Lead Cook - Viavi Wichita

Aramark is a global leader in food and facilities management services, proudly serving millions of guests every day across 15 countries around the world. As a company rooted in service and united by its purpose, Aramark strives to make a positive impact not only for its employees but also for its partners, communities, and the planet. The company believes in equal employment opportunity, fostering an inclusive environment where employees are free to participate fully without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Aramark is dedicated to helping its team members develop their talents, fuel their passions, and empower their professional growth through meaningful career opportunities.

The Lead Cook position at Aramark plays a critical role in delivering high-quality food that meets the company’s rigorous standards for safety, taste, and presentation. This role involves cooking and preparing food using standard recipes and production guidelines while maintaining strict adherence to food safety, food handling, and sanitation procedures. The Lead Cook is expected to handle kitchen equipment safely, including grills, fryers, ovens, and broilers. Beyond cooking, this role often involves supervisory responsibilities such as scheduling staff, assigning daily tasks, training team members on job duties and food safety protocols, and ensuring that food preparation areas are clean and well-organized.

The day-to-day responsibilities for the Lead Cook include preparing ingredients by measuring, chopping, mixing, and trimming, as well as operating cooking equipment to bake, roast, broil, and steam foods. The Lead Cook must consistently follow production guidelines and standardized recipes to ensure food quality remains uniform and high. They also take on the important responsibility of arranging, garnishing, and portioning food according to established guidelines to maintain visual appeal and customer satisfaction. Food storage and sanitation practices are crucial elements of this role, requiring the Lead Cook to follow all food safety policies meticulously to prevent contamination and ensure compliance with health regulations.

As a leader in the kitchen, the Lead Cook fosters a positive work environment by maintaining excellent customer service and professional attitudes towards guests, customers, coworkers, and clients alike. This includes enforcing company safety policies and protecting company assets. Additionally, the Lead Cook is responsible for producing and maintaining work schedules, preparing production records as needed, and adapting to changing business needs or client requirements.

Aramark values individuals who are self-motivated and capable of working independently with limited supervision. Candidates for this role should demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, as they frequently interact with team members and management. The position may also require physical activity such as lifting, bending, pushing, pulling, and extended periods of walking or standing, as well as the use of uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE). This essential role offers an opportunity to contribute to a globally recognized company committed to service excellence and employee development, making it an ideal career choice for professionals passionate about culinary arts and leadership in the food service industry.