Wilderness At The Smokies

Trade Your Lecture Hall for a Professional Kitchen in the Smoky Mountains

Imagine starting your morning with the misty peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains outside your window and ending your day floating down a lazy river at America’s largest indoor water park resort. As an F&B Cook at Wilderness At The Smokies in Sevierville, Tennessee, that’s not a daydream — that’s your Work & Travel USA summer.

This is your chance to earn $15 per hour across 35 hours per week, build real culinary skills in a fast-paced American kitchen, and make friends from every corner of the world.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Preparing and cooking a variety of menu items — burgers, pizzas, breakfast classics, appetizers and daily specials
• Working the grill, fryer, sauté and prep stations alongside an experienced kitchen team
• Following recipes, portion standards and presentation guidelines to keep quality consistent
• Prepping ingredients: chopping, marinating, portioning and stocking stations before service
• Maintaining strict food safety, sanitation and HACCP standards
• Keeping your station, equipment and walk-in coolers clean and organized
• Communicating with servers and supervisors to keep tickets moving during peak rushes

Why Sevierville, Tennessee?

Sevierville sits at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States. You’ll be minutes away from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg — a legendary strip of theme parks, mini-golf, live music, pancake houses and the famous Dollywood.

On your days off, hike to waterfalls, swim in mountain rivers, ride the SkyLift, or explore hidden trails with your new international friends. Nashville, Knoxville, Asheville and Atlanta are all within easy road-trip distance — perfect for weekend adventures and your post-program travel month.

About Wilderness At The Smokies

Wilderness At The Smokies is Tennessee’s largest water park resort, welcoming families from across the country year-round. With multiple restaurants, cafés and food outlets on site, it’s a high-energy environment where you’ll gain genuine hospitality experience that looks fantastic on any CV — especially for students studying tourism, culinary arts, hospitality or business.

Position Details

• Employer: Wilderness At The Smokies
• Position: F&B Cook
• Location: Sevierville, Tennessee
• Pay: $15.00 per hour
• Hours: approximately 35 hours per week
• Season: Summer to Fall
• Tips: Not applicable for this role

Benefits

• Competitive $15/hour wage with reliable weekly hours
• Possibility of overtime during the busy resort season
• Hands-on training in a professional American kitchen
• Employee perks and access to resort amenities (as per employer policy)
• A vibrant international team — meet students from dozens of countries
• An unbeatable location for outdoor adventure and weekend travel

What We’re Looking For

• University students aged 18–25 eligible for the J-1 Work & Travel USA program
• Conversational English — enough to follow instructions and communicate with your team
• Previous kitchen or food-prep experience is a strong plus (but a great attitude matters more)
• Ability to stand for long shifts, lift up to 20 kg and work in a hot, fast-paced kitchen
• Reliability, punctuality and a genuine team-player mindset
• Flexibility to work mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays

Ready to Cook Up the Best Summer of Your Life?

Spots at popular Smoky Mountain resorts fill up fast. Apply today for the F&B Cook position at Wilderness At The Smokies and start your American adventure — mountains, water parks, new friends and real work experience included.