Company description
Crafted Kitchen is an incubator-style commercial kitchen in LA’s Arts District serving 70+ food entrepreneurs. We’re not just a kitchen rental—we’re building a community that helps serious food businesses succeed. Our members have gone on to land Whole Foods contracts, earn James Beard nominations, and scale from farmers markets to regional distribution.
We care about impact, not just hours rented. We believe in honesty, accountability, and creating genuine community. And we’re looking for someone who gets excited about helping food entrepreneurs build something real.
Job description
THE ROLE (What You’ll Actually Do)
You’ll own the strategic work that transforms us from “really nice kitchen space” to “the place that helps food businesses succeed.”
Lead Conversion & Member Growth (40% of your time)
∙ Track and qualify every lead that comes in (no one slips through the cracks)
∙ Respond within 24 hours, every time
∙ Conduct tours that help prospects self-select in or out
∙ Follow up consistently until they convert or confirm they’re not a fit
∙ Onboard new members so they understand what we offer beyond kitchen space
∙ Goal: Increase conversion rate from lead to member
Community Building (35% of your time)
∙ Plan and execute monthly member events (networking, happy hours, showcases)
∙ Create systems for members to connect with each other
∙ Build member directory and introduction processes
∙ Develop peer learning opportunities
∙ Make “community” tangible, not just a nice word
∙ Goal: Members experience Crafted Kitchen as partners in their success, not just landlords.
Member Success Programming (25% of your time)
∙ Quarterly check-ins with members (how’s business? what do you need?)
∙ Capture member success stories and create case studies
∙ Identify when members need strategic support vs. just space
∙ Develop workshop topics based on actual member needs
∙ Track member milestones and celebrate wins
∙ Goal: Demonstrate measurable impact on member businesses
WHO YOU ARE
This role is RIGHT for you if:
You’re a self-starter who doesn’t need hand-holding
∙ You see something that needs doing and you do it
∙ You don’t wait for permission or detailed instructions
∙ You can work independently and make good judgment calls
∙ You follow through without reminders
You understand food entrepreneurship
∙ You’ve either run a food business or worked closely with people who have
∙ You get the struggle of scaling from small-batch to wholesale
∙ You can spot the difference between someone with a hobby and someone building a business
∙ You speak the language of CPG, co-packing, permits, and production
You’re genuinely interested in people’s success
∙ You get energy from seeing other people win
∙ You’re willing to have honest conversations (even uncomfortable ones)
∙ You can celebrate small wins and push people toward bigger goals
∙ You see yourself as a partner, not just a service provider
You’re organized and systems-oriented
∙ You track things without being asked
∙ You create simple systems that work
∙ You can manage multiple leads/projects without dropping balls
∙ You know how to prioritize when everything feels important
You can build community, not just show up to it
∙ You know how to create connection between strangers
∙ You can facilitate, not just attend, events
∙ You understand what makes people want to show up and engage
∙ You’re comfortable being the catalyst, not just a participant
This role is WRONG for you if:
∙ You need constant direction or check-ins to stay on track
∙ You prefer tasks over relationships or strategy
∙ You’re uncomfortable with sales/follow-up conversations
∙ You need a 9-5 structure to be productive
∙ You see community building as “fluffy” vs. strategic
∙ You’re looking for a stepping stone, not meaningful work
IMPORTANT NOTES
We value honesty over polish:
Don’t write what you think we want to hear. Tell us what’s actually true about you and whether this role genuinely fits what you want.
We’re building something specific:
This isn’t a generic community manager or sales role. It requires understanding food businesses, caring about people’s success, and being comfortable with strategic ambiguity. If that sounds exhausting, this isn’t your role.
We move quickly:
If you’re a fit, we’ll want to talk within a week. First conversation is 30 minutes by phone. If that goes well, we’ll bring you in for a paid trial shift ($35/hr, 4 hours) to see how you work with real members.
We’re serious about culture fit:
Skills can be taught. Self-direction, integrity, and genuine care for people’s success can’t. We’re hiring for the person, not just the resume.
Compensation
this position is: hourly, $20/hr +
Application instructions
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Deadline
no deadline