Temporary Chef

Pasadena, CA, USA|

Job Overview

Employment Type

Temporary

Hourly

Compensation

Hourly

Exact $48.07

Work Schedule

Flexible

Weekend Shifts

Night Shifts

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Paid sick leave

Retirement Plan

Employee Discounts

Job Description

We are a dynamic and fast-paced culinary establishment committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences through high-quality food and impeccable service standards. With a focus on maintaining operational excellence, our kitchen environment thrives on collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. We pride ourselves on upholding the highest standards of food quality, cleanliness, and employee performance, ensuring our guests receive an outstanding meal every time they visit.

We are currently seeking a Temporary Chef to join our team. This temporary role, expected to last approximately 1 to 3 months depending on business needs, is essential to maintaining the smooth running of daily kitchen operations. The Temporary Chef will play a crucial leadership role, providing hands-on support during periods of temporary staffing, call-outs, or peak business hours. This position requires an individual who can seamlessly manage the complexities of kitchen operations including food preparation, team supervision, inventory management, and ensuring compliance with all health and safety standards.

As a Temporary Chef, you will be responsible for maintaining and enforcing all kitchen cleaning and sanitation standards, ensuring the kitchen is always inspection-ready. You will oversee ordering and replenishing products to support operational efficiency while minimizing waste or shortages. Time management is critical in this role as you will be tasked with overseeing kitchen employee time clocks, preventing labor violations, and optimizing labor costs according to business demands.

Ensuring recipe adherence and consistency in food preparation is paramount to this role. You will maintain prep lists, ensure stations are fully stocked, and complete daily line checks to guarantee service readiness. When necessary, the Temporary Chef must step in to assist at various kitchen stations to maintain the quality and efficiency of operations.

Strong leadership and communication skills are needed to lead and support the expo position during service, manage ticket accuracy and timing, and foster a positive working environment. You will also be required to keep senior management informed of any performance concerns, coaching opportunities, disciplinary issues, and overall kitchen morale. Accurate documentation of daily service notes and operational details is essential for smooth shift transitions.

Compliance with health department regulations, safe food handling, and enforcing sanitary practices are central responsibilities of this role. The Temporary Chef contributes significantly to a safety-first workplace culture, ensuring all kitchen activities meet standardized safety procedures. This role is hourly paid, with a competitive wage range of $48.07 to $52.88 per hour, reflecting the high level of expertise and responsibility required.

This position is ideal for culinary professionals with substantial experience in fine dining and high-volume environments, strong industry management skills, and a commitment to excellence in hospitality and service. If you are passionate about leading kitchen teams, maintaining exceptional standards, and adapting to the dynamic nature of the culinary industry, this Temporary Chef opportunity offers a challenging and rewarding environment.

Job Requirements

Five years experience in fine dining high volume environment
progressively responsible industry and culinary management experience
strong interpersonal skills and communication skills including oral and written skills
commitment to hospitality and service excellence
current local or state food handler’s training certifications
competency in POS (Toast), scheduling software, Microsoft Office, and department-specific systems
culinary degree or equivalent practical experience
flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays
ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
strong knowledge of kitchen operations, food safety, and sanitation

Job Qualifications

Previous culinary leadership experience in a high-volume restaurant or hospitality environment preferred
strong knowledge of kitchen operations, food safety, sanitation, and labor management
ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail
strong communication, organization, and leadership skills
flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays
five years experience in fine dining high-volume environment
progressively responsible industry and culinary management experience
strong interpersonal and communication skills including oral and written skills
commitment to hospitality and service excellence
effective management skills to motivate and develop co-workers
possession of food certifications as required by local, state and federal law
current local or state food handler’s training certifications
competency in POS (Toast), scheduling software, Microsoft Office and department-specific systems
culinary degree is desirable or equivalent practical experience

Job Duties

Maintain and enforce all kitchen cleaning and sanitation standards
order and replenish products according to established pars
manage kitchen employee time clocks daily including monitoring labor hours and preventing break violations
oversee recipe adherence and food preparation standards
maintain and follow prep lists ensuring all stations are stocked and prepared
complete daily line checks verifying stations are service-ready
step into stations as needed during call-outs or peak periods
lead and support the expo position during service managing ticket accuracy and communication
keep senior management informed of performance and disciplinary issues
maintain accurate daily logs documenting service notes and operational challenges
comply with all health department regulations and enforce sanitary practices
enforce safe work habits and contribute to a safety-first environment