BBQ Production Lead/Assistant Pitmaster

HardWood BBQ — Knoxville, TN

HardWood BBQ is looking for an experienced, dependable, and motivated BBQ Production Lead/Assistant Pitmater to work directly alongside our Owner/Pitmaster and help oversee the preparation and production of our smoked meats and homemade sides. You'll be doing all the meat prep (trimming briskets, preparing/seasoning pork butts, ribs, chicken, etc), processing it after it's been smoked, making rubs, sauce, and dressings from scratch, and other similar duties.

This is an important role within our kitchen. We are looking for someone who wants to learn our process, take pride in producing high quality BBQ, and grow into a position where they can independently handle significant portions of our daily BBQ production.

The right person will become an integral part of our BBQ operation and work closely with our Pitmaster to ensure quality, consistency, and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Assist with all aspects of BBQ meat preparation and production
• Prepare, trim, season, and process meats according to established procedures
• Process meats after cooking - including pulling, slicing, chopping, portioning, and packaging
• Prepare sauces, rubs, and other BBQ components from scratch using recipes
• Maintain proper food handling, sanitation, and storage procedures
• Monitor product quality and consistency
• Keep BBQ production areas clean, organized, and properly stocked
• Communicate with the Pitmaster regarding production needs, inventory, and any issues
• Take initiative to identify what needs to be done rather than waiting for constant direction
• Work efficiently in a fast paced environment
• As experience and proficiency are gained, take increasing responsibility for BBQ production and daily operations
• Must be able to lift 50+ lbs
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time

What We're Looking For

Required Experience:

• Has previous BBQ, smoking, meat packing, butchering, or equivalent experience
• Can read recipes and follow written instructions

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Has a genuine interest in traditional wood-smoked BBQ
• Is dependable and consistently arrives on time and ready to work
• Takes pride in the quality of their work
• Is willing to learn and follow our established recipes, procedures, and smoking methods
• Understands that consistency is extremely important in BBQ
• Can work independently without needing to be constantly directed
• Takes initiative and looks for ways to be productive
• Works well as part of a team
• Is able to work in a physically demanding kitchen environment
• Is comfortable working around heat, smoke, heavy equipment, and standing for extended periods
• Has strong attention to detail
• Is willing to accept feedback and continually improve their skills

Growth Opportunity

As you become proficient in our processes, responsibilities and independence will increase. This position has the opportunity to grow into a larger leadership role within the restaurant for someone who demonstrates the ability to consistently produce our product to our standards and take ownership of the work.

Compensation

$15–$20+ per hour, based on experience and demonstrated BBQ/kitchen skills.

Candidates with significant professional BBQ or pitmaster experience may qualify for higher compensation.

Schedule

Full-time preferred, with schedule and hours discussed during the interview.

Our restaurant is closed Sundays and Mondays.

About HardWood BBQ

HardWood BBQ is a small, family owned and operated, traditional BBQ restaurant focused on doing things the right way: meats are slow smoked over wood, sides are made in house, and consistency and quality are extremely important to us.

We are looking for someone who wants to become part of our team and take pride in helping us produce the BBQ our customers come back for.

If you're dependable, hardworking, take initiative, and want the opportunity to develop into a key member of a real BBQ operation, we'd love to hear from you

Pay: $15.00 - $20.00 per hour

Work Location: In person