CENTRAL KITCHEN FACILITY MANAGER - CORPORATE

About Us: Uwajimaya, a family-owned business, and a cornerstone of Asian grocery retailing since 1928, is seeking dedicated individuals to join our dynamic team. With a legacy of excellence and a commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences, Uwajimaya has grown to become the premier destination for Asian food culture in the Pacific Northwest.

Who We're Looking For: We are seeking individuals who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, driven to excel in their roles, and motivated to contribute to our vibrant team. Whether you're a seasoned professional or eager to start your career, we welcome candidates from all backgrounds who share our enthusiasm for food, customer service, and Asian culture.

About the Role:

Are you ready to lead operations in a facility that fuels one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved Asian grocery retailers? Uwajimaya’s Central Kitchen is looking for a Facility Manager who is more than just experienced—we’re looking for someone excited to build, shape, and elevate a growing food production operation.

This is a rare opportunity for a self-starter with a strong background in food production and team leadership to drive change, implement best practices, and influence the next stage of our growth. The ideal candidate is solution-oriented, comfortable navigating both structure and ambiguity, and passionate about setting up teams for long-term success. If you’ve thrived in a startup or scale-up production environment and are ready to lead cross-functional teams while making a real impact, we want to hear from you.

The ideal candidate will bring some of the following strengths:

• Have a deep understanding of food safety, facility operations, and regulatory compliance

• Know how to lead through influence and inspire accountability across departments

• Are energized by challenge, committed to continuous improvement, and invested in building something exceptional from the inside out

To thrive at Uwajimaya, you should embody our core competencies:

• Functional/Technical Skills: You possess the necessary functional and technical knowledge to perform your job at a high level.

• Customer Focus: You are dedicated to meeting customer expectations and requirements, using feedback for improvements, and building effective relationships based on trust and respect.

• Action Oriented: You enjoy working hard, are full of energy for challenging tasks, and seize opportunities with minimal planning.

• Peer Relationships: You can find common ground with peers, solve problems collaboratively, and are seen as a cooperative team player who encourages collaboration.

• Self-Development: You are committed to continuous self-improvement, adapt to different situations, and work to develop your strengths while addressing weaknesses.

We offer:

• A flexible, friendly, and diverse work environment

• Competitive starting wages

• Employee discounts on food and gift items

• Paid holidays from day one

• Excellent health benefits

• Retirement plan

• Paid time off

• Long term disability

• Life insurance

• Opportunities for growth and advancement

• Supplemental insurance options available

Position Summary:

The Central Kitchen Facility Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and performance of all departments at Uwajimaya’s Central Kitchen, a food manufacturing facility supporting our retail stores. This position ensures that production, quality, maintenance, sanitation, and safety goals are consistently achieved while upholding regulatory compliance and promoting a culture of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader with strong operational experience and a proven ability to manage cross-functional teams in a fast-paced food production environment.

Position’s Key Responsibilities:

• Direct all aspects of facility operations, including production, maintenance, sanitation, and logistics.

• Ensure highest level of customer service and support with Uwajimaya retails stores and business partners.

• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, including GMPs, HACCP, allergen controls, and company food safety standards.

• Oversee the execution of production schedules while ensuring high levels of product quality and yield performance.

• Lead and develop department supervisors and managers to build a cohesive, results-oriented, and engaged workforce.

• Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Human Resources, and Supply Chain teams to meet operational goals.

• Ensure compliance with OSHA and company safety policies; champion and maintain a safety-first workplace culture.

• Drive operational excellence by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and lower costs.

• Analyze facility performance metrics (output, labor efficiency, downtime, yields, etc.) and implement corrective actions as needed.

• Provide leadership in employee training, development, and performance management; handle employee relations and disciplinary matters as necessary.

• Manage facility budgets and contribute to financial planning, including capital projects, labor, and material costs.

• Maintain accurate records related to production, compliance, labor, and equipment performance.

• Ensure proper preventive maintenance schedules are followed to reduce equipment downtime and extend asset life.

• Maintain a safe, clean, and compliant work environment across all departments and shifts.

• Serve as the point of contact for external audits, regulatory inspections, and corporate visitors.

• Support and enforce corporate policies and procedures throughout the facility.

• Other duties as assigned.

Starting at $85,000 annually., Depending on Experience + Bonus Opportunities

Salary range: $85,000 to $95,000 annually

Uwajimaya participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. Please review the E-Verify Participation Poster and Right to Work Poster before proceeding with your application

IER Right to Work Poster (English/Spanish) (PDF, 322.73 KB)

E-Verify Participation Poster (English/Spanish) (PDF, 259.92 KB)

Uwajimaya is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Food Science, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in a food manufacturing or CPG facility, including multi-department oversight.

• Deep knowledge of regulatory requirements: GMPs, HACCP, FDA/USDA regulations, OSHA, and food safety systems.

• Strong communication, team leadership, and organizational skills.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and facility operations software (e.g., ERP systems or recipe management systems).

• Working knowledge of financial statements and P&L management.

• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and comfortable making decisions in high-pressure environments.

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays, as operational needs require.

• Familiarity and passion for Japanese, Chinese and SE Asian cuisine and cooking methods highly desirable.

• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds

• Must comply with company dress code and PPE requirements.

• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the role, with reasonable accommodation.

• Frequent movement: standing, walking, bending, squatting, reaching, and climbing ladders.

• Exposure to temperatures: freezing (<32°F), refrigerated (32–40°F), and hot (>90°F) environments.

• Exposure to wet/dry conditions and FDA-approved cleaning chemicals.

• Willingness to be on the production floor regularly to monitor performance and conditions.