Job description
Title: Restaurant Operations Intern
Location: Varied
Duration: 12 weeks, Summer Internship
Job Summary: Panda Restaurant Group is seeking a motivated and dynamic intern to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in restaurant operations and learn from industry professionals in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. The intern will be responsible for supporting various initiatives within the restaurant operations team and will gain exposure to a variety of functions including but not limited to operations, training, quality assurance, food safety and culinary development.
Here at Panda, growth begins on day one. From opportunities that help you live your best life to growth opportunities that propel you forward, we’re all about inspiring better lives. A happy team is a high-performing team. Panda is honored to be the only fast casual restaurant brand awarded as one of the best places to work. Alongside the stellar total rewards package and unparalleled earning and growth potential, our workplace offers a greater sense of belonging, rooted in a people-first and purpose-driven culture. 85% of Panda Restaurant Group associates say it’s a great place to work compared to 57% of employees at typical U.S. based company.
Responsibilities:
- Support store operations during the shift, ensuring food is prepared with passion, service is provided with heart, and the ambiance is maintained with pride.
- Manage and lead a team of associates during the shift, delegating tasks and providing coaching and feedback to support their growth and development.
- Assist with inventory management, ordering supplies, and ensuring proper food safety and sanitation practices are followed.
- Shadow restaurant managers and team members to gain a deeper understanding of day-to-day operations and provide recommendations for process improvements.
- Successfully complete the assigned modules.
- Other duties as assigned to support the restaurant operations team.
Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing a bachelor’s, preferably in hospitality, business administration, or a related field; sophomore and junior preferred.
- Must be available to work duration of internship (approx. June-August 2025)
- Must be available to work 30-40 hours/week, for internship duration (approx. June-August 2025)
- Strong leadership skills, including the ability to motivate and manage a team in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to provide clear direction and feedback to team members.
- Proactive and self-starter with ability to work in a team environment.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
- Willingness to work a flexible schedule including weekends and holidays.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior experience in the hospitality industry is a plus.
- Student Org Leadership experience is a plus.
- Prior restaurant working hours and Food Safety card preferred.
Benefits:
- Paid internship at a competitive rate
- Hands-on experience in restaurant operations and exposure to various functions within Panda Restaurant Group
- Mentorship and guidance from industry professionals
- Networking opportunities with other interns and industry leaders
- Potential return offer
- *(Varied by school/programs) The hours will count towards Industry Working Hours (800 U.S. domestic) that’s required for graduation
To apply, please submit a resume. Only applicants who are authorized to work in the United States will be considered. Panda Restaurant Group is an equal opportunity employer.
Panda Strong since 1983:
Founded in Glendale, California, we are now the largest family-owned American Chinese Restaurant concept in America. With close to 2,300 locations globally, we continue our mission of delivering exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives. Whether it’s impacting our team or the communities we work in, we’re proud to be an organization that embraces family values. We value diversity in all forms and know the strength it brings. Workplace equality allows for creative ideas to bloom, diverse points of view to be heard, and improves overall happiness.
Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal opportunity, and does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, including but not limited to sex/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, and veteran status. Additionally, Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. complies with all federal, state, and local laws regarding requests for workplace accommodations. If there is a reason you believe you require an accommodation, please reach out to Human Resources.
IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ: This is a PAID INTERNSHIP. It can be used for an academic internship course. If you are seeking to utilize this internship for academic credit, you must contact the appropriate faculty member in your academic department for approval prior to starting the internship. You can also contact Claudia Ceja, University Internship Coordinator, at cceja@csufresno.edu or your college’s Internship Coordinator for more details about the steps required to obtain academic credit for internship experiences.