Kitchen Captain (Line Cook Shift Lead)

Cheeky Noodles•Ridgefield, WA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Cheeky Noodles is a new restaurant focused on serving soul-quenching comfort food and fostering a strong sense of community. We believe in taking care of our team so they can take care of our customers. Our first location is in a rapidly growing city, and we are hiring our inaugural team to help define our culture and mission. This role is an important part of the pre-opening phase, involving paid shift work to help design kitchen processes, including storage optimization, station design, prep protocols, and production plans. The Kitchen Captain will act as a squadron leader in the busy kitchen, ensuring the team operates efficiently, maintaining food quality and consistency, overseeing kitchen operations, and opening or closing the kitchen. This is a keyholder position with significant operating leeway and accountability, with ambitions to serve as a training ground for future leadership roles as the company expands.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience working the line in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
Strong ability to multitask and execute multiple dishes or tickets simultaneously while maintaining organization.
Familiarity with managing kitchen tickets, preferably on a digital kitchen display system (KDS) (Square is used).
Ability to lift and carry up to 50lbs.
Ability to stand for the full duration of the shift (outside of breaks).
Valid Washington state food handler's card (required at start time).
Valid Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) (company will cover test cost if needed).
Must be 18 years or older.
Must have evening and weekend availability.

Nice To Haves

An innate desire to lead and strong people skills.
A positive attitude and problem-solving skills.
A Cheeky attitude: energized by service, positive outlook, seeking fun, able to be playful while maintaining performance.
Innate understanding of effective leadership, leading by influence and example.
Passion for food and commitment to the craft.
Thrives in a team-oriented environment with strong communication skills and a desire to help teammates succeed.
Growth mindset with eagerness to learn.
Punctual and professional behavior.
Acts with integrity.

Responsibilities

Act as the menu expert and prepare menu items consistently according to recipes, quality, plating, and portioning standards.
Maintain a clean and organized station, even during peak busy periods.
Facilitate strong communication during service to ensure the team functions cohesively.
Coordinate kitchen and station setup, ensuring adequate stocking for service.
Ensure the kitchen is properly broken down, cleaned, and sanitized at the end of the day.
Monitor kitchen equipment and report any performance issues or maintenance needs to the General Manager.
Ensure safe food handling procedures are followed by all team members during the shift, taking ultimate responsibility for food safety.
Facilitate and coordinate receiving, date marking, inventory rotation, and stock counting.
Monitor and accurately report food waste.
Model effective communication and partnership between back and front of house to enhance the guest experience.
Coordinate replacements for call-outs or staff needing to leave during a shift, in collaboration with the General Manager.
Actively participate in process improvement, sharing observations and ideas for prep, production, organization, and inventory.
Participate in interviews and support the training of new team members.

Benefits

Competitive wages ($24-25/hr) with no tipping interactions.
Access to company-sponsored medical insurance after 30 days of service (for full-time employees).
Access to company-sponsored 401(k) savings plan after 90 days of service (for full-time employees).
Paid time off that accrues from the first day of work.
Required paid sick leave.
Steeply discounted meals during shifts.
Meal discount for personal use, including dining with friends and family.
Discounts with neighboring businesses like FIКА Coffee.
A culture that invests in learning and skill expansion.
Prioritization of hiring and promoting from within.