Culinary Lead
No salary listed
Junior
Bachelor's
Glendale, WI, USA
In Person
Food Service & HospitalityFood & Beverage Operations Management
About the job
Requirements
- Must be at least 21 years old at the time of employment.
- A degree in culinary arts is preferred; candidates with extensive culinary experience and demonstrated technical proficiency may be considered instead of formal education.
- Must have 1–2 years of progressively responsible kitchen management experience.
- Must have a valid Food Manager Certification.
- Must be able to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers.
- Must be able to stand for up to 4 hours at a time.
- Must be able to move around the store while coaching and directing associates or class participants and selling to customers.
- Must be able to perceive and differentiate variations in the intensity or quality of flavors or odors, or identify specific tastes or scents using the tongue or nose.
- Must be able to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel, and crouch to retrieve and replenish merchandise from the stockroom or sales floor.
- Must be able to use hands to seize, hold, grasp, turn, chop, whisk, slice, stir, juice, and demonstrate other techniques.
- Must be able to lift and/or move merchandise weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Must be able to ascend and descend ladders to retrieve and/or move merchandise.
- Must be able to operate a computer, point-of-sale system, keyboard, merchandise scanner, and mouse.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Must maintain regular and predictable attendance and adjust class assignments based on demand, teaching 3–4 classes per week.
- Must be able to work in a variable kitchen environment, including open flames, hot surfaces, temperature variations, and physical or airborne food allergens.
- Must have excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Must have a passion for community engagement and providing exceptional customer experiences.
Responsibilities
- Support recruitment, training, and ongoing development of a high-performing team to meet culinary business needs.
- Lead, coach, and inspire associates to exceed performance expectations and uphold a positive team culture.
- Provide in-the-moment coaching and feedback to improve performance and team engagement, and communicate performance issues directly to the General Manager or Store Manager.
- Represent the brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty.
- Maintain product expertise by staying current on products, participating in available training, and independently seeking additional resources.
- Ensure an outstanding cooking class experience in every session by following provided recipes and game plans while holding employees accountable for quality and execution.
- Work with store leadership to increase foot traffic and store engagement through cooking classes and private events.
- Lead a customer-focused culture in the kitchen and retail sales floor to ensure exceptional customer experiences.
- Assist with driving sales growth by implementing strategies to enhance the culinary and retail business.
- Analyze key performance metrics daily and use insights to optimize store performance.
- Meet or exceed culinary program goals through classes that drive customer engagement and sales; performance is measured by second-class sign-ups, retail culinary product sales, and guest feedback through Google reviews.
- Ensure compliance with food safety standards, local health codes, and sanitation regulations.
- Handle tools, ingredients, and kitchen equipment properly to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
- Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and control supply and culinary expenses.
- Handle liquor, wine, and beer as applicable in compliance with state and location alcohol regulations and company policies, including age restrictions.
- Ensure store safety and cleanliness and promptly address maintenance needs.
- Adhere to applicable wage and hour laws and accurately record time worked according to company policy.
- Model and ensure that company policies and standard operating procedures are communicated effectively to associates, maintained, and consistently followed.
Desired Qualifications
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and retail systems is preferred.
About the company
CSC Generation acquires underperforming retail brands and grows them into profitable ventures by integrating them into its shared operating platform. It operates across retail, e-commerce, and wholesale, leveraging technology, skilled staff, efficient processes, and scalable operations to optimize product sourcing, marketing, fulfillment, and customer experience. Its portfolio includes brands like DirectBuy, One Kings Lane, Sur La Table, Touch of Modern, and Cherry Man Industries, collectively offering over 325,000 products and attracting about 10 million monthly page views. The company differentiates itself by targeting “unsexy” opportunities others overlook and by applying its centralized platform to turn around and scale these brands into sustainable revenue generators. Its goal is steady growth and profitability by transforming underperforming brands into thriving parts of its portfolio, serving a wide range of consumers and business clients.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series E
Total Funding
$107.6M
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Founded
2016
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- CSC says 2026 revenue exceeded $1 billion across 13 brands.
- It added Backcountry in September 2024, expanding into outdoor recreation.
- Backcountry launched a 2026 brand incubator, showing acquisition-led growth momentum.
What critics are saying
- Indeed reviews in 2026 cite low pay, burnout, and constant layoffs.
- Headcount fell to 2,836 in March 2026, signaling continued operating pressure.
- Backcountry CEO Melanie Cox left in January 2025, exposing integration and retention risk.
What makes CSC Generation unique
- CSC Generation uses Genesis, a shared AI-enabled operating platform across 13 brands.
- It buys distressed retailers like Backcountry, Sur La Table, and One Kings Lane.
- It monetizes turnaround expertise, not standalone software, across home and outdoor verticals.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- 401(k) Company Match
- Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
- Life Insurance
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Vacation
- Pet Insurance
- Employee Discounts