Culinary Lead (Sur La Table)

As a Culinary Lead at Sur La Table, you play a key role in the success of the store by inspiring customers throughout every stage of their culinary experience by combining culinary expertise, business acumen, and teaching skills. This role supports the culinary program, drives sales, delivers a #bestincenter customer experience, a company-wide standard for excellence in service, and helps build and manage a high-performing culinary team.

Responsibilities

Supports the recruitment, training, and ongoing development of a high-performing team; Lead, coach, and inspire associates to exceed performance expectations; Provide in-the-moment coaching and feedback; Represent Sur La Table's brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences; Maintain expertise by staying current on products and training; Ensure outstanding cooking class experience by following recipes and game plans; Work with store leadership to increase foot traffic and store engagement through cooking classes and private events; Ensure exceptional customer experience by leading a Guest Obsessed culture; Assist with driving sales growth and implementing strategies; Analyze key performance metrics daily; Meet or exceed culinary program goals measured by KPIs such as second-class sign-ups, retail culinary product sales, and guest feedback; Ensure compliance with food safety standards, local health codes, and sanitation regulations; Properly handle tools, ingredients, and kitchen equipment; Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and control expenses; May handle liquor, wine, and beer in compliance with alcohol regulations; Ensure store safety and cleanliness; Adhere to wage and hour laws and accurately record time worked; Model and ensure Sur La Table policies and SOPs are followed

Requirements

Must be 21 years of age or older; 1-2 years of progressively responsible kitchen management experience; Valid Food Manager Certification; Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities; Passion for community engagement and providing exceptional customer experiences; Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively; Ability to remain standing for up to 4 hours at a time; Ability to move about the store; Ability to lift and/or move merchandise weighing up to 50 lbs; Ability to work in a variable kitchen environment including open flames, hot surfaces, temperature variations, and food allergens; Workweeks expected to be between 20 and 25 hours with a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays

Nice to have

Degree in culinary arts; Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and retail systems