Cook

Previous food service experience preferred. Must be comfortable in a hospital setting and be able to read, write and speak English.

About the Role

Assists the department through the transport, preparing, delivery, and retrieval of completed food trays to patients. Solves patient/customer problems, treats patients/customers with dignity and respect, acknowledges patients/customers, and responds quickly to customer needs. Demonstrates age-appropriate communication skills for the patient population served. Assists the department in the clerical aspects of preparation for patient meal service through accurate menu processing and assisting patients with menu selection.

To provide prompt, quality service in an efficient manner to all employees, visitors, and guests.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and cooks to order foods that may require short preparation time.
• May prepare food and serve customers at an à la carte station and may operate a grill station.
• Prepares food in accordance with current applicable federal, state, and corporate standards, guidelines, and regulations to ensure high-quality food service is provided.
• Reads food order or receives verbal instructions on food and prepares and cooks food according to instructions.
• Provides the highest quality of service at all times.
• Follows basic recipes and/or product directions for preparing, seasoning, cooking, tasting, carving, and serving soups, meats, vegetables, desserts, and other foodstuffs for consumption in eating establishments.
• Prepares foods under direct supervision or instruction by operating a variety of kitchen equipment to measure and mix ingredients, washing, peeling, cutting, and shredding fruits and vegetables, and trimming and cutting meat, poultry, or fish for culinary use.
• Tastes products, reads menus, estimates food requirements, checks production, and keeps records in order to accurately plan production.
• May clean and sanitize work stations and equipment and must follow all regulatory rules and procedures.
• Completes all allergens and foodborne illness in-service training.
• Complies with all HACCP policies and procedures.
• Reports all accidents and injuries in a timely manner.
• Complies with all company safety and risk management policies and procedures.
• Participates in regular safety meetings, safety training, and hazard assessments.
• Attends training programs (classroom and virtual) as designated.
• May receive inventory, move and lift foodstuffs and supplies, and prepare meals for customers requiring special diets.
• May produce some batch goods using basic cooking techniques.
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Previous food service experience preferred.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak English.
• Must be able to follow directions.
• Within 30 days of employment, must complete and provide one of the following certificates/licenses: Food Handler, ServSafe, or IL Department of Public Health license.
• High School diploma, GED, or equivalent experience preferred.
• 0 to 2 years of related work experience.
• Knowledge of basic operation of equipment.

Skills

• Presents self in a highly professional manner to others and understands that honesty and ethics are essential.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude.
• Ability to communicate with co-workers and other departments with professionalism and respect.
• Maintains a professional relationship with all coworkers, vendor representatives, supervisors, managers, customers, and client representatives.
• Ability to use a computer.
• Good working knowledge of food preparation.
• Requires familiarity with kitchen equipment.
• Must be able to read and follow a recipe unsupervised.
• Willingness to be open to learning and growing.
• Maturity of judgment and behavior.
• Maintains high standards for work areas and appearance.
• The ability to work a flexible schedule is helpful.
• Must comply with any dress code requirements.

Benefits

• Free membership to our on-campus fitness center.
• A 401k plan with employee match.
• Second shift differential: $1.00 weekdays - $2.00 weekends.

Schedule

Varying schedule to include evenings, holidays, weekends, and extended hours as business dictates. Must attend work and show up for the scheduled shift on time with satisfactory regularity.

Physical Requirements

• Close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus, with or without corrective lenses.
• Significant walking or other means of mobility.
• Ability to work in a standing position for long periods of time (up to 8 hours).
• Ability to reach, bend, stoop, push and/or pull, and frequently lift up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift/move 40 pounds.

Working Conditions

• Generally, in an indoor setting; however, may work outside at activities and events.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is primarily in a controlled, temperate environment; however, may be exposed to heat/cold during support of outside activities.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.