Cook/Grill Cook at Cafe (hotel and cafe job)

This position is part-time with availability needed during mornings and/or lunch hours.

About the Role

The Café at Kirkwood (Iowa Hall, Main Campus at Kirkwood Community College) is part of the culinary team that operates The Class Act Restaurant and organizes banquets/catering for The Hotel at Kirkwood. The Café provides fresh, high-quality ingredients, a gourmet twist to recipes, and varied, flavorful menus to students, employees, and guests on Kirkwood's main campus. Our cooks support production across hot food, baked goods, cold goods, and catering needs.

Universal Core Competencies

• Advocate for Continual Improvement – empowering each other to identify opportunities for excellence.
• Collaborate with Mutual Accountability – working together with a willingness to take ownership and account for our actions.
• Champion Service – anticipating needs and creating a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment.
• Perseverance – commitment to excellence even in the face of adversity or delay in achieving success.
• Lead – regardless of title, through positive influence.

Responsibilities

• Prepare food production items for consumption, either on demand or based on anticipated business needs.
• Inspect food preparation and serving areas to ensure observance of safe, sanitary food-handling practices.
• Substitute for or assist other cooks and bakers as business needs demand.
• Support other functions such as Barista, Cashier, and Dish as business needs demand.
• Prepare, package, and serve food items for sale and consumption at satellite locations.
• Provide direction to prep cooks as needed.
• Wash, peel, cut, and seed fruits and vegetables to prepare them for consumption.
• Positively engage with customers and coworkers.
• Regular and consistent attendance at work.
• Leave Café and work areas clean and set for the following shift, including dishwashing as needed.
• Transport supplies, food, and equipment between various Café locations on campus.
• Welcome, value, and nurture people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, supporting an environment that accepts differences.
• Perform other related work duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Commercial kitchen experience.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to follow instructions (e.g., menus/recipes) as well as cook and plan meals.
• Must be able to stand 5-6 hours a day and squat, reach, and bend on a regular basis.
• Knowledgeable of food storage and handling techniques.
• Understand and demonstrate the proper and safe operation of all kitchen and dish equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Post high school degree.
• More than two years of commercial kitchen experience.

Physical Activities

The physical activities required for this position (with or without reasonable accommodation) include:

• Constant (over 2/3 of the time): standing, walking, using hands, reaching with hands and arms, talking or hearing, and tasting or smelling.
• Frequent (up to 2/3 of the time): lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Occasional (under 1/3 of the time): climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and sitting.