Prep Cook - Smokehouse BBQ and Brews

Serving Lancaster County Since 1929!

Few companies can claim over 95 years in business, but we can at Thomas E. Strauss, Inc. We owe our ongoing success to our exceptional staff and solid management team who are dedicated to an excellent guest experience.

Here is your opportunity to be part of a dedicated team at Thomas E. Strauss, Inc.

Our business is booming, and we are seeking outstanding team members who take pride in their work, and ownership of the position to ensure we are living up to our high standards and providing a friendly guest experience.

What we expect from you:

• A friendly, professional demeanor toward coworkers and guests after all, our mission is to make people feel valued. We expect that of you, and we do our best to make YOU feel valued as well!
• Self-starter who owns the responsibilities of the role.
• A commitment to show up on time for every shift - ready to work hard alongside your team members.
• Your dedication to our values of diversity, integrity, excellence, accountability, community, and especially your willingness to have FUN!

Heres what we offer to you:

• Competitive pay.
• Excellent benefit package and employee perks.
• Ability to earn unlimited employee referral bonuses.
• Ability to work in other business units within the hospitality group to make extra cash or gain new work experience. The more you know, the more you grow!
• A work-to-live not a live-to-work workplace!

Our Mission: Make people feel valued.

Our Values: Diversity, Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, Community and FUN!

Thomas E. Strauss, Inc., is a local family-owned hospitality group. Our businesses include Millers Smorgasbord, Millers Bakery, The Quilt Shop at Millers, Locally Made Food Shop, Annas Gifts & Sundries, Plain & Fancy Farm, AmishView Inn and Suites, Smokehouse BBQ and Brews, and The Barn & Hearth Shop.

Position Summary

We are looking for an ambitious Prep Cook to assist in the daily preparation of recipes. You will perform routine kitchen tasks such as setting up workstations and organizing ingredients, so that food can be prepared according to recipes.

A great prep cook will be quick and diligent and willing to improve on the job. You will be deft in the kitchen and able to follow instructions, as well as all health and safety rules. The ideal candidate will also be able to function in a fast-paced, busy environment. You will be responsible for managing a small team and following the opening tasks of the restaurant.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Ensure all recipes, procedures, storage, rotation and product specifications are followed on a daily basis to ensure our guests dine on high quality and safe food
• Stock your station to the manager prescribed levels in preparation to meet all of our guests' needs
• Respond quickly and positively to any requests for re-cooks
• Take action and communicate with a manager when product levels might be low or running out
• Maintain the highest quality and sanitation practices throughout the shift
• Always remember - hot food hot, cold food cold
• Always keep your workstation and equipment clean to Miller's standards
• Look for ways to minimize waste and reduce breakage of equipment and service ware
• Look for work that needs to be done and always be ready to assist any other teammate that may need help. Be sure to complete all assigned duties and work in the allotted time as prescribed by your manager
• Create and follow a daily prep list
• Receiving orders while making sure products are the company specs
• Signing for products in chefs absence
• Ensure cooks are following recipes while tasting final products for approval
• Perform other kitchen duties that are provided by Chef.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• ServSafe Certified preferred
• Time Management
• "Safety First" and "Guest First" focus
• Able to follow directions and communicate with both guests and coworkers effectively
• Display a cheerful outlook
• Produce a high quality of work to ensure we are delivering top notch service
• 1+ years experience as a supervisor/manager
• Able to safely operate cutting tools and kitchen utensils
• Collaborator with exceptional communication skills
• Patient with an ability to stay positive under pressure

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts. The employee frequently works in high, precarious places and is frequently exposed to extreme heat and risk of electrical shock. The employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Note

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an at will relationship.
Updated 10/28/2024