Head Chef

Pete's Fresh Market is a renowned grocery store chain committed to delivering fresh, high-quality food products and exceptional customer service to its community. Located at 668 Madison Street in Oak Park, Illinois, Pete's Fresh Market is recognized for its dedication to quality, value, and a superior shopping experience. This establishment prides itself on its vibrant yet professional environment, where each team member plays a vital role in maintaining the store's reputation and operational excellence. As a part of Pete's Fresh Market, employees have the opportunity to contribute to a company that values customer satisfaction, sustainability, and community engagement.

The Kitchen Head Cook at Pete's Fresh Market is a crucial role within the Hot Foods department. This non-exempt position focuses on the production and preparation of all hot foods, strictly guided by established recipes and usage records to ensure consistent quality and guest satisfaction. This role reports directly to the Hot Foods Department Manager and the Store Manager, emphasizing its importance within the store's food service operations. The position requires hands-on involvement in developing menus, food purchase specifications, recipes, and monitoring budgets related to food and labor costs.

The Kitchen Head Cook must also uphold the highest standards of food quality and sanitation, ensuring that every meal served meets or exceeds customer expectations. This role involves supervising kitchen staff, training new associates, and cross-training existing ones to maintain efficiency and compliance with health regulations. The Kitchen Head Cook demonstrates strong leadership skills, operational knowledge of all hourly kitchen positions, and the ability to manage multiple tasks during peak business hours effectively.

Additionally, employees in this role are expected to exemplify Pete's Four Pillars: Value, Aesthetic, Quality, and Customer Service, embodying the company’s core brand values in every aspect of their work. The position demands strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to food safety protocols including sanitation standards and health department certifications such as Serve Safe and Great Food Safe Food Certification.

The role offers competitive hourly wages ranging from $15 to $20 for suburban stores and $16.60 to $20 for city of Chicago stores, with eligibility for overtime and opportunities for guaranteed overtime in some positions. Pete's Fresh Market provides a supportive work environment emphasizing employee growth, safety, and well-being. As part of the compensation package, employees enjoy health insurance plans, 401K matching, paid vacation, and other valuable benefits.