Lead Cook

Wasserhund Brewing Company; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Wasserhund Brewing Company in Virginia Beach is seeking a Kitchen Lead responsible for overseeing food preparation and kitchen operations. The role involves training new employees, managing labor, and ensuring health compliance. The ideal candidate will have proven cooking and leadership experience, sound knowledge of food health and safety regulations, and strong communication skills.

Applicants must be willing to work nights, weekends, and some holidays in a fast-paced environment. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to the growth of the Wasserhund brand.

Qualifications

• Proven cooking and leadership experience.
• Sound knowledge of food health and safety regulations.
• Must be willing to work nights, weekends, and some holidays.

Responsibilities

• Train new kitchen staff on standard operating procedures.
• Ensure labor efficiency during slow hours.
• Oversee busy kitchen periods and delegate tasks.
• Maintain health compliance and pass health inspections.
• Uphold employee policies and cleaning tasks.

Skills

Cooking and leadership experience

Knowledge of food health and safety regulations

Teamwork

Fast-paced environment adaptability

Excellent communication skills

Education

ServSafe license (preferred)

Job description

Kitchen Lead is responsible for overseeing the preparation of all food in the kitchen. Overseeing prep quantities and inventory levels. Lead cooks are responsible for the daily success of the kitchen by preparing each shift with appropriate ingredient quantities and quality, as well as health and sanitation requirements.

Responsibilities

• Train New Employees: Responsible for training new kitchen staff in the standard operating procedures of Wasserhund. Including, menu knowledge, prep, closing, dishwashing, oven, and dough throwing, as well as, establishing sanitation and safety expectations. This includes how much ingredients to use for food preparation and location of food items for stock.
• Monitor Labor: Ensure labor is not being wasted (delegate side work during slow hours/send people home appropriately)
• Lead During Busy Times: Oversee busy periods in the kitchen. Help to navigate and delegate employees to stations. Watch ticket times and raise awareness and/or fix issues that may arise.
• Health Compliance: Ensure all Department of Health regulations are kept and all health inspections obtain a passing grade – address any concerns that the Health Inspector notes
• Employee Policies: Maintain and uphold employee policies
• Cleaning Tasks: Responsible for delegating and upholding daily deep clean task lists
• Logs: Responsible for the completion of temp logs and other required log books for health inspections
• Food Prep: Responsible for checking on hand items versus par levels and writing the prep list accordingly to ensure sufficient product for the day.
• Food Quality: Ensuring that all food that leaves the kitchen is prepared correctly and consistently.
• Idea Creation: Help with the creation of new ideas in the kitchen to further promote the Wasserhund brand.

Qualifications

• Proven cooking and leadership experience
• ServSafe license (preferred)
• Sound knowledge of food health and safety regulations
• The ability to work as part of a team
• The ability to work in a fast paced environment
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Time management and problem solving skills
• Must be willing and able to work nights, weekends and some holidays