Summary/Objective

The Culinary Event Lead position assists and/or prepares and executes food for private events. Events range from 20 people up to 250+ people. This person will work in close coordination with our Events Chef, Events Manager and event staff to understand and execute Banquet Event Orders (BEO’s) promptly and efficiently. It’s an exciting role to show off culinary skills to wow our guests who book events with us.

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 essential functions.

1. Execute all Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) with precision and attention to detail.

2. Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary work environment in accordance with food safety standards.

3. Attend and contribute to weekly event planning meetings to align on strategy and execution for upcoming events.

4. Collaborate with the Events Chef, Events Manager, and Chef de Cuisine (CDC) to plan and execute specialized private and catering events.

5. Assist in the setup and teardown of all on-site and off-site special events and catering functions.

6. Support the development of customized menus for private events and catered experiences, ensuring alignment with client expectations and operational capabilities.

7. Prepare or delegate all food items according to established par levels, event timelines, and quality standards.

8. Ensure timely and exceptional food delivery for all events and catering functions, contributing to an amazing guest experience.

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

Staff assigned to work the event.

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 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 many day parts. Evening and weekends are a key requirement.

Travel

No travel is expected for this position.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. High school diploma or equivalent.

2. Minimum 1 year of related experience.

3. Catering experience is preferred but not required.

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.