Kitchen Assistant

Pleasanton, CA, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Part-time

Hourly

Compensation

Hourly

Exact $19.89

Work Schedule

Flexible

Weekend Shifts

Night Shifts

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

employee discount

flexible schedule

Retirement Plan

Job Description

Sur La Table is a renowned specialty retailer focusing on kitchenware, culinary products, and an exceptional cooking experience. With over 59 store locations across the United States, it represents one of the largest and most respected names in avocational cooking education and premium-quality goods for kitchen and table. Sur La Table is well known for its unsurpassed selection of exclusive and high-quality culinary merchandise combined with hands-on cooking courses designed to inspire and empower cooking enthusiasts of all levels. The company has developed an outstanding culinary program, supporting those passionate about food preparation, cooking techniques, and sharing great meals with family and friends. Sur La Table fosters a culture of creativity, community, and hospitality that extends beyond the products to include memorable customer experiences and expert guidance.

The role of Kitchen Assistant at Sur La Table is an engaging and vital position within their culinary education spaces. Candidates for this position play a crucial role in enhancing the cooking class atmosphere by assisting chefs, maintaining a smoothly operating kitchen environment, and ensuring remarkable guest interaction and satisfaction. This position is ideal for individuals with a passion for cooking, attention to detail, and enthusiasm for hospitality. Kitchen Assistants contribute significantly to the execution of high-quality culinary classes, which are central to the company's mission to create happiness through cooking and sharing food. Working as a Kitchen Assistant requires a balance of teamwork, customer service, and operational responsibilities to maintain the company's high standards for service and culinary education. The position offers $19.89 per hour wages and flexible part-time schedules, including nights, weekends, and holidays, averaging 12 to 16 hours weekly with shifts designed to meet fluctuating business demands. This role is essential in delivering a #bestincenter experience, which is Sur La Table's hallmark for exceptional service, ensuring every guest leaves inspired and satisfied with both the culinary education and customer care offered. Candidates should be ready to thrive in an active kitchen environment that includes food safety compliance, customer engagement, and physical tasks requiring stamina and dexterity. The job also emphasizes inclusion and equal opportunity employment practices, fostering a supportive and diverse workplace for all employees and applicants.

Job Requirements

Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers
ability to remain standing for up to 4 hours at a time
ability to move about the store directing class participants while selling to customers and retrieving merchandise from stockroom or sales floor
capability to accurately perceive and differentiate variations in intensity or quality of flavors or odors, or to identify specific tastes or scents using the tongue or nose
ability to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel and crouch to demonstrate, retrieve and/or replenish merchandise and/or cooking equipment
ability to use hands to seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise to chop, whisk, slice, stir, juice and/or demonstrate other techniques
ability to lift and/or move merchandise weighing up to 50 lbs
ability to ascend/descend ladders to retrieve and/or move merchandise
ability to operate a computer, POS system, keyboards, merchandise scanners and mouse to accomplish work
available to work between 12 and 16 hours per week, with a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays
regular and predictable attendance with the flexibility to adjust class assignments based on demand
ability to work in a variable kitchen environment including but not limited to open flames, hot surfaces, temperature variations, various food allergens both physical and airborne

Job Qualifications

Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of employment
one year retail sales experience preferred
one year food prep and/or kitchen operations experience preferred
valid Food Handlers Certification
excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
passion for community engagement and providing exceptional customer experiences
proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and retail systems preferred

Job Duties

Represent Sur La Table's brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty
Maintain expertise by staying current on products, actively engaging in available training, and independently seeking out additional resources
Ensure exceptional customer experience by leading a customer-focused, guest obsessed culture in both the kitchen and retail sales floor
Assist chefs with class execution that drives repeat visits and positive customer feedback
Deliver class revenue goals by ensuring high enrollment, positive reviews, and guest return rates
Consistently meet or exceed monthly sales goals, contributing to overall store revenue
Assist in setting up and breakdown of classes including organizing mise en place, prepping ingredients, and cleaning workstations