Lead Cook

Lead Cook / Opening Kitchen Lead

Don’t Matter is a new listening lounge opening in DUMBO, Brooklyn, built around music, cocktails, food, culture, and community. We are looking for a strong Lead Cook / Opening Kitchen Lead to join our opening team and help bring the food program to life from the ground up.

This is a full-time position for someone who wants more than a standard kitchen role. The right person will help set up the initial kitchen, organize prep and service systems, create dishes for tastings, and work closely with ownership and management to shape the opening menu.

We are looking for someone who is reliable, clean, organized, creative, and excited to help open a new hospitality concept. Candidates must have night availability and be available to work from 5:00 PM onward.

Pay: $25 per hour
Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Job Type: Full-time
Schedule: Night shifts, starting at 5:00 PM
Availability: Weeknight and weekend availability required

Responsibilities:

• Help set up the initial kitchen, including prep areas, storage, labeling, equipment flow, and service systems
• Create and prepare dishes for tastings and menu development
• Lead daily prep and kitchen service
• Maintain food quality, consistency, cleanliness, and organization
• Help develop prep lists, recipes, portioning, and kitchen procedures
• Support menu testing, presentation, and execution
• Follow proper food handling, sanitation, and safety standards
• Work closely with ownership and management during the opening process
• Help train and guide future kitchen staff as the team grows
• Keep the kitchen clean, organized, and ready for service

Qualifications:

• Previous kitchen experience required
• Lead cook, sous chef, opening team, or menu development experience preferred
• Must be available to work nights from 5:00 PM onward
• Weekend availability required
• Strong prep skills, knife skills, and kitchen fundamentals
• Comfortable working in a small-format kitchen
• Clean, organized, reliable, and professional
• Ability to stay calm and focused during service
• Creative mindset with the ability to create simple, thoughtful, executable dishes
• Strong communication skills
• NYC Food Protection Certificate preferred

What We Offer:

• $25 per hour
• Full-time position
• Opportunity to be part of the opening team
• Creative freedom to help develop dishes and tastings
• Opportunity to grow with the business
• Collaborative ownership and management team
• Music and culture-driven hospitality environment

About Don’t Matter:

Don’t Matter is a new listening lounge opening in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Our concept blends music, cocktails, food, culture, and community in a warm bar/lounge setting. We are building a thoughtful food program to complement the guest experience and are looking for team members who want to help shape something new from day one.

Please apply with your resume and a brief note about your kitchen experience. Include any experience with opening restaurants, menu development, tastings, or leading a kitchen team.

Don’t Matter is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to creating a respectful, inclusive, and professional workplace.

Pay: $25.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Paid sick time

Work Location: In person