Lead Cook

Salary Range: $25-$28 per hour plus tips
Non-exempt seasonal role from April – September 2025

Position Summary: Lead Cooks are responsible for leading food preparation for Centrum program participants in a banquet style service according to recipes and service timelines. A Lead Cook will focus on breakfast and lunch or dinner and work shift according to those meal times preparing assigned menu items and maintain a clean station while practicing good safety, sanitation and organization skills. A Lead Cook works as part of a team in a seasonal role for Centrum’s educational programs, demonstrating leadership and direction to the team.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

• Know the menu thoroughly and prepare all menu items as directed, safely and efficiently
• Pass Health Department Audits by maintaining a clean, organized workspace and supporting
• fellow staff on proper sanitation guidelines
• Maintain quality standards in production, presentation, and service
• Avoid cross contamination, improper food handling and/or storage practices
• Comply with all inventory procedures and inform supervisor as stock runs low
• Control product costs with proper production execution and waste management
• Assess need for and report equipment repairs to supervisor and/or maintenance
• Support and guidance of Prep Cooks and Kitchen Stewards as part of a cohesive team
• Report incidents promptly and accurately
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or other management

Key Competencies:

• Attention and care for the details and ability to follow instructions
• Strongly skilled in communication, organization, time management and multi-tasking
• Willing and able to work evenings, weekends
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Passion for good food, local ingredients and quality customer service
• Demonstrates the ability to receive constructive feedback and learn from mistakes
• Reliable transportation to and from work

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent, plus 2 years’ kitchen experience
• WA State or ServSafe Food Handler’s Card
• Able to grasp, lift or carry up to 50 lbs. as needed
• Finger/hand dexterity to operate various tools and equipment
• Able to withstand changes in temperature, occasional smoke, steam/heat, and work in a
• confined area
• Hearing, visual and sensory ability to observe and detect emergency situations; and to
• distinguish product, taste, texture, temperature, presentation and preparation

About Centrum

In partnership with Fort Worden State Park, Centrum, nestled in the historic army base of Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington, stands as a unique crossroads of natural beauty and history. It’s a haven for artists, innovators, students of diverse backgrounds, and those in pursuit of unparalleled cultural growth. For close to fifty years, Centrum has attracted a vast array of creative minds, making Fort Worden a revered epicenter of transformative learning and engagement. Through it all, our mission remains: to foster life-altering creative experiences.

Centrum is committed to bolstering its endowment fund, enhancing its balance sheet, and augmenting the annual fund. Before the pandemic, the organization managed an annual budget of $4 million, with 60% originating from contributed income. Operating without any debt, Centrum maintains a three-month cash reserve alongside a $1 million endowment. The organization boasts considerable stability in its staff and board and is presently embarking on the creation of a new five-year strategic plan to steer its post-COVID growth and evolution. Guided by creative aspiration, Centrum’s future is anchored in a growing commitment to community building. This commitment underscores our enduring legacy marked by multi-generational workshops and artist residencies, reflecting our core values and unwavering dedication to lifelong learning.

To Apply

Submit your letter of interest along with your resume to hr@centrum.org

Download the complete job description HERE.

Centrum is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Centrum is an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Centrum is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Centrum is an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.