initiatives.
- Continue developing leadership skills for future advancement opportunities.
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Previous restaurant, retail, or customer-service experience is preferred.
- Previous leadership or key-holder experience is preferred but not required for a strong internal candidate.
- High school diploma or equivalent is preferred.
- Must demonstrate reliability, sound judgment, and the ability to lead others.
- Strong communication, customer-service, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Basic math and cash-handling skills.
- Ability to remain calm, professional, and solutions-focused in a fast-paced environment.
- Must be able to follow and enforce company policies and operational standards.
- Reliable transportation and regular attendance are required.
- ServSafe certification is not required for this position. However, all required company food-safety and operational training must be completed.
Physical Requirements
This is an active, hands-on restaurant leadership position. Shift Leaders/Key Holders must be able to perform essential duties safely, with or without reasonable accommodation, including:
- Standing and walking for extended periods.
- Moving safely between multiple restaurant stations.
- Frequently reaching, bending, twisting, squatting, crouching, pushing, and pulling.
- Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up to 55 pounds.
- Performing repetitive hand and arm movements.
- Working safely near ovens, hot surfaces, and restaurant equipment.
- Working in a warm kitchen and briefly entering refrigerated or freezer areas.
- Completing food preparation, cleaning, stocking, and other restaurant duties as needed.
Schedule and Availability
- Flexible availability is required based on restaurant needs.
- Must be available for a combination of opening and closing shifts.
- Evening, weekend, and holiday availability may be required.
- Regular and reliable attendance is essential.
- Must complete all required key-holder, food-safety, cash-handling, and operational training.
Why Join Nibble Nation?
This position is an opportunity to build real leadership experience while making a direct impact on your team and restaurant. You’ll receive hands-on training, develop valuable operational skills, and have the opportunity to advance into assistant-management and restaurant-management roles based on performance and business needs.
If you’re dependable, confident, ready to lead, and willing to take ownership of your shift, we’d like to meet you. Apply today and take the next step with Nibble Nation!
Equal Employment Opportunity
Nibble Nation is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without unlawful discrimination based on any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities.
This description provides a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive list of every responsibility. Duties, schedules, and expectations may be modified based on operational and business needs.