Cook's Helper (3 Positions, Part-Time, 18 hrs., Academic Year)

About the role

Part-time Cook’s Helper positions (3 openings) at the University of Rhode Island, working 18 hours per week during the academic year (September 6, 2026 – May 15, 2027). Pay range $21.01 – $22.41 per hour, Grade 309, Civil Service Classified Staff, represented by Council 94/Local 528.

Responsibilities

• Assist cooks or bakers with simple food preparation tasks (washing, peeling, chopping, dicing, grinding vegetables, fruits, and other foods; making toast, coffee, tea, cereal, eggs, sandwiches; stirring soup; boiling potatoes or other vegetables).
• Assemble and arrange diet trays and load food onto food trucks or steam tables.
• Set up dining tables for service and serve food to persons in cafeterias from steam tables.
• Collect trays, soiled dishes, cutlery, glassware, and dispose of scrap or leftover foods.
• Wash dishes manually or in an automatic dishwashing machine; wash cutlery and glassware; clean and store kitchen equipment and utensils.
• Clean food trucks, dishwashing machines, iceboxes, walk-in refrigerators, and kitchen/dining areas.
• Under baker supervision: assemble materials, weigh/measure ingredients, mix by hand or machine, roll dough, fill pans, place and remove items from ovens, grease pans, line pans, move racks of dough/batter/baked goods, and clean bakery areas.
• In the central food processing plant: assist with assembling, portioning, packaging, transporting materials; operate pan and rack washing machines; wash pots and pans; clean work areas and refrigerators.

Requirements

• Familiarity with cooking/baking methods, food service, and kitchen/ bakery cleaning procedures.
• Ability to understand and follow simple verbal or written directions.
• Care in handling, washing, drying, and storing cooking/baking equipment and glassware.
• Education sufficient to follow simple directions.
• Experience as a kitchen/bakery helper in a hospital, hotel, or restaurant performing routine food preparation, service, and cleaning tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in institutional or large-volume food service.

Physical Demands

Must be physically qualified to perform assigned duties as evidenced by a physician’s certificate at the time of appointment.

Work Schedule

• Flexible schedule; hours and days off vary during August, J-Term, and Spring Break.
• Academic year schedule: September 6, 2026 – May 15, 2027.