Intermediate Cook - La Piscina

Situated in Downtown’s Second Street District, Austin Proper Hotel and Residences is an iconic luxury destination just steps from Lady Bird Lake, ACL Live, and the city’s best shopping. With expressive interiors by Kelly Wearstler and culinary concepts by McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality, the hotel offers 238 design-forward rooms and suites, a rooftop pool, immersive wellness experiences, and menus built around local farms, vibrant produce, and nutrient-rich ingredients. Wellness, design, and culture, seamlessly woven into every stay.

Located on the 5th-floor pool deck of Austin Proper Hotel, La Piscina is a lively indoor–outdoor restaurant and bar offering Texas-inspired Mexican cuisine with a fresh, healthful approach. The menu centers on family-style platters, bright ceviches, and sizzling fajitas, all prepared without seed oils and featuring fresh seafood grilled over a wood fire and house-made tortillas from an open comal. Overlooking downtown Austin, the space invites you to enjoy frozen margaritas, small-batch tequilas and mezcals, and a curated selection of pool-friendly bites.

Job Summary:

The Cook 2 is a mid-level culinary position responsible for supporting daily kitchen operations through consistent food preparation, station setup, and cooking tasks. This role requires foundational cooking skills, the ability to follow recipes and instructions accurately, and strong attention to cleanliness and organization. Cook 2 works under the direction of the Sous Chef and kitchen leadership to ensure high-quality food production and efficient service.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Food Preparation & Production:
  • Prepare all menu items according to approved recipes, yield guides, and production schedules.
  • Cut, fabricate, dice, mince, chop, and portion meats, fish, fowl, vegetables, fruits, and other food items according to specifications.
  • Expand and condense recipes as required to meet business needs
  • Ensure all kitchen work areas are stocked with required tools, equipment, and supplies to meet operational demand
  • Maintain and update recipe cards, plating guides, production schedules, and reference photos
  • Assist Cook 1 and senior team members with prep for high-volume or complex dishes.
  • Participate in training sessions, improving knowledge of kitchen techniques and equipment use.

• Opening & Closing Duties
  • Perform opening duties including turning on specified equipment (ovens, fryers, steam tables), filling steam tables, unlocking secured areas, and securing keys.
  • Set up workstation with proper mise en place, tools, equipment, and supplies.
  • Inspect cleanliness and functionality of tools, equipment, and workstations.
  • Break down workstation at the end of shift, ensuring all food items are properly stored, labeled, dated, rotated, and secured.
  • Turn off equipment not required for the next shift and restock depleted items.
• Sanitation, Safety & Compliance
  • Maintain strict compliance with State health regulations, food safety standards, and Hotel sanitation requirements.
  • Disinfect and sanitize cutting boards, worktables, and prep surfaces regularly.
  • Maintain proper food storage, labeling, dating, and rotation procedures (FIFO).
  • Maintain complete knowledge of proper equipment usage and ensure equipment is used only as intended.
  • Transport dirty pots, pans, and utensils to designated wash stations.
• Guest Experience & Service Standards
  • Anticipate guest needs and respond promptly, courteously, and professionally at all times.
  • Maintain positive and personalized guest relations, tailoring interactions based on guest preferences when applicable.
  • Proactively resolve guest concerns in collaboration with leadership to ensure guest satisfaction.
  • Maintain familiarity with all Hotel services, features, and local attractions to accurately respond to guest inquiries.
• Team Collaboration & Communication
  • Meet with the Head Cook or Sous Chef to review assignments, anticipated business levels, and operational updates.
  • Attend pre-shift briefings and provide operational feedback when appropriate.
  • Assist other kitchen areas and departments as needed to ensure optimal guest service.
  • Collaborate cross-departmentally while demonstrating the Proper Ethos with colleagues and guests.

Education and/or Experience

• Minimum of 3 year of experience as a Cook in a fast-paced kitchen environment
• Certification of culinary training.
• Valid food handling certificate.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written).
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
• Ability to read, write, and communicate legibly.
• Working knowledge of various cooking methods, ingredients, equipment, and kitchen procedures.

Skills/Specialized Knowledge

• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Attention to detail, speed, and accuracy in food preparation.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong teamwork and cross-departmental collaboration skills.
• Flexibility to work varying schedules, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Physical Demands

• Ability to stand, walk, and move continuously for extended periods of time.
• Ability to perform repetitive physical motions including bending, twisting, stooping, reaching overhead and below the knees.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing up to 25-30 pounds without assistance.
• Ability to endure varying physical movements throughout kitchen and hotel work areas.
• Ability to communicate effectively with guests, management, and colleagues.

Why Join Proper Hospitality

At Proper, we build experiences that move people — and that begins with the team behind them. As a best-in-class employer, we’re committed to creating one of the Best Places to Work in hospitality by nurturing a culture where creativity, excellence, and humanity thrive together.

Everything we do is grounded in the belief that hospitality is more than a profession - it’s an opportunity to care for others and make lives better. Guided by the Pillars of Proper, we show up with warmth and authenticity (Care Proper), strive for excellence in everything we do (Achieve Proper), think creatively and resourcefully (Imagine Proper), and take pride in the style and culture that make us who we are (Present Proper).

We believe our people are our greatest strength, and we invest deeply in their wellbeing, growth, and sense of belonging. From comprehensive benefits to meaningful development programs, Proper is designed to help you build a career, and a life, that feels as inspiring as the experiences we create for our guests.

Our Commitment: Building the Best Place to Work

Our Best Place to Work initiative is a living commitment — a continuous investment in our people, our culture, and our purpose. We listen, learn, and evolve together to create an environment where everyone feels empowered to imagine boldly, achieve confidently, care deeply, and present themselves authentically.

At Proper, joining the team means more than finding a job — it means joining a community that believes in building beautiful experiences together, for our guests and for one another.

Proper Hospitality is an equal-opportunity employer. We provide employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other federally or state-protected category.

We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with local Fair Chance Hiring Ordinances.