About Us:
Lena Brewing Company is located right along Highway 20, just outside the Village of Lena in NW Illinois, two hours West of Chicago. Our taproom is located in a 6,000 square foot barn with a big kitchen, two walk-ins, meat smoker, open air atrium seating plus a 118 seat outdoor patio, covered outdoor stage, banquet space with seating for 200, 18 TVs, outdoor fire pits, outdoor satellite bar...it's a vibe.
We're a community-focused brewery dedicated to crafting quality beverages and serving an outstanding, BBQ inspired food menu. We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming atmosphere where guests can enjoy live music and delicious craft beer with their friends, family and even their dogs. We're a high volume, fast paced venue with a super simple menu by design. There's room for creativity and elevation, we just have to keep it quick. The current focus is in-house smoked brisket/pork.
The sales are there, the demand is there, the Lena community is awesome! While entertaining local regulars, a huge piece of our clientele is travelers from Chicago to Galena, or visiting their second homes in Lake Carroll or Apple Canyon. We might be in the middle of nowhere, but 'city folk' drive by this big red barn and can't help but stop. We host a ton of in-house events- trivia night, puzzle competitions, spelling bees, SINGO, live music, annual Sausagefest, Picklefest, Corn Boil, Watermelon Crawl....let's party!
LBC's service model is 'guest paced dining'. So it's open seating, there's menus on all the clipboards on all the tables as well as digital menu boards. Guests visit an ordering station at the bar when they're ready to order- so there's no 'pacing' or "coursing" tickets- hence the importance to keep the menu quick. We use a table side, scan-in puck system so that the food runners can deliver the food directly to the table.
Job Summary
The LBC Taproom is in search of a Lead Line Cook/Kitchen Manager as well as BOH support staff that are ready to grow within the LBC Family. The current chef is planning to move in October 2026. This person/persons/couple/group of culinary wizards would start ASAP and work with the current chef and menu, learn the ins and outs of the kitchen, menu, smoker and management, and bring some creative beer driven flair/features to our menu. After summer flies by, let's switch it up and elevate this menu with personality. You get the opportunity to learn about the ship, work it, live it, figure out what you like/don't like, then take the wheel in October. We're looking for a hard- working leader who is dedicated to their craft. Must be willing to work in a vibrant brewery taproom environment where craft beer and great food go hand in hand. :)
Characteristics that will lead to succes are as follows: energetic, detail-oriented, someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, strong leadership skills, organizational skills, passion for cooking/delivering a posative guest experience. Someone who fosters a posative, collaborative work atmosphere will be successful here. We're always learning and growing.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee all kitchen operations, from food preparation to plating and service flow
- Manage kitchen staff
- Maintain the highest standards of kitchen cleanliness, food safety, and sanitation
- Manage inventory, set and understand pars and control costs
- Create menus and specials that fit the vibe
- Ensure consistent food quality and presentation
- Replicate current kitchen efficiency, assign tasks and monitor team performance to ensure smooth kitchen operation resulting in guest satisfaction
- Collaborate with management on menu development, catering events, and special in-house events- Sausagefest, Picklefest, Corn Boil, Watermelon Crawl.
- Support training initiatives for new team members and provide ongoing coaching to develop culinary skills and leadership qualities among ALL staff- food runners and bartenders included.
Experience
- Proven experience in food production within a fast-paced restaurant environment, preferably with catering backgrounds.
- Supervising in a culinary setting is essential; prior leadership roles are highly valued.
- Knowledge of food safety protocols, sanitizing procedures, and proper food handling techniques.
- Demonstrated ability to manage inventory control, cost management, menu planning and portion control
- Experience with catering operations is helpful but not mandatory; enthusiasm for learning is key.
Fair wages. Creative pay. Simple IRA match. Performance based quarterly bonus. THE best, supportive FOH team you can imagine. We love what we do and we have so much fun doing it. Seriously.
Vibe check at lenabrewing.com. Please email me directly at if at all interested. Or message me here with contact info.
Pay: $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Food provided
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
