Lead Cook

Orange, CA, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Hourly

Compensation

Hourly

Exact $25.00

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Benefits

401(k)

401(k) matching

employee discount

Paid sick time

predictable schedule

Free Shift Meals

Performance bonus

Job Description

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 pos... Show More

Job Requirements

Three or more years cooking experience in a technical kitchen environment
Leadership experience in a kitchen setting
Ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure
Food Handler Card from California
Certified Food Protection Manager credential within 30 days of hire
Strong communication skills
Willingness to work in person at Orange, CA location

Job Qualifications

Three or more years cooking in kitchens where technique mattered such as scratch operations, chef-driven concepts, hotel kitchens, or high-volume restaurants
Experience as lead cook, sous chef, or chef de partie preferred
Demonstrated chef-level grill skills including bone-in doneness, heat zone management, and handling multiple proteins simultaneously
Proficient knife skills and proper mise en place discipline
Trained palate with experience as final taste checkpoint
Leadership experience training and holding cooks accountable with respect
Possession of California Food Handler Card and ANSI-accredited Certified Food Protection Manager credential or ability to obtain within 30 days
Culinary school education, formal apprenticeships, or chef-led training highly desirable but self-taught with proven skills encouraged to apply

Job Duties

Execute every menu item to spec including doneness, char, caramelization, slice thickness, plating
Master the grill with heat zone management and timing bone-in proteins
Train and develop cooks on technique and speed with brigade-style coaching
Serve as final quality control and palate before food leaves the kitchen
Manage par levels and food cost, track inventory, rotate stock using FIFO, control waste
Enforce food safety and sanitation according to California Retail Food Code
Communicate across stations to maintain accuracy and speed during high volume service

Job Criteria

Experience

Mid Level (3-7 years)

Job Location

Don't Stop At One Job - There's More

Create a free profile

We'll match you with best jobs

Get job offers faster

Create Your Profile

Search For More Opportunities:

More Jobs Like This: