Kitchen Assistant (Sur La Table)

Job description

With over 58 stores and the largest avocational cooking program in the US, **Sur La Table** offers an unsurpassed selection of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table – and the culinary expertise and inspiration to go along with it. Whether the job entails interacting with our customers, driving digital growth, or providing vital behind-the-scenes support, we’re all here for the same reason – to roll up our sleeves and create happiness through cooking and sharing good food. **Position Overview** As a **Kitchen Assistant** at Sur La Table, you play a key role in inspiring customers throughout every stage of their culinary experience. With a passion for cooking, hospitality, and teamwork, the **Kitchen Assistant** supports the chefs to ensure smooth class operations and a **#bestincenter** experience, a company-wide standard for excellence in service. You’ll help bring culinary dreams to life by supporting our chefs, engaging with guests, and ensuring a clean, well-organized kitchen environment. **Key Responsibilities** **Customer Experience & Brand Representation** · Represent Sur La Table’s brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty. · Maintains expertise by staying current on products, actively engaging in available training, and independently seeking out additional resources. · Ensure exceptional customer experience by leading a customer-focused, Guest Obsessed culture in both the kitchen and retail sales floor. **Sales & Business Performance** · Assist chefs with class execution that drives repeat visits and positive customer feedback · Deliver class revenue goals by ensuring high enrollment, positive reviews, and guest return rates. · Consistently meet or exceed monthly sales goals, contributing to overall store revenue. Performance is measured by key KPIs such as individual sales volume, average transaction value, and customer conversion rates. **Team Engagement & Store Support** · Assist in setting up and breakdown of classes including organizing mise en place, prepping ingredients, and cleaning workstations · Clean and sanitize dishes and equipment promptly to ensure smooth kitchen operations. · Assist with restocking, organizing, and maintaining kitchen supplies and tools to support overall store readiness **Operations & Compliance** · Ensure compliance with food safety standards, local health codes, and sanitation regulations. · Properly handle all tools, ingredients, and kitchen equipment to maintain a safe and efficient work environment. · Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and control supply and culinary expenses. · May handle liquor, wine, and beer in compliance with state and location alcohol regulations, company policies, including enforcing age restrictions. · Ensure store safety and cleanliness, addressing any maintenance needs promptly. · Adhere to applicable wage and hour laws. Accurately records time worked according to SLT Policy. · Model and ensure consistent adherence to all Sur La Table policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs). **Physical Requirements** · Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers · Ability to remain standing for up to 4 hours at a time · Ability to move about the store directing class participants while selling to customers and retrieving merchandise from stockroom or sales floor · The capability to accurately perceive and differentiate variations in intensity or quality of flavors or odors, or to identify specific tastes or scents using the tongue or nose. · Ability to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel and crouch to demonstrate, retrieve and/or replenish merchandise and/or cooking equipment. · Ability to use hands to seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise to chop, whisk, slice, stir, juice and/or demonstrate other techniques. · Ability to lift and/or move merchandise weighing up to 50 lbs. · Ability to ascend/descend ladders to retrieve and/or move merchandise · Ability to operate a computer, POS system, keyboards, merchandise scanners and mouse to accomplish work · Available to work between 12 and 16 hours per week, with a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays. While this is the minimum availability, scheduled hours may differ based on business needs. · Regular and predictable attendance with the flexibility to adjust class assignments based on demand. · Ability to work in a variable kitchen environment included but not limited to open flames, hot surfaces, temperature variations, various food allergens both physical and airborne **Qualifications & Experience** · Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of employment. · 1 year retail sales experience, preferred · 1 year food prep and/or kitchen operations experience, preferred · Valid Food Handlers Certification. · Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. · Passion for community engagement and providing exceptional customer experiences. · Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and retail systems preferred.