Lead Cook – Hotel Culinary Operations

Job overview

The Lead Cook – Hotel Culinary Operations role is an onsite, full-time position in Chicago, IL. Pay is $21.98–$29.30 per hour. The position supports the culinary department at The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago, including its restaurants, banquets, catering, room service, employee dining, production kitchens, and special events. As a hands-on hourly culinary lead, the role helps execute daily service and maintain food quality, consistency, sanitation, and guest satisfaction. It coordinates station readiness, production, inventory, quality checks, and training while adapting to assignments across hotel culinary operations.

What you'll do

• Support daily culinary operations and serve as the primary hourly culinary lead during assigned shifts
• coordinate station readiness and production
• conduct opening, mid-shift, and closing line inspections
• monitor recipes, portions, presentation, and consistency
• assist with banquet execution
• provide hands-on support during peak periods
• mentor and train culinary team members
• participate in inventory counts and reconciliation
• monitor stock levels and rotation
• support food-cost and waste-reduction efforts
• follow health department, HACCP, and company food-safety standards
• maintain clean, organized, safe work areas.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

lead cook

chicago il

the westin michigan avenue chicago

culinary operations

hotel kitchen

food safety

haccp

inventory control

banquets

servsafe food handler

full-time

$21.98–$29.30/hr

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Eligible employees may receive paid holidays, sick leave, vacation, medical and dental coverage through Local 1, pension plan participation, prepaid legal services, short-term disability and life insurance, and Employee Assistance Program access, subject to applicable plans and collective bargaining agreement.

Why this role

Full-time working-lead role, not a management position; 3–5 years of professional kitchen experience; ServSafe Food Handler required; high school diploma or GED typically required; culinary training or degree preferred; assignments may include varying shifts, weekends, holidays, and special events.

About the employer

VH Lisle LLC is hiring for this role. Industry: Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels. Sector: 72.