Kitchen Lead Associate

Job Title

Kitchen Lead Associate

Reports To

Director of Hospitality 

Position Summary

The Kitchen Lead Associate delivers exceptional hospitality by welcoming guests, leading engaging wine tastings, and educating customers on Llano Estacado Winery wines and offerings. This role will work with the management team to create unique, high quality tapas style dishes, seasonal, wine paired dishes that will enhance the guest tasting experience.  The LEAD position will oversee the food preparation, maintaining kitchen cleanliness and will ensure that food safety standards are complied with.  This role requires a strong appreciation for food and wine pairing, fresh ingredients and elevated presentation standards.  This LEAD position will also help train other tasting room associates for proper protocol in preparing & presenting food for guests.  This role also supports tasting room and restaurant service, processes transactions accurately, and helps drive sales of wine, food, and wine club memberships. Associates maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment across front- and back-of-house areas and support events and multiple locations as needed. This is a full time position that will be hourly pay and include benefits.

Key Responsibilities

Guest Experience & Hospitality

• Greet guests warmly and create a positive first impression
  
  

• Lead educational, personalized wine tastings that reflect Llano’s brand and hospitality standards
  
  

• Answer questions confidently and offer recommendations based on guest preferences
  
  

Sales & Wine Club Growth

• Meet or exceed sales goals for wine, food, and wine club memberships
  
  

• Promote wine club benefits in a natural, guest-first way
  
  

• Support retail presentation, merchandising, and inventory restocking
  
  

Service & Operations

• Take orders, prepare and serve food and beverages in accordance with health and safety guidelines
  
  

• Accurately process sales, reservations, and shipments using the point-of-sale system
  
  

• Maintain cleanliness of tasting room, restaurant, patio, and restrooms
  
  

• Wash, sanitize, and polish glassware; maintain service stations and stocking levels
  
  

Events & Team Support

• Support onsite events, including setup and breakdown
  
  

• Assist in the kitchen as needed (dishwashing, prep support, receiving/storing supplies)
  
  

• Work across multiple Llano Estacado locations as business needs require
  
  

• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements & Qualifications

• Ability to provide warm, professional service in a fast-paced environment

• Previous experience in commercial kitchen is preferred
  
  

• Strong communication skills and comfort engaging with the public
  
  

• Sales-minded with a hospitality-first approach (you can be friendly and effective)
  
  

• Reliable, self-motivated, quick learner, and team-oriented

• Assist with ordering, inventory management and proper storage of ingredients

• Maintain a clean, organized, efficient kitchen workspace

• Culinary certification or training is a plus
  
  

• Comfortable using a POS system, cash register, and basic computer functions
  
  

• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and events as scheduled
  
  

• Community involvement is encouraged and supported

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform essential physical duties including standing/walking for extended periods, bending, reaching, and lifting/carrying up to 40 lbs (cases/boxes)

Certifications (Required / Reimbursed)

• Must complete a State of Texas Food Handler course within 30 days of hire (reimbursed upon successful completion)
  
  

• Must complete Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) certification within 30 days of hire (reimbursed upon successful completion)

• Must complete Manager’s Food Handlers Certification (reimbursed upon successful completion) 

Wages

• Hourly 

• Tip share 

• Benefits included