Cook (Growth track to Sous Chef)

Cook (Growth track to Sous Chef) The Happy Tart - 4.0 Falls Church, VA Job Details Full-time $16 - $20 an hour 1 hour ago Benefits Paid training Qualifications Teamwork ServSafe Shift management Team development Teaching Full Job Description Reports to: Kitchen Lead / Head Baker The Vibe We are a cafe kitchen that takes food seriously, treats people with care, and believe good staff meals make better kitchens. We care about technique and teamwork. We move fast, we hold standards, and we expect adults in the room. We're looking for a Cook who can lead a small prep + line team , execute confidently during service, and wants to grow into a Sous Chef role over time. If you love technique, calm leadership, and café food done really well — keep reading. The Kind of Cook We're Looking For You might be a unicorn if: You can build sauces from scratch (classic and creative) and understand why they work You're comfortable with braising and layered flavors You can confidently handle eggs in all their café glory You have experience with crêpes (or can pick them up quickly — bonus points if you already love them) You respect café food as a craft, not "simple food done lazily" What You'll Do (For Real) Execute café menu items with consistency, speed, and care Lead a small team of prep and line cooks during service — set the tone, keep things moving, help people succeed Taste food, correct seasoning, and hold quality standards Teach techniques and kitchen best practices without ego Jump in where needed — we're a small team and we help each other Help keep the kitchen clean, organized, and food-safe Contribute ideas for sauces, specials, seasonal items, and menu improvements How We Work We follow recipes — and we also understand technique We care about sanitation, organization, and food safety We communicate clearly, especially when it's busy We don't do drama, yelling, or passive aggression We take feedback seriously and give it respectfully What We Value (This Matters)

Craft:

You care about flavor, texture, and execution

Calm Leadership:

You can lead without being loud

Standards:

You notice when something's off and fix it

Team First:

You make the kitchen better for everyone

Growth:

You want to become a strong Sous Chef, not just hold a title Experience We're Looking For Previous experience as a cook in a café or kitchen environment Comfort leading or mentoring a small kitchen team Strong communication and organization Ability to stay steady during busy services Food safety knowledge (ServSafe a plus; training supported)

Growth Path:

Cook → Sous Chef This role is designed to grow into Sous Chef , with increasing responsibility in: Shift leadership and team development Quality control and training Menu development and specials Food cost and kitchen systems Advancement is based on readiness, consistency, and leadership — not just time served. Why Work Here High standards without toxicity Real opportunity to grow and lead Staff meals — because feeding your team matters A respectful, supportive kitchen culture Creative input welcomed on menu and strategic direction of the Cafe If you're a skilled cook who wants to lead well, learn deeply, and help build something solid, we'd love to hear from you. What It's Like to Work Here Clear expectations and strong standards A supportive, respectful kitchen culture Leadership that listens and invests in people Space for creativity and professional growth If you care about good food, good systems, and being part of a kitchen that's building something meaningful, we'd love to meet you.

Pay:

$16.00 - $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

Paid training

Work Location:

In person