Line Cook - Iowa City

Summary/Objective

At Big Grove we pride ourselves in amazing experiences for the community, staff and guests and one of the ways we do that is through food. In these line and prep roles, you will be responsible for executing these experiences by preparing high-quality ingredients, executing our recipes with precision, and ensuring a smooth and efficient kitchen operation. The ideal candidate must thrive in a fast-paced environment, has a strong understanding of food safety and sanitation, and is eager to contribute to a team that values excellence in every dish. If you have a love for cooking and take pride in crafting delicious meals and experiences, we’d love to hear from you!

Core Values

Big Grove only hires and retains people who exhibit our core values. Our Core Values are:

1. Set the Tone

2. Thirst for Improvement

3. We Care

4. Practice Candor

5. Passion Driven

You will be given a culture deck explaining these core values. The goal of our culture deck is to show you who we are as a company, and then you can decide if you personally align with us and are excited to begin a career here.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Line Cook

1. Create amazing experiences through the creation of a variety of menu items following established recipes and presentation guidelines.

2. Ensure that food is fresh, properly stored, and consistently high in quality.

3. Manage a designated station within the kitchen and maintain equipment and tools.

4. Uphold the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, and cleanliness.

5. Ensure food comes out simultaneously, exceeding kitchen standards within appropriate ticket times

6. Communicate effectively with the kitchen team to maintain a smooth and organized workflow.

7. Adapt to changing menu items and work collaboratively to address kitchen challenges.

8. Maintain kitchen cleanliness and sanitation during and after service.

9. Have a positive & professional approach with coworkers, vendors & customers

Prep Cook

1. Prepare, measure, portion and store food items as needed for service.

2. Safely operate kitchen equipment such as knives, slicers, food processors, and ovens.

3. Ensure that food is fresh, properly stored, and consistently high in quality.

4. Uphold the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, and cleanliness.

5. Communicate effectively with the kitchen team to maintain a smooth and organized workflow.

6. Adapt to changing menu items and work collaboratively to address kitchen challenges.

7. Constantly contribute to kitchen cleanliness and sanitation

8. Maintain a positive & professional approach with coworkers, vendors & customers

Competencies

1. Culinary Knowledge – Understanding of basic cooking techniques, ingredients, and kitchen equipment.

2. Knife Skills – Ability to chop, slice, dice, and prep ingredients efficiently and safely.

3. Food Preparation – Proficiency in measuring, portioning, and preparing ingredients according to recipes.

4. Time Management – Capability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple tasks simultaneously.

5. Attention to Detail – Ensuring accuracy in measurements, plating, and recipe execution.

6. Sanitation & Food Safety – Knowledge of proper food handling, storage, and sanitation practices to maintain a clean and safe kitchen.

7. Teamwork & Communication – Ability to work collaboratively with chefs, servers, and other kitchen staff while maintaining clear communication.

8. Adaptability – Quick thinking and problem-solving skills to adjust to kitchen demands and changing priorities.

9. Work Ethic & Stamina – Strong dedication to quality, efficiency, and maintaining a high-energy level throughout shifts.

10. Plating & Presentation – Ensuring consistency and visual appeal in every dish served.

Be a high performing Big Grove team member with ability to look at business as a whole, communicate with all people, collaborate with all departments, work to solve organizational problems, and accomplish goals. Contribute to and exemplify BGB values, vision, standards, and culture.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Work Environment

• Fast-Paced & High-Pressure: Constant movement, rapid decision-making, and quick execution of tasks to meet customer demand, especially during peak hours.

• Hot & Physically Demanding: Exposure to high temperatures from ovens, grills, and fryers, along with long hours on foot, lifting heavy pots, and performing repetitive motions.

• Team-Oriented & Highly Coordinated: Requires seamless communication and collaboration with chefs, prep cooks, servers, and dishwashers to ensure smooth service and efficiency.

• Strict Time Management: Orders must be prepared and plated quickly while maintaining quality, requiring exceptional multitasking and organization.

• Loud & High-Energy Atmosphere: Background noise from kitchen equipment, communication among staff, and the hustle of service contribute to a lively and sometimes chaotic setting.

• Attention to Detail Under Pressure: Precision in cooking techniques, portion sizes, and presentation is essential, even during high-volume rushes.

• Cleanliness & Food Safety Compliance: Constant focus on maintaining hygiene, following food safety regulations, and keeping workstations organized despite the fast-moving environment.

• Physically & Mentally Challenging: Requires endurance, focus, and the ability to remain calm under stress while delivering consistent results.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Standing for Long Periods: Requires being on your feet for extended shifts, often 8+ hours.

• Frequent Lifting & Carrying: Lifting heavy pots, pans, trays, and boxes of ingredients, often weighing up to 50 lbs.

• Repetitive Motions: Constant chopping, stirring, mixing, and plating, which can put strain on hands, wrists, and arms.

• Fast & Continuous Movement: Walking, bending, reaching, and turning quickly to keep up with kitchen demands.

• Working in High Heat: Exposure to hot stoves, ovens, grills, and fryers, sometimes in tight spaces.

• Handling Sharp Objects: Frequent use of knives and slicers, requiring precision and safety awareness.

• Endurance & Stamina: High energy and focus needed to sustain fast-paced work for long shifts.

• Dexterity & Hand-Eye Coordination: Essential for precise cutting, plating, and handling delicate ingredients.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a part-time or full-time position and hours of work/ days may vary from week to week. Schedules will be posted the week prior to allow time for employees to be informed of work requirements. The business is open 7 days a week during day & evening hours. Evening and weekends are a key requirement.

Travel

None

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Would love prior cooking experience but we are excited to train the right culture fit.

2. Food safety and sanitation procedures knowledge preferred. Must be safety minded.

3. Adaptability to changing menu items and work hours.

4. Must be able to work in a fast-paced, high pressure kitchen

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.