Lead Cook (Full-Time) | Smith Tower

Columbia Hospitality, Inc.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Get Paid Daily

Paid Time off & Holiday Pay

Medical, Dental, Vision

401K

HSA/FSA Plans

Referral Bonus

Discounted lodging, dining, spa, golf,

Employee Assistance Program

Volunteer opportunities

Online Learning Platform

Third party perks

Job summary

Columbia Hospitality, Inc. is seeking a Lead Line Cook for Smith Tower in Seattle. This full-time role focuses on leading daily food preparation, maintaining high culinary standards, and guiding line cooks to ensure consistency and quality across all stations.

You will train teammates, manage ordering and inventories, and uphold sanitation and safety standards while delivering outstanding service during both kitchen and banquet events.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in the industry with at least two years in a lead role.
• Able to cook proteins to pre-determined temperatures.
• Experience cooking a banquet up to 100 guests with a small team.
• State-licensed food handler certification.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day food preparation and ensure high-quality dishes.
• Train and guide line cooks and oversee kitchen organization.
• Ensure sanitation and safety compliance and manage opening/closing procedures.
• Handle guest and banquet needs and assist with inventory and ordering.

Skills

Knife skills

Team leadership

Food prep knowledge

Customer-focused service

Education

State Food Handler’s License

Tools

Slicer

Robo-coup

Hobart

Convection ovens

Job description

Lead Line Cook (Full-Time) | Smith Tower

Let’s start off with the most important part - what’s in it for you:

The Perks

*Eligibility of perks is dependent upon job status

• Hourly Pay Range: $24 - $26/hr DOE
• Get Paid Daily (Make any day payday)
• Paid Time off & Holiday Pay (Because Balance Matters)
• Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, 401K
• HSA/FSA Plans -with employer contribution
• Values Based Culture (#OMGLIFE)
• Culture Add (Creating Space for Fresh Perspectives)
• Referral Bonus (Get Paid to Recruit)
• Discounted Lodging, Dining, Spa, Golf, and Retail (Yes, Discounted Travel!)
• Employee Assistance Program
• “Columbia Cares” Volunteer Opportunities
• Committee Participation Opportunities (Fun, Philanthropic, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion)
• Task Force Work Opportunities (Grow your career in idyllic locations across the globe)
• Online Learning Platform to Help You Grow!
• Third Party Perks (Including discounts on Pet Insurance, Rental Cars, Movie and Concert Tickets, Theme Park and Attractions & so much more)

Our Commitment to you:

“People never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou’s famous statement serves as a rallying cry throughout Columbia Hospitality and fuels our collective drive - and success.

Our people are our purpose, and our brand is our people. We seek extraordinary individuals who drive our brand promise of Creating Exceptional Experiences. We are a people-first organization, ignited from the inside to succeed on the outside. We are a tight-knit, inclusive, values-driven team and we trust one another to have each other’s backs. We show up every day with open hearts, an inclusive mindset, and genuine respect for those around us. We have fun, grow together, and strive to leave a positive lasting impression on everyone we meet.

What Success Looks Like

Position Summary:

The Lead Line Cook supports the culinary team by leading day-to-day food preparation and ensuring consistent, high-quality dishes that align with Columbia Hospitality’s culinary standards. This role assists with training and guidance of line cooks, oversees kitchen organization, and ensures compliance with all sanitation and safety requirements while actively participating in cooking and service.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Utilizes specification sheets to prepare daily preparation requirements and maintains par levels of necessary items
• Prepares new menu items under the direction of the Sous Chef
• Ensures attractive and consistent presentation of food items, both buffet and plated
• Interacts with and provides direction to line cooks to monitor quality, presentation, and consistency
• Handles all guest and banquet needs, accommodating special requests in a timely manner
• Sets up, re-stocks, maintains, and cleans food preparation areas
• Ensures presentation standards are met for all hot and cold items
• Reads and interprets recipes accurately
• Conducts product inventories, ordering, and receiving of product as directed
• Maintains team grooming and uniform standards
• Ensures team adherence to sanitation and safe food-handling standards
• Oversees and executes all opening and closing kitchen procedures
• Performs other related duties and special projects as assigned by management to support departmental and organizational goals.

All job duties and responsibilities must be carried out in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and without discrimination

What You Bring

• 5+ years in industry, at least two years as a lead
• Able to cook proteins to pre-determined temperatures
• Ability to cook and direct a banquet up to 100 with a help of a small team
• Necessary State Food Handler’s License(s)
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instruction, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to effectively present information in one on one and small group situations to other employees of the organization
• Working knowledge of all mother and minor sauces
• Working knowledge of proper butchering techniques
• Knowledge of specialized equipment: Mastering of slicer, Robo-coup, Hobart, convection ovens
• Must possess knife skills, the ability to adjust preparations for flavor, and accommodate customer’s needs in a timely manner

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Columbia Hospitality we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.