Line Cook (Morning Availability)

Aparium Hotel Group; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Surety Hotel, part of the Aparium Hotel Group, in downtown Des Moines seeks a Line Cook to join the culinary team. You will work under the Executive Chef and Sous Chefs, preparing scratch-made dishes, following established recipes, and contributing to a high-volume kitchen environment.

We value continuous learning, teamwork, and professionalism. This role requires morning shifts and a dedication to quality in a hotel setting, with opportunities to grow within the culinary leadership team.

Qualifications

• Two years minimum as an entry-level cook or higher.
• Three years of experience in either a freestanding or hotel kitchen.

Responsibilities

• Uphold company principles of People, Place, and Character in daily work.
• Collaborate with Culinary leadership to deliver high guest experiences.
• Prepare and present dishes according to crafted recipes and standards.
• Maintain organized work habits, respecting ingredients and equipment.
• Demonstrate urgency and technique to ensure quality while high-volume.
• Learn continuously through lineups and staff meetings with the team.
• Engage with leadership to develop skills and provide feedback.
• Monitor facilities and equipment, report issues to chefs/engineering.
• Communicate priorities to support a successful operation.

Skills

Culinary skills

Food safety

English proficiency

Team collaboration

Job description

LINE COOK

Reports to the Executive Chef; position is non-exempt

Who We Are

Located in the historic Hippee Building in downtown Des Moines, Surety Hotel celebrates the city’s past while helping shape its future. Housed in a beautifully restored, 1913 Beaux-Arts landmark and now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, Surety blends independent character with world-class hospitality. Inspired by the meaning of a surety bond, we make a promise as well; unmatched service, incredible design, and a superior level of hospitality rooted in connection and community. With 137 guest rooms and suites, vibrant gathering spaces, and onsite dining at Mulberry Street Tavern, Surety is both a destination for travelers and a point of pride for the City of Certainties.

Who You Are

Your past experiences have led you to understand that there is an art + science to the how and what of a culinary professional. You have been perfecting your craft behind the line for a while. Grill, sauté, or salad station...you feel confident running each. You are an individual who is as excited to learn from your teammates as well as from the chefs. You’ve been studying up on the greats and have a fundamental foundation of techniques that you are ready to put to use. Your Instagram feed is almost entirely filled with recipes, restaurants, and chef profiles.

THE ROLE

The Line Cook reports to and works directly with the Executive Chef and Sous Chefs (Culinary leadership team), developing and executing scratch-made dishes and recipes. It is critical that the Line Cook is someone who has been honing their craft and demonstrates knowledge in culinary techniques. The Line Cook is a task-oriented, list-driven individual who is comfortable working alongside their line cook colleagues and under the direction of the chef. There will be opportunities where collaboration with Culinary leadership is key as the valuable Line Cook insight is needed for our shared success.

At Aparium, our culinary teams are expected to hold themselves, the guests, and each other in high regard. The Line Cook will actively develop trusting and transparent relationships with their peers, both in the kitchen and throughout the hotel. They will have the opportunity to work with a phenomenal group of individuals with whom collaboration, humility, and open minds are the norm—no egos are allowed. The ability to work with controlled measures and respect for your leadership team and peers is imperative. We have no tolerance for the “old school way”.

What You Will Do

• Uphold and role model the company’s principles of People, Place, and Character, while embodying our values that drive collaboration, intuitive service, and translocal hospitality
• Collaborate with Culinary leadership, demonstrating a united front as a team committed to providing the best possible guest experience
• Take pride in the food you prepare for guests, adhering to thoughtfully created recipes, presentation standards, and guest preferences
• Work in an organized fashion with the utmost respect for your ingredients, equipment, and workspace
• Demonstrate a professional sense of urgency while simultaneously being mindful of technique, in order to provide an amazing guest experience through the food you create
• Possess a basic understanding of culinary skills, striving to learn more through constant study of your craft
• Foster open lines of communication within the department by actively participating in daily lineups and Culinary all staff meetings, maintaining a transparent dialogue among the team to voice ideas and concerns, while course-correcting any missed opportunities
• Actively participate in feedback sessions with Culinary leadership to further develop your skillset
• Observe conditions of all physical facilities and equipment in the Culinary operation, reporting anything substandard to the Chef, Sous Chef, and/or engineering department to make corrections and improvements as needed
• Maintain regular communication with the Culinary leadership team to ensure alignment on priorities, understanding that flexibility with your responsibilities is paramount to support a successful operation

What You Will Need

• Passion for learning and the culinary arts
• Ability to work morning shifts, including weekends and holidays required
• Minimum of two (2) years experience as an entry-level cook or higher, with a minimum of three (3) years experience in either a free-standing or hotel restaurant kitchen
• Knowledge of food safety guidelines and requirements; SafeStaff standards
• Adaptable interpersonal communication skills to address fellow associates at all levels
• Conversational proficiency of the English language in reading, writing, and verbal communication
• Ability to calculate basic math principles to meet proper menu ingredients and perform inventory
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment for extended periods of time to meet high volume business
• Ability to lift, balance and carry up to 25 lbs. to transport dry goods inventory, equipment, etc.
• Ability to lift, balance and carry (with assistance) up to 100 lbs. to transport dry goods inventory, equipment, etc.
• Ability to stand or walk for prolonged periods to cook required menu items
• Ability to withstand warm to hot environments for prolonged periods while utilizing ovens, stoves, or fryers

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Aparium Hospitality Services celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, and a sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are, where they come from, and take pride in who we serve. Aparium is an E-Verify employer.