Lead Cook (Napa)

Lighthouse; Napa (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a compassionate and inclusive organization as a Lead Cook, where you will play a vital role in kitchen operations. This position involves executing diverse menus, maintaining high food quality standards, and ensuring timely meal service. You'll work collaboratively with a dedicated team, fostering an environment of empowerment and respect. The organization is committed to promoting independence and equity for blind and low vision individuals. If you are passionate about culinary arts and making a difference, this role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a meaningful mission while honing your skills in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years culinary experience with team leadership in a busy kitchen.
• Advanced culinary principles knowledge and food safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee kitchen operations and ensure food quality and safety standards.
• Lead kitchen staff, maintain cleanliness, and manage food storage.

Skills

Culinary Skills

Team Leadership

Communication Skills

Attention to Detail

Food Safety Knowledge

Flexibility

Education

Formal Culinary Training

Job description

WORK ARRANGEMENT: 100% Onsite, 5 Days/Week

LOCATION: Napa, CA

SALARY RANGE: $28.09/hr – $33.73/hr

*Blind/visually impaired strongly encouraged to apply.

About the LightHouse

Founded in San Francisco in 1902, the LightHouse’s vision is a world where blind and low vision people flourish, and its mission is to promote independence, community, and equity created by and with blind and low vision people.

LightHouse Values

Blindness Positivity: We take pride in our ability to navigate our lives as blind and low vision people.

Disability Justice: We recognize the inherent worth of every person and commit to advancing equity and interdependency.

Inclusion: We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to belong and live to their full potential, encompassing their identities, backgrounds, and abilities.

Excellence: We provide the highest-quality services and products, and we continuously learn, improve, and innovate.

Empowerment: We encourage self-determination, independence, and autonomy.

Compassion: We make efforts to understand one another, and we treat every person with dignity and respect.

OVERVIEW

As the Lead Cook at LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, you play a pivotal role in our kitchen operations, reporting to the Head Chef. Your responsibilities encompass executing diverse menus, maintaining food standards and quality, ensuring timely meal service, and supporting the kitchen team’s success. We seek an individual with strong communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively, and a commitment to upholding our kitchen’s overall excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2-3 years of progressive culinary experience required
• Previous experience leading a team in a busy environment required
• Advanced knowledge of culinary principles, practices, and techniques
• Formal culinary training preferred
• Ability to follow directions and seek clarification when needed
• Professional communication skills with co-workers and other departments
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Maturity of judgment and behavior
• Attention to detail and high standards for hygiene
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Compliance with dress code requirements
• May be required to work at other locations occasionally

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for ensuring all kitchen staff are on task, maintaining food quality control, proper food storage and labeling, kitchen cleanliness, and completion of all logs.
• Ensure consistency and superiority in food preparation, quality, presentation, and service.
• Knowledgeable in safe food handling practices and proper operation of kitchen equipment and ensuring other staff is held to the same standards.
• Oversee kitchen operations, as shift lead and assume responsibility for all product quality.
• Sets an example for kitchen staff by following all company and department policies and procedures for safety, hygiene, and performance.
• Ensure all position cleaning lists and other logs are completed daily and accurately.
• Conduct line checks multiple times per shift to ensure compliance.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization and stocking of coolers and storage areas.
• Ensure all food is labeled, dated, and stored properly.
• Follow protocol to document food waste.
• Assists Head Chef and Sous Chef in maintaining accurate inventories of ingredients, supplies and equipment.
• Take proper care of ranges, ovens, broilers, fryers, griddles, utensils, and other equipment.
• Delegates and participates in opening, closing and side work duties as instructed and according to proper guidelines.
• Communicate with Chef for any special instructions and training.
• Pro-actively create a welcoming environment for guests and employees alike.

EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE:

• Have an on time service rate of 95%: All meals served on time.
• Ensure all recording logs and cleaning are complete 100% of every shift to the expected standard.
• Ensure staff are following all safety and health regulations 100% percent of the time.
• Conduct a minimum of 2 quality control checks per shift.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Capable of walking over uneven terrain.
• Ability to stand for extended periods (up to 8 hours).
• Lift up to 50 pounds frequently and occasionally team lift/move 50 pounds.
• Manage physical activities such as standing, bending, stooping, stretching, exposure to sun and heat, and varying environmental conditions.
• Safely work with sensitive materials and/or chemicals.
• Ability to independently travel to all LightHouse campuses and throughout the community as needed.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit a cover letter and résumé as Word attachments (no PDFs please), along with the completed employment application (downloads in a Word document), to [e-mail], including the job title in the subject line.

To fill out the application, please enable editing in the document. We will not consider videos or hyperlinks to online profiles. Due to time constraints, we will only respond to complete submissions in which there is serious interest, thanks for your understanding.