Lead Line Cook

Lead Line Cook / Junior Sous Chef – FORTU | Japanese-Influenced Fine Dining | St. Petersburg, FL

Step up and lead the line.

FORTU is a Japanese-influenced fine dining restaurant in Tampa. We're a young, independent restaurant group that is growing fast, and new concepts are in development. We're looking for a skilled, driven cook who is ready for their first leadership role and wants to grow into a sous chef with us.

You'll cook at a high level every night, and you'll also help set the standard for the rest of the team. If you lead by example, hold the line to the details and want to build a career rather than just take a job, this role is for you.

What you'll do

• Run the line during service: set the pace, check plates and keep every station on spec
• Cook any station at a high level and step in wherever the kitchen needs you
• Train, coach and support line cooks on recipes, technique, plating and standards
• Lead opening and closing duties, prep lists and station setup
• Support the Chef de Cuisine with ordering, receiving, inventory and product rotation
• Help control food cost and waste through proper portioning, yields, labeling and storage
• Contribute ideas to menu development, specials and new dishes
• Run the kitchen in the Chef de Cuisine's absence
• Uphold food safety and sanitation standards and hold the team to them
• Keep communication with the front of house clear, calm and professional

Who we're looking for

• 3+ years of line cook experience in fine dining, chef-driven or high-end scratch kitchens
• At least 1 year in a lead, senior or trainer role, preferred
• Strong mastery of knife skills, cooking technique and fundamentals
• The ability to stay calm and lead under pressure while keeping quality high
• A natural teacher: patient, direct and invested in other people's growth
• Organized and detail-driven, with a strong sense of ownership over the kitchen
• Reliable and professional, someone who sets the example on and off the line
• Hungry to learn the business side of the kitchen: costing, ordering and scheduling
• Available to work evenings, weekends and holidays
• Able to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 lbs
• Food Handler certification required; ServSafe Manager preferred, or able to obtain it
• A strong plus: experience with Japanese cuisine, sushi or fish butchery

What you'll get

• Competitive pay
• A clear path to sous chef and beyond
• Hands-on mentorship in Japanese and modern fine dining technique, plus kitchen management
• Room to grow: new concepts are coming soon, and we promote leaders from within
• A kitchen culture built on high standards, respect and pride in the work
• Staff dining discounts

Schedule: Full-time, evenings and weekends
Location: St. Petersburg, FL

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and help lead a kitchen that's building something special, apply today. Tell us about a time you made a cook or a team better.

Pay: $22.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Paid training

Work Location: In person