Lead Cook

Lead Cook Jim's Original Socal Orange, CA Job Details Full-time From $25 an hour 2 hours ago Benefits 401(k) 401(k) matching Employee discount Paid sick time Qualifications ServSafe Food hygiene Cooking Shift management Knife skills Training & development Full Job Description Fast service. Real cooking. Chef-level execution. After 85+ years of feeding Chicago, we're opening our first-ever California location

• and we're looking for a Lead Cook who knows the difference between cooking and execution. Job Summary This isn't a burger-flip job. Our menu is built on dishes that demand real technique
• bone-in pork chops cooked proper, mountains of onions caramelized perfectly sweet, Italian beef sliced thin and rich au jus, and Polishes finished with proper char.

As Lead Cook , you'll set the pace on the grill, train cooks like a chef trains a brigade, and serve as the final palate before food leaves the kitchen. You'll lead the line through breakfast, lunch, dinner, and our famous late-night rushes

• without ever sacrificing technique for speed. Key Duties & Responsibilities Execute every menu item to spec
• doneness, char, caramelization, slice thickness, plating
• on every ticket.

Master the grill:

manage heat zones, time bone-in proteins, and keep a constant rotation of proteins within a heaping stack of caramelized onions running through service. Train and develop cooks on technique first, speed second

• brigade-style coaching during prep, real-time corrections during rush. Observe, check, adjust. Serve as the final QC and palate before food hits the window. Manage par levels and food cost. Track inventory, rotate stock FIFO, control waste, and hit cost targets shift after shift. Enforce food safety and sanitation per California Retail Food Code
• glove use, holding temps, allergen handling, cross-contamination prevention. Communicate across stations with cashiers, sandwich makers, and shift leaders to keep accuracy and speed up during high-volume service. Step in across stations during rushes or call-outs. Lead the line by being on the line. Qualifications 3+ years cooking in a kitchen where technique mattered
• scratch operation, chef-driven concept, hotel kitchen, or serious high-volume restaurant.

Lead cook, sous chef, or chef de partie experience strongly preferred.

Demonstrated chef-level grill skills:

bone-in doneness, heat-zone management, onion caramelization in volume, multiple proteins on a single surface without losing any of them. Clean knife skills and proper mise en place discipline. A trained palate

• you've been the last set of tastebuds before the pass. Leadership experience training cooks and holding a line accountable
• with respect, but without lowering the bar. California Food Handler Card and ANSI-accredited Certified Food Protection Manager credential (e.g., ServSafe Manager) within 30 days of hire. Culinary school, formal apprenticeship, or chef-led training
• a strong plus.

Self-taught cooks with the chops to back it up are absolutely encouraged to apply.

What We Offer Base pay:

$25/hr (to start) with overtime eligibility

Bonus:

quarterly performance bonus tied to food cost, execution, and customer scores. Free shift meals

• Polishes, pork chops, Italian beef, and fries on every shift. Predictable schedule with two real days off per week. Real career growth
• today's Lead Cook is tomorrow's Kitchen Manager as we expand on the West Coast. Founding-team status
• be part of the first Jim's Original ever to open outside Illinois.

Jim's Original is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Pay:

From $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Employee discount Paid sick time

Experience:

Cooking:

3 years (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Orange, CA 92867 (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person