Night Shift Cook

About the role

Quad Café at our Hartford, Wisconsin plant is looking for an experienced Cook to support daily café production during the evening and overnight shift. This hands‑on position is for a skilled culinary professional who takes pride in preparing quality food, keeping a kitchen organized, and helping a team deliver excellent service. The Cook will own assigned production areas while supporting café operations, food safety, inventory control, and team performance.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and serve hot and cold foods according to recipes, production standards, and service expectations.
• Take ownership of assigned kitchen stations and ensure production is accurate, consistent, and completed on schedule.
• Support daily café service and ensure timely execution of service requirements.
• Help coordinate workflow and prioritize tasks during busy service periods.
• Monitor food quality, presentation, portion control, temperature, and consistency.
• Train, coach, and support new and existing team members.
• Maintain accurate food safety, sanitation, and temperature records.
• Assist with receiving deliveries, organizing products, rotating stock using FIFO practices, and monitoring inventory.
• Identify shortages, quality concerns, and operational issues and communicate them promptly.
• Minimize waste and support cost‑control efforts through effective product utilization.
• Keep workstations, equipment, storage areas, and kitchen facilities clean, organized, and inspection‑ready.
• Provide friendly, professional customer service and help resolve routine customer concerns.
• Recommend improvements that strengthen efficiency, food quality, safety, and the customer experience.
• Serve as a dependable operational resource throughout the shift.

Requirements

• 2 or more years of hands‑on food service experience with strong cooking and culinary skills.
• Ability to independently manage food preparation, production, and service in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience training, mentoring, or supporting team members.
• Strong knowledge of food preparation, kitchen operations, food safety, and sanitation.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize work, manage multiple responsibilities, and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, accountability, and initiative.
• Awareness of inventory, waste reduction, and basic cost‑control practices.
• Ability to manage material and labor costs.
• Comfort using Microsoft Office and operational technology systems.
• High school diploma preferred.
• ServSafe Manager Certification preferred.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Work Environment

• Frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, twisting, and reaching.
• Ability to safely handle up to 50 pounds.
• Manual dexterity to use knives and kitchen equipment such as slicers, mixers, choppers, scoops, and scales.
• Ability to work in warm and cold environments, including cooking areas, refrigerators, and freezers.

Pay

$18–$21 per hour, with higher compensation available for candidates with extensive experience.