Lead Cook

Jim's Original, a celebrated institution with over 85 years of experience in serving authentic Chicago-style dishes, is expanding to California with its first-ever location on the West Coast. Known for its dedication to quality and tradition, Jim's Original has built a reputation on authentic recipes featuring technically demanding dishes such as bone-in pork chops, Italian beef sliced thin with rich au jus, perfectly caramelized onions, and Polishes finished with the proper char. This expansion marks an exciting new chapter for the company as it brings its cherished culinary experience and commitment to excellence to a new audience.

The position of Lead Cook at Jim's Original California location is a highly skilled and leadership-oriented role that goes far beyond typical cooking jobs. This role offers an opportunity for cooks who understand the critical difference between mere cooking and chef-level execution. As Lead Cook, you will be responsible for maintaining exceptional food quality and authenticity through expert preparation techniques and leadership. You'll direct kitchen operations across all meal periods—including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the famously busy late-night rush—without compromising on the attention to detail or cooking standards. Your role will involve setting the pace on the grill, managing complex heat zones, timing proteins perfectly, and orchestrating the flow of ingredients to achieve the trademark flavors and presentation Jim's Original is known for.

In addition to menu execution, you will take on the critical responsibility of training and mentoring the kitchen team. In true brigade style, you'll coach junior cooks, enforce discipline in preparation and technique, and serve as the final quality control checkpoint ensuring every dish leaving the kitchen meets exacting standards. Your leadership will foster a culture where speed never outruns skill, and where every plate reflects Jim's Original's commitment to culinary excellence.

This opportunity also includes key operational duties such as managing par levels, controlling food costs, monitoring inventory and stock rotation, and upholding rigorous food safety and sanitation standards as mandated by California law. Communication is essential; you will coordinate closely with cashiers, sandwich makers, and shift leaders to keep the kitchen running smoothly during peak service times. Moreover, your hands-on approach will have you stepping into various stations as needed to lead by example and ensure operational consistency.