Lead Cook

Crescent Hotels & Resorts; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Crescent Hotels & Resorts in Charlotte, NC is seeking a Lead Cook who takes pride in high‑quality food, a clean and safe kitchen, and plates that meet our standards. In a fast‑paced hotel kitchen you will emphasize consistency, timing, preparation, teamwork, and attention to detail while delivering exceptional guest experiences.

We value reliability, adaptability, and a hands-on approach. You will work with a culinary team to manage prep, stock, and equipment, helping the kitchen run smoothly

Job description

Bring Your Skills. Bring Your Passion. Bring Great Food to the Table. Great hospitality starts in the kitchen.

We're looking for a Lead Cook who takes pride in preparing high-quality food, maintaining a clean and safe kitchen, and making sure every plate meets our standards.

This is an opportunity for an experienced culinary professional who understands that great cooking is about more than following a recipe. It's about consistency, timing, preparation, teamwork, attention to detail, and taking pride in what you serve.

If you thrive in a fast-paced kitchen, enjoy working as part of a team, and take satisfaction in knowing guests are enjoying something you helped create, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

• Prepare food consistently according to recipe cards, production requirements, and portion standards.
• Prepare food based on guest orders and communication from the service team.
• Plan ahead by preparing appropriate quantities of food while avoiding unnecessary overproduction.
• Check product levels and pars for each shift and determine preparation needs.
• Complete freezer pulls and line setup to ensure the kitchen is ready for service.
• Monitor inventory and communicate out-of-stock items or potential shortages.
• Assist with keeping buffet areas properly stocked and ready for guests.
• Properly date, cover, store, and rotate food according to hotel standards.
• Maintain proper temperatures for perishable food items.
• Return unused food items to designated storage areas and ensure they are properly covered and dated.
• Help identify opportunities to reduce food waste, loss, and unnecessary usage.
• Assist with plans and actions designed to address food-cost concerns.
• Operate, maintain, and properly clean kitchen equipment, including:
• Deep fryers
• Broilers
• Stoves
• Steamers
• Food processors
• Mixers
• Slicers
• Ovens
• Steam tables
• Tilt kettles
• Waffle irons
• Flat-top grills
• Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary work environment.
• Work collaboratively with other culinary team members and pitch in wherever needed.
• Communicate effectively regarding preparation, product availability, and kitchen needs.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

The source description places particular emphasis on consistent food quality, preparation and portion standards, proper food storage and temperatures, inventory awareness, waste control, and safe operation and cleaning of kitchen equipment.

What We're Looking For

• Passionate about food and takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen.
• Detail-oriented, especially when it comes to recipes, portions, temperatures, and presentation.
• Reliable and prepared, with the ability to anticipate what the kitchen will need.
• Team-oriented and willing to jump in wherever help is needed.
• Calm and focused in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Committed to quality, consistency, cleanliness, and food safety.
• Cost-conscious, understanding that controlling waste is an important part of a successful kitchen.
• Hands-on, with confidence operating a variety of commercial kitchen equipment.
• Adaptable and willing to learn new skills and procedures.
• Professional and respectful when working with both coworkers and guests.

The position requires communication skills, manual dexterity for operating food machinery, and the ability to grasp, lift, carry, or otherwise move goods weighing up to 100 pounds on a continuous schedule.

Why Join Our Culinary Team?

Because your work ends up on someone's plate- that's something to be proud of.

Every meal is an opportunity to create a great experience.

Your preparation helps set the kitchen up for success. Your attention to quality ensures consistency. Your teamwork keeps service moving. And your commitment to doing things right helps turn an ordinary hotel stay into a memorable one.

You'll have the opportunity to build your culinary skills while working alongside a team that understands the importance of quality food, great service, and genuine hospitality.

The Kind of Cook Who Thrives Here

• Checks your mise en place twice because you want service to go right.
• Knows that consistency matters just as much as creativity.
• Can look at a prep list and know what needs to happen next.
• Takes pride in a clean and organized workstation.
• Doesn't waste food—or opportunities to improve.
• Can handle a busy service without losing your focus.
• Is willing to jump in and help the team get across the finish line.
• Takes pride in serving food that you'd be happy to put in front of your own family.

More Than a Kitchen Job-It's Hospitality.

Our culinary team plays an important role in the overall guest experience.

The food you prepare, the standards you maintain, and the teamwork you demonstrate all contribute to how our guests experience the hotel.

We believe every associate is a guest-relations ambassador, and that commitment extends into the kitchen. Professionalism, respect, teamwork, adaptability, punctuality, and a willingness to learn are all part of being successful on our team.

Ready to Bring Your Talent to the Table?

If you're a culinary professional who takes pride in great food, great teamwork, and great hospitality, we'd love to meet you.

Bring your skills. Bring your passion. Bring your pride in the craft.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.