Lead Cook

Universal Weather and Aviation•San Jose, CA

63d•$27 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Cook is responsible for the quality of food ingredients and preparation methods, both personally and while supervising line cook staff. They prepare base items needed for customer orders and act as an on-site problem solver, authorized to make decisions to resolve issues related to customer satisfaction, safety, and cost, following company procedures. The Lead Cook prepares all foods to specification, including hot foods, salads, sandwiches, canapés, desserts, sauces, and cold food preparations. They are the primary driver of hot food culinary quality, monitoring and supporting cold food displays, culinary artistry, the safe use of fresh ingredients, and the quality and finesse of culinary design and presentation. The Lead Cook co-manages cooks, prep staff, and porters, identifying challenges, designing solutions, and recommending quick resolutions for situations requiring action and critical thinking to ensure the highest quality and craftsmanship in all culinary preparations, including hot food, displays, and professionally composed dishes. The Lead Cook has the authority to make final decisions on behalf of the Chefs to create culinary solutions in line with company procedures for customer satisfaction, safety, and cost.

Requirements

A High School diploma or its equivalent required.
2-3 years of experience in a kitchen environment within a catering or fine dining establishment.
Current Servsafe Food Handling Certificate required at hire or within 45-days of hire.
Demonstrated ability to take orders and follow through as well as direct and work well with others in a team-driven, fast-paced environment is essential.
Must be energetic, enthusiastic, creative, and highly motivated to assist in food preparation and presentation.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to apply good judgement understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
Pre-employment background check
Pre-employment Drug Test
MVR (if applicable to the position)
E-Verify

Nice To Haves

Experience in new culinary trends preferred.
Experience with Italian cuisine and catering is a plus.
Prior hospitality/food Culinary, Cooking and supervision experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Produce top quality hot and cold food, innovative and artistic presentations, displays, spec-trays, quality salads, sandwiches, canapés, desserts and sauces and any cold preparation.
Prepare all menu items according to Air Culinaire preparation methods while maintaining Air Culinaire Standards.
Ensure food quality and use ACW specifications at all times, ensuring food matches the presentation provided in the specification as provided by customer requests.
Participate in training and directing Air Culinaire team members, teaching, training, and auditing all trays and displays to ensure food safety and HACCP compliance.
Provide feedback and suggestions to the General Manager to continue to monitor, maintain and improve quality.
Butchering of meats and fish while assisting with the daily operations of the kitchen.
Ensures that all food preparations and presentations meet specifications and commitment to quality.
Maintains a safe, orderly and sanitized kitchen by setting quat-sanitizer stations, monitoring and journaling and using gloves, and food safety tools and best practices when cooking and working in the kitchen.
Use preventative maintenance with all kitchen equipment while directing the other team members to do the same.

Benefits

Healthcare and supplemental benefits on the first day of the month, following 30 days of employment (for Full Time employees).
401 (K) Retirement Plan with a discretionary 100% employer match of the first 6% of participant contributions.
Three (3) medical plans to choose from, with an excellent employer contribution.
Available Dental and Vision insurance.
Company paid basic life insurance, with the option to elect additional voluntary term life.
Company paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
Available supplemental benefits, including critical illness, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance and pet insurance.
Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account available (for eligible plans).
Generous Vacation Program for full time employees.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).