Pizza Chef

Experienced Pizza Cook

$22–$28+ per hour | Full-Time | Benefits | Growth Opportunity

JT’s Buffalo is a busy, contemporary Italian restaurant located in Buffalo’s Elmwood Village. We are part of a locally owned restaurant group with more than 30 years of experience operating restaurants in Western New York.

We are looking for an experienced Pizza Cook who can take ownership of a busy pizza station and consistently produce a high-quality product during fast-paced dinner service.

Our pizza program is an important part of our menu, and we are looking for someone who understands that great pizza requires more than simply working an oven. Dough handling, stretching, topping, organization, oven management, timing, and consistency all matter.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced pizza cook who wants strong hourly pay, consistent full-time hours, benefits, and the opportunity to grow within an established restaurant group.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Independently setting up, stocking, and operating the pizza station
• Stretching and shaping dough consistently
• Building pizzas according to established recipes and portion standards
• Managing the pizza oven throughout high-volume service
• Monitoring cook times, temperatures, rotation, and quality
• Producing a consistent crust and finished product
• Preparing sauces, cheeses, toppings, and station mise en place
• Completing daily prep accurately and on schedule
• Maintaining organized, labeled, dated, and properly rotated ingredients
• Managing station pars and communicating product needs before shortages occur
• Coordinating pizza timing with expo and the rest of the kitchen
• Maintaining a clean and organized workstation
• Following food-safety, sanitation, opening, and closing procedures
• Supporting other stations when necessary

What We’re Looking For

Ideal candidates will have:

• At least 2 years of professional kitchen experience
• Previous wood fired pizza-station experience strongly preferred
• Experience with hand-stretched dough and high-temperature pizza ovens preferred
• High-volume restaurant experience
• Strong understanding of dough handling and pizza preparation
• Good knife and prep skills
• Excellent organization and station management
• The ability to work quickly while maintaining consistency
• Strong attention to portioning and presentation
• The ability to manage multiple pizzas and ticket times simultaneously
• A sense of urgency during service
• Strong communication with expo and the rest of the line
• A professional, dependable, team-first attitude
• Reliable attendance and transportation
• Evening and weekend availability

Schedule

• Full-time position/part time positions available
• Approximately 35–40 hours per week
• Five shifts per week
• Primarily evening shifts
• Weekend availability required

Compensation & Benefits

$22–$30+ per hour, based on experience and ability

Experienced pizza cooks who can independently run the station and perform at a high level will be considered at the top of the range.

We also offer:

• Paid time off
• 401(k) eligibility
• Performance-based bonuses
• Dining discounts across all four of our restaurants
• Consistent full-time hours
• Opportunities to cross-train throughout the kitchen
• Opportunities for advancement into additional line and culinary leadership positions
• Experienced kitchen leadership
• Clearly defined standards and recipes
• A professional, team-oriented environment
• Stability within an established locally owned restaurant group
• Opportunities across four Buffalo-area restaurants
• More than 30 years of restaurant experience within our group
• Closed on major holidays

To Apply

Please submit a current résumé outlining your recent restaurant experience.

If you are an experienced pizza cook looking for strong pay, stability, professional standards, and an opportunity to grow, we would like to hear from you.

Qualified candidates will be contacted directly to schedule an interview.

More detail about JT’s Urban Italian part of JT's, 800 Maple, Rocco's Wood Fired Pizza, and Siena