Lead Cook

Perkins American Food Co.; Albert Lea (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Daily Pay

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Meal discounts

Education assistance

Job summary

Perkins American Food Co. in Minnesota leads kitchen operations to follow the established production schedule and maximize guest satisfaction. The Lead Cook position involves managing day-to-day activities, ensuring quality, and maintaining a positive work environment as directed by the Manager on Duty.

Responsibilities include overseeing sanitation, inventory, and line readiness; coordinating multiple tasks; and upholding food safety standards to deliver consistent menu items and timely service.

Qualifications

• Sanitation, safety and customer service are taught through in-house training.
• Must be able to communicate clearly in a fast-paced environment.
• Must coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously across kitchen stations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and production schedule adherence.
• Maintain inventories of food and equipment and ensure proper storage.
• Clean and operate kitchen line equipment and prep areas.
• Stock and rotate products on the cooking line.
• Ensure correct portioning, quality, timing, and standards for menu items.
• Monitor food temperatures and follow safety regulations to prevent illness.
• Identify and resolve system issues to maintain guest satisfaction.
• Communicate with Manager on Duty about deficiencies or safety problems.

Skills

Sanitation and safety

Clear communication

Multitasking

Job description

Position Description

As a Lead Cook, you will be responsible for overseeing day‑to‑day kitchen operations and following an established production schedule. In addition, you will perform all duties to maximize guest satisfaction and a quality work environment as directed by Manager on Duty.

Responsibilities

• Reports to work well groomed, in a clean and proper uniform, and at all times practices good personal hygiene.
• Maintains food and equipment inventories.
• Uses, maintains, and cleans all kitchen line equipment, preparation and storage areas.
• Stocks and rotates products on cooking line.
• Has sufficient knowledge of cooking stations, menu items and prep procedures to ensure correct portioning, quality, cooking time and performance standards.
• Cooks and prepares menu items according to guest request within company standards and following food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Monitors and oversees food temperatures during hot and cold handling to reduce the incidence of risk factors known to cause food borne illness. Ensures all food safety regulations are followed.
• Anticipates, identifies and corrects system breakdowns to achieve maximum guest satisfaction.
• Communicates with the Manager on Duty and coworkers regarding product/service deficiencies equipment, safety problems, etc.

Qualifications

• Basic skills such as sanitation, safety, and customer service taught through in‑house training.
• Must be able to communicate clearly.
• Must be able to coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.

Physical Requirements / Environment / Work Conditions

• Must have high level of mobility/flexibility.
• Must be able to work irregular hours under heavy stress/pressure during peak times.
• Must possess a high level of coordination.
• Must lift and carry up to 50 pounds for distances up to 30 feet.
• Must be able to fit through an opening 30” wide.
• Requires frequent reaching, bending, pushing and pulling.
• Exposure to heat, steam, smoke, cold and odors.
• Requires continual standing and walking.

Benefits & Perks

• Educational Assistance with DeVry University with complimentary laptop**
• Immediate Family Members are also eligible
• Competitive Pay with Service Award Incentive
• Get paid daily through Daily Pay!
• Comprehensive Health Benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, and more!***
• 401(k) retirement savings with company match
• Flexible Schedule
• All you can eat pancakes + meal discounts!
• Employee Discount Program
• Development Pathway: Step by step process to grow your career
• 3 College Credits hours for completing manager training****

Disclaimer

This job description is not intended, and should not be construed to be, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended, however, to be an accurate reflection of those principal job elements essential for making decisions related to job performance, employee development and compensation. As such, the employee may perform other duties and responsibilities as required.