Cook II, Banquets

Starwood Hotels; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 38,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Starwood Hotels in Austin, TX is seeking a Cook II to prepare dishes per recipes and uphold daily culinary operations. You will ensure ingredient quality and handle high‑pressure periods while maintaining restaurant standards.

Ideal candidates are organized, with 2+ years in a kitchen, strong English communication, and a willingness to learn. This full-time on-site role requires standing for long periods and may include lifting up to 50 lbs.

Qualifications

• Are organized and proficient at multitasking.
• At least 2 years of related work experience.
• Are a reliable team player willing to learn and adapt to new situations.
• Able to lift at least 50 lbs.
• Proficient in verbal and written English communication.
• Able to stand for long periods of time.
• Food Handling certification (can be obtained during employment)

Responsibilities

• Prepare food according to recipe specifications and support daily culinary operations.
• Ensure all ingredients used are of the highest quality.
• Work under pressure and maintain restaurant standards during busy periods.
• Stand and/or walk for extended periods.
• Write and follow recipes, procedures and prep lists.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with other employees.
• Communicate using professional language.
• Coordinate daily with Sous Chef(s) and Executive Chef on status and guest dietary restrictions.
• Ensure kitchen sanitation standards with stewards and complete logs.
• Log daily, weekly and monthly projects to the stewards.
• Pursue continual learning about food service and lead by example.
• Ensure complete wash and sanitation between shifts.
• Monitor portion sizing for consistency.
• Update recipe books with proper procedures.
• Maintain protein/plate counts for service.
• Collaborate with engineering on maintenance logs.
• Check walk-ins for proper storage and rotation.
• Plate with proper service ware.
• Inform staff of specials and availability of menu items.
• Comply with safety policies and report hazards.
• Maintain professional appearance and uphold brand pillars.

Job description

Grow with us... Life at Starwood Hotels is based on a simple idea: the world is beautiful and we want to keep it that way. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why hiring thoughtful and inspiring Team Members and Leaders who understand that our people, collaboration, stellar service, and respect for nature are so important to us. We fill our kitchens with passionate culinarians who relish working with locally‑sourced seasonal ingredients, and we run a culinary team that thrives on innovation, respects nature and believes in perfection. We’re currently looking for a standout Cook II, a foodie at heart. Inside tip: If \"Perfectionist\" is your middle name, you may be successful in this role.

Main Duties

As Cook II, you will be responsible for preparing food according to recipe specifications and ensuring the overall success of our daily culinary operations. The Cook II should ensure that all ingredients used in dishes are of the highest quality. Additionally, the Cook II should work well under pressure and maintain restaurant standards during busy periods.

General Duties

• Must be able to stand and/or walk for extended periods of time.
• Always have a notebook to write recipes, procedures and prep lists with.
• Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with other employees.
• Clearly communicate using professional language
• Daily communication with Sous Chef(s), Executive Sous Chef and/or Executive Chef. Discuss hotel status, special attention arrivals and /or special attention guests with dietary/allergic restrictions, kitchen status (equipment repairs, cleanliness, and special needs projects), kitchen morale, suggestions of ways to improve guests experiences through new food offerings and ideas to drive revenue.
• Daily communications with stewards to ensure kitchen is running at the highest possible sanitary standards.
• Give and log daily, weekly and monthly projects to the stewards for areas of concern.
• Constantly pushing self to learn more about food service through books, magazines and dining out.
• Confident leader and perfect example for other team members.
• Ensure complete wash and sanitized kitchen is passed over to the next shift.
• Ensure stewards have followed their daily, scheduled cleanliness of walk‑ins, lines and general area of stewarding and kitchen.
• Daily line checks with team members ensuring quality and shelf life of product. Responsible for utilizing product through alternative outlets to minimize product loss.
• Closely monitor portion sizing to ensure consistency.
• Assist Supervisor in maintaining all logs and checklists for State and Internal audits.
• Responsible for assisting with updating recipe books with proper procedures.
• Responsible for protein/plate counts for service.
• Responsible for (Preventative) Maintenance log in Chef’s office with engineering team.
• Thorough check of all walk‑ins to ensure proper storage and rotation.
• Expert in plating using proper service ware.
• Responsible for shift line‑ups, informing F&B staff of specials and menu items no longer available.
• Ensure storerooms are in excellent condition, maintaining/delegating maintenance when necessary.
• Keep par items ordered for dry storage and produce walk‑in.
• Follow all company and safety and security policies and procedures; report any maintenance problems, safety hazards, accidents, or injuries; complete safety training and certifications; properly store flammable materials.
• Ensure compliance with hotel policies, procedures, and standards with self and colleagues.
• Ensure uniform and personal appearance are clean and professional.
• Maintain confidentiality of proprietary information.
• Embody the 1 Hotels Vision, Mission and Compass; deliver on Our Promise, provide Good‑Natured Service and uphold our Brand Pillars.

Qualifications & Skills

• Are organized and proficient at multitasking
• At least 2 years of related work experience.
• Are a reliable team player willing to learn and adapt to new situations
• Able to lift at least 50 lbs.
• Proficient in verbal and written English communication
• Able to stand for long periods of time
• Food Handling certification (can be obtained during employment)

Due to the nature of the hospitality industry, employees are required to work varying schedules, including holidays, to accommodate the business and demands of the hotel

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to perform any other job‑related duties assigned by their supervisor.

Starwood Hotels is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in a diverse, sustainable workforce with an empowered, inclusive culture. We are committed to non‑discrimination on any protected basis covered under applicable law. If you require any special accommodation, please visit People Operations.

Please note that your job description is not an exhaustive of tasks and duties, but serves a guideline for daily duties, which may change from time to time.

About Us...

As a mission‑driven company, our purpose is our true north, and our compass guides the way. The purpose we live by impacts the lives of our team members, drives the experiences for our guests, builds community with like‑minded travelers and takes care of the planet we live in. Founded in 2006 by Barry Sternlicht, Starwood Hotels is a luxury hotel brand management company and affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group.

Starwood Hotels is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in a diverse, sustainable workforce with an empowered, inclusive culture. We are committed to non‑discrimination on any protected basis covered under applicable law. If you require any special accommodations, please visit People Operations.