Shift Leader

Overview

The Shift Leader role at Panda Restaurant Group is a key frontline leadership position. In this job, you help bring the company’s mission to life by supporting management in delivering food with passion, service with heart, and an inviting atmosphere with pride.

This is a fast-moving, growth-focused restaurant environment where the team is central to the business. The position offers the chance to lead during shifts, support day-to-day restaurant operations, and develop both personal leadership and team-building skills.

What You’ll Do

• Help create a warm, lively, and guest-friendly dining experience.
• Assist in running store operations and guiding the team throughout assigned shifts.
• Get hands-on experience preparing and cooking Panda menu items for guests.
• Build a broad mix of skills while helping develop both yourself and your coworkers.

Benefits and Rewards

• Flexible work schedules.
• Competitive pay.
• Complimentary meals during shifts.
• Medical, vision, dental, voluntary short-term disability, and cancer income protection coverage for full-time associates.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) plan with company matching.
• Vacation, sick time, bereavement/funeral leave, and a leave share program for eligible associates.
• Employee discounts across many brands.
• Referral bonus for eligible associates.
• Opportunities to support the local community.
• Paid hands-on training designed to set you up for success.
• Ongoing career and leadership development.
• Opportunities to advance into management roles.
• Pre-tax dependent care flexible spending account.

Qualifications

• Some high school education is required or preferred.
• Prior operations experience is preferred.
• Food safety compliance may include local or municipal food handler certification, obtained at the applicant’s own expense.

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

This role involves working in a busy restaurant setting where counter areas can be hot, steam and food vapors are common, and space is limited. Team members are generally expected to remain standing for long periods and may need to prepare both hot and cold foods, use a Chinese cook knife, and operate other kitchen equipment while maintaining speed and accuracy.

Employees must be able to lift up to 50 lbs., stand for up to four hours, and reach across 36-inch counter tops when serving customers. Kitchens are typically hot and noisy, storage is limited, shelving is high, and the work pace is fast. The job also requires strong verbal communication, flexibility in a changing environment, and the ability to handle conflict or difficult situations effectively.

About Panda Restaurant Group

Founded in Glendale, California, Panda Restaurant Group is the largest family-owned American Chinese restaurant concept in the United States. With nearly 2,800 locations worldwide, the company is committed to delivering memorable Asian dining experiences and building an organization that helps people improve their lives. It values family principles and community impact.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodation

Panda Restaurant Group is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on any legally protected characteristic, including sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and related conditions), gender expression, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, or veteran status.

The company follows applicable federal, state, and local laws related to workplace accommodations. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, qualified individuals with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations unless doing so would create undue hardship. If you need an accommodation for the application or interview process, or for this position, you may contact [email protected].