Cook

About the role

Performs crew member duties as directed and assigned by the Manager On Duty. Duties include order taking, carhop, skating carhop, food and drink preparation, cooking, packaging food, serving food to guests, sales transactions, cleaning of equipment, and cleaning all areas of the building and grounds. These duties are to be performed in a safe, efficient, and professional manner to ensure guests have an enjoyable experience at the Sonic Drive-In.

Responsibilities

• Performs all duties in the Basic Stations (Fountain & Frozen, Dresser, Front Swamp, Back Swamp, Grill, Switchboard, Expeditor, Food Prep, Carhop, Skating Carhop, and Drive-Thru) as needed, depending on store volume, to ensure the preparation, portion control, temperature, packaging, appearance, presentation, taste, and service of all menu items meet operational standards.
• Assists team members and managers when assigned duties are completed.
• Operates switchboard, records customer orders, and repeats orders clearly and understandably.
• Operates Drive-Thru window and sales register, making accurate change quickly and efficiently.
• Prepares fountain drinks and ice cream items.
• Prepares food by cutting, chopping, and cooking on the grill or in fryers.
• Prepares food orders efficiently within a 3-4 minute time frame.
• Packages menu items into bags or trays and places drink orders into drink carriers.
• Serves food to customers efficiently in the Drive-Thru and other stations as needed.
• Moves food product weighing up to 50 lbs into freezers and shelves stacked from floor to ceiling.
• Routinely disposes of trash by transporting bags outside and into dumpsters.
• Cleans all areas of the drive-in, including sweeping, mopping, washing dishes, wiping countertops, sanitizing, cleaning restrooms, policing patio and parking lot, and emptying used grease.
• Performs frequent washing and sanitizing of food areas, food preparation tools, and hands.
• Instructs crew members about the importance of placing guests’ needs first.
• Responds immediately to guest requests in a respectful manner.
• Reports guest complaints to a supervisor and assists in resolving them.
• Immediately reports all guest or employee accidents to management.
• Monitors the drive-in working environment for potential employee issues and reports them to management.
• Wears required uniform and appropriate personal protective equipment as outlined in the Sonic Drive-In operations manual.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned or required.

Requirements

• Effective communication skills.
• Basic math and reading skills.
• Ability to follow directions.
• Ability to work irregular hours, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Compliance with all Sonic Drive-In Policies and Procedures, and all health and sanitation laws and regulations.
• Successful completion and adherence to all STAR certification and Sonic Drive-In training programs.
• Continuous standing, bending, stooping, lifting, stretching, and frequent overhead lifting required when staging, preparing, or packaging menu items and/or cleaning.
• General knowledge and understanding of the restaurant industry or retail operations; QSR experience preferred but not required.
• Must be at least 16 years of age.
• Must have proof of citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S.

Work Environment

• Frequent exposure to heat and hot liquid shortening while cooking.
• Frequent exposure to freezers when stocking food items.
• Occasional exposure to extreme temperatures based on variable weather conditions.

Schedule

• Full-time (average 30 hours or more): Must be able to work 38-45 hours weekly.
• Part-time: Must work 29 hours a week or less.