Lead Line Cook

Junior Sous Chef

The Spoke & Bird — Pilsen, Chicago, IL

Full-Time or Part-Time • Hourly (Pay based on experience)
Experience: Professional kitchen experience required, baking experience helpful

Spoke & Bird is a WBE-owned, farm-to-table hospitality group built around scratch cooking, seasonal ingredients, and treating people like adults. We source locally, strive to bake everything in-house, and operate open kitchens where transparency isn’t a buzzword—it’s just how we work.

We’re a small, growing team and currently hiring for our Pilsen Kitchen + Market . If you’re looking for a place where craft matters, communication is direct, and growth is real, keep reading.

We started Spoke & Bird with three guiding principles:

• Source responsibly — local, sustainable, and supportive of urban farmers

• Operate transparently — open kitchens, open conversations, shared information

• Value our staff — fair pay, real expectations, flexibility, and long-term opportunity
  (including working toward shared equity and ownership for those who invest with us)

• Support savory (and some sweet) kitchen operations, including prep, service, and production  
• Maintain recipe accuracy, quality control, and allergy compliance
• Execute savory menus with consistency and creativity

• Manage prep schedules, production timelines, and inventory control

• Ensure proper preparation, storage, labeling, and rotation of all pastry products

• Coordinate with culinary leadership and front-of-house teams to support service flow

• Support menu development, seasonal updates, and special event offerings

• Bring creativity, precision, and a passion for craftsmanship

• Demonstrate a passion for details and a willingness to learn

• Supervise, train, and mentor team members to uphold quality and efficiency

• Maintain the highest standards of quality, consistency, cleanliness, and food safety in all savory and pastry preparation

• Working efficiently in a fast-paced environment without sacrificing quality

• Collaborating with a small team that relies on each other to get things done

• Real kitchen experience (this isn’t an entry-level “curious about cooking” role)

• Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail

• A proven track record of showing up, following through, and finishing strong

• Ability to maintain high quality and consistency under pressure

• A calm, focused presence—someone who takes pride in their work

• Full-time and part-time roles available

• Compensation based on experience and skill

• Opportunities for advancement as we expand into new locations

• Health insurance

• Commuter benefits

• Potential bonuses

• Dining discounts

• Wellness program

We keep things simple and intentional.

Please complete our application form here:

Tell us about your experience, your availability, and what draws you to culinary work. Attention to detail starts before the oven’s on.

If you’re serious about cooking, appreciate a thoughtful workplace, and want to grow with a team that values both craft and people, we’d love to meet you.