The pizzaiolo is responsible for overseeing daily pizza
station production, maintaining exceptionally high standards of quality, and
executing service under the overall direction of the Chef and Sous Chef.
Working as a key operational anchor, the pizzaiolo ensures that all doughs,
sauces, toppings, and station prep are completed efficiently while fostering a
clean, organized, and positive team environment. This role actively supports
the culinary leadership team by helping train junior staff, delegating daily
duties, and ensuring an unparalleled guest experience through consistent
product presentation and flavor standards.
Your Responsibilities
- Oversee station setups, daily prep execution, and
station closeouts based on parameters established by the Chef.
- Assist management in overseeing the day-to-day
operations of the pizza department and dough program.
- Oversee daily station operations to ensure production
and baking are executed proficiently in accordance with culinary
standards.
- Maintain communications across the kitchen team
regarding prep lists, station needs, and daily par levels to maximize
kitchen efficiency.
- Collaborate with leadership on seasonal menu updates,
special events, pizza specials, and daily offerings.
- Assist in training, mentoring, and onboarding new
pizza cooks on proper techniques, recipes, and station procedures.
- Ensure all food and pizza items are consistently
prepared, portioned, stretched, topped, and baked according to established
recipe standards.
- Competently utilize core pizza techniques, including
scaling, mixing, proofing, hand-stretching dough, tossing, and managing
oven temperatures with precision.
- Prioritize daily work schedules with fellow cooks
while delegating appropriate tasks to junior team members and externs.
- Assure all necessary prep items and tools are in
place prior to the start of each shift and communicate shortages in a
timely manner.
- Keep track of ingredient usage, monitor freshness,
and ensure all raw and finished products represent property quality
standards.
- Maintain a clean station and production areas,
ensuring all counters, pizza stones/ovens, and tools remain sanitary
throughout shift operations.
- Reset and restock pizza stations between service
rushes to guarantee ongoing service readiness.
- Complete all opening, mid, and closing kitchen
procedures; complete daily prep lists and sanitation side work
assignments.
- Handle minor prep or product discrepancies
proactively, elevating larger kitchen issues or oven malfunctions to
management when necessary.
- Maintain care of, clean, and properly maintain all
specialized kitchen and pizza equipment (e.g., dough mixers, wood-fired or
deck ovens) at the end of every shift.
- Show strong knowledge of current pizza menus, flavor
profiles, and allergen information to accurately answer basic menu
inquiries from service staff.
- Communicate continuously with management to ensure
the smoothest possible service flow and alert Chefs to any product
dissatisfactions or kitchen delays.
- Create high-quality culinary offerings in such a way
that guests feel compelled to return to the restaurant.
- Oversee and prepare the monthly inventory.
- Responsible for ordering ingredients.
Your Qualifications
- Minimum 2 years’ experience working in a high-volume
pizza station, pizzeria, or establishment of similar caliber, preferably
with previous lead or senior cook exposure.
- High School Diploma, or equivalent level of
education, required (must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide
in all units of measure for recipe scaling).
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
ability to read, speak, and interpret culinary documents and recipes in
clear English.
- Must be able to exert well-paced movement in limited
kitchen spaces and reach other locations of the restaurant on a timely
basis.
- Must be able to multi-task and manage in high-volume
and high-stress environments.
- Must have full manual dexterity to use, hold, and
operate all specialized pizza equipment, peels, cutters, and kitchen hand
tools.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including
early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Must be able to reach, bend, stoop, and stretch; can
frequently lift up to 30 pounds (and up to 50 pounds occasionally for
flour bags), as well as work in a standing position for long periods of
time (up to 10 hours).