First Things First, Let Us Introduce Ourselves

Junior Chefs Kitchen is a children’s cooking studio located in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Our mission is to increase access to the essential health information of food and nutrition by empowering youth with cooking skills and healthy eating resources that are good for people, the planet and our community.

We offer membership based 60-minute weekly classes, birthday parties and summer camps in our studio as well as after school enrichment programs off-site at schools.

Our first studio provides a unique culinary experience for children, but also a gathering place for parents with fresh coffee, space to work, play kitchen for siblings, fostering a sense of community with our members and staff. We are so excited to see this vision become a reality!

Overview

Junior Chefs Kitchen is looking for enthusiastic, friendly, professional and communicative individuals who want to share their passion with children. As a team member, you will be instrumental in championing the guest experience, allowing your knowledge and superb customer service to shine. It is important to us that you not only have well-rounded knowledge about our brand and offerings, but that your positive demeanor and can-do attitude are at the forefront of all that you do. You shall expect to wear many hats, some of which being; leading classes leveraging the JCK curriculum, thoroughly understanding exclusive recipes, ensuring kids have the best time at their birthday parties, and traveling to schools to teach the JCK curriculum off-site.

Essential Job Functions

• Greet all individuals entering the studio warmly
• Safely and effectively use and operate all necessary kitchen tools and equipment (including knives)
• Instruct and prepare food items according to the recipes with attention to the quantities, timing, and overall procedures in place
• Act as an ambassador for the Junior Chefs Kitchen brand to all customers, speak of our offerings with excitement and be able to answer questions about our products and services
• Maintain knowledge on our programming, offerings, and upcoming events so that you can articulate that to our customers
• Prepare and serve recipes that adhere to protocols and company standards
• Maintain aesthetic presentation and superb cleanliness of every part of the studio, not limited to the kitchen
• Complete required Junior Chefs Kitchen training and certification
• Ability to frequently lift and move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally moving/lifting items up to 50 pounds (think: bags of flour, containers of sugar, butter deliveries)
• Ability to perform daily tasks largely while standing (at times standing or walking for an entire shift), and often while kneeling, squatting, crawling, and bending over
• Ability to move safely through all areas of the studio which may include uneven or slick work surfaces
• Travel to nearby schools for our after school program partnerships
• Excellent knowledge and confidence when it comes to allergen awareness, handling protocols, procedures, and substitutions, and Junior Chefs Kitchen’s allergen protocols
• Passion for high-quality food, beverage, nutrition, and education
• Maintain food safety and quality standards
• Punctual & reliable means of transportation
• Follows all policies and procedures as well as the conditions of employment including those outlined in the Employee Handbook

Key Responsibilities

• Strong communication skills & enjoys being around kids for extended periods of time
• Strategic thinker, thrives on problem solving and making adjustments along the way
• Positive team member, with a can-do attitude
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to multitask while working on multiple projects in a busy environment
• Comfortable with evolving responsibilities
• Willingness to help build out functions and test processes
• Outgoing and personable when interacting with guest, families, and students
• Get along well with fellow employees and management
• Comfortable working a variety of hours, days, and shifts (including weekends)

Qualifications

• 5 years experience working with children and/or at-risk adults
• Experience in lesson planning and curriculum development
• Experience instructing or teaching others is a plus
• Committed to growth personally and professionally
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Other Considerations

• Possession of a Food Handler’s Certificate
• Completion of Certified Allergen Awareness Training
• Completion of Mandated Reporter Training
• License to teach within CPS schools
• Montessori Program Completion
• Associate or Bachelor's Degree from an accredited Culinary School
• Access to a car for off-site programming

Rate: $21 / Hourly Rate

This position requires travel within the city of Chicago.

Let’s Talk About The Perks

• Merit Increases & Annual Bonus potential
• Growth & Advancement Opportunities
• Paid Time Off Opportunities for Salaried Employees
• 20% Employee Discount on All retail items
• Junior Chefs Kitchen Swag, Fun Product Sampling, Giveaways & More!
• Complementary Coffee & Tea
• Casual Dress Code (jeans & tshirts welcome!)
• Additional earning opportunities via Tips for Birthday Parties
• Fun, Friendly, and Collaborative Work Environment
• Mileage Reimbursement for work-related travel
• Closed for the following Federal Holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, additionally we close between Christmas & New Years
• Employee Referral Bonus Program, program & eligibility rules do apply
• Quarterly team wellness activities and separate volunteer opportunities

Candidates can preview a class as a customer - please inquire with us if you are interested in observing an upcoming class at our Lincoln Park location!

Come As You Are

Junior Chefs Kitchen provides equal opportunities for everyone that works for us and everyone that applies to join our team, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services of the United States (military or veteran status), or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.

Junior Chefs Kitchen is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. It is important to us to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application, interview process, or to perform essential job functions, please contact Claire Sanders at csanders@juniorchefskitchen.com.

Junior Chefs Kitchen is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $21.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Referral program

Schedule:

• 4 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• After school
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Night shift
• Weekends as needed

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus opportunities
• Tips

Experience:

• Cooking: 1 year (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Chicago, IL 60614 (Required)

Work Location: In person