Kitchen Operations Lead / Culinary Lead
15 days ago
Addison
Job DescriptionThis is NOT a line cook position. We are looking for a Kitchen Operations Lead who can run production, not just execute it. Low Country Quisine is a high-level catering and hospitality company known for delivering elevated, high-volume experiences. We are growing, and we need a leader who can keep our kitchen ahead, organized, and executing at a high level consistently. What You’ll Be Responsible For This role is about control, planning, and leadership. You will: • Build daily and weekly prep plans with quantities, assignments, and timelines, • Keep the kitchen 48–72 hours ahead of production, • Assign and balance workload across the team, • Ensure all prep is completed on time and to standard, • Identify issues early and adjust before they become problems, • Lead the kitchen team with clarity and accountability, • Work closely with ownership to execute high-level events What We’re Looking For You are not just a great cook. You are a strong operator. You: • Think in timelines, systems, and structure, • Naturally plan ahead instead of reacting, • Can manage multiple moving parts without getting overwhelmed, • Know how to lead a team and hold standards, • Take ownership and don’t wait to be told what to do, • Have experience in high-volume catering, events, or fast-paced kitchens Culinary Competency This role requires strong hands-on culinary ability in addition to leadership. You must be able to: • Execute high-quality food consistently across multiple menu items, • Cook and produce at scale for large events and high-volume production, • Train and guide team members on proper technique, consistency, and presentation, • Step into production when needed and maintain standards under pressure, • Ensure all food leaving the kitchen meets Low Country Quisine’s quality expectations Hands-On Leadership Expectation This is a leadership role, but it is not an office-only position. The right candidate knows how to delegate and lead a team effectively, while also stepping in and being hands-on when needed to ensure food is executed properly and on time. Required Skills & Qualifications • 3+ years experience in a leadership role (Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, or similar), • Strong written and verbal communication skills, • Ability to communicate clearly with a diverse kitchen team and provide direction in a fast-paced environment, • Comfortable using basic computer systems (email, scheduling, spreadsheets, or catering software), • Ability to create and manage prep lists digitally or in written format, • Fluent in English; Spanish language skills are a strong plus due to the composition of our team, • Strong organizational and time management skills, • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment This Role is NOT for You If • You “figure it out as you go”, • You rely on memory instead of writing things down, • You struggle with planning or staying ahead, • You need constant direction to stay on track What Success Looks Like • The kitchen is organized, not chaotic, • Prep is done early, not last-minute, • The team is clear on what they’re doing at all times, • Events execute smoothly because the groundwork was handled in advance Compensation • $60,000 – $75,000 salary, based on experience, • Performance-based bonus tied to execution and kitchen performance, • Growth opportunity within a rapidly expanding company, • Opportunity to be part of major upcoming events, including large-scale hospitality experiences Hiring Process (Fast-Moving) • Initial phone screen, • In-person interview, • Paid working interview Final Note We are building something special, and this role is critical to our growth. If you are someone who thrives in structure, leadership, and high-level execution, we want to meet you.