Senior Café Cook – Culinary & Guest Experience
About the role
As a Senior Cafe Cook at Quad Café, you will be a hands-on culinary resource who helps deliver fresh, consistent food and a welcoming employee experience every day. You will prepare and serve café and catering items, keep production moving during busy periods, and help the team maintain high standards for food quality, safety, organization, and service.
Responsibilities
- Prepare, cook, and serve hot and cold food according to recipes, production standards, and service expectations.
- Own assigned production areas and keep food preparation accurate, efficient, on schedule, and ready for service.
- Support café and catering operations, including menu execution, order accuracy, workflow coordination, and timely service.
- Maintain food quality, presentation, portion control, consistency, and temperature throughout production and service.
- Greet employees warmly, take orders, answer questions, and create a friendly, respectful, and welcoming café experience.
- Use active listening and clear communication to address routine customer concerns and help employees feel valued.
- Guide, train, and support team members and newly hired employees during day-to-day operations.
- Maintain food-safety, sanitation, and temperature records; keep workstations, equipment, storage areas, and kitchen facilities inspection-ready.
- Receive and organize products, rotate stock using FIFO practices, identify shortages or quality concerns, and communicate issues promptly.
- Support cost control by reducing waste, using products thoughtfully, and helping manage material and labor costs.
- Recommend practical improvements that strengthen efficiency, food quality, safety, service, and the employee experience.
Requirements
- At least 8 years of hands-on food-service experience, with strong cooking and culinary skills.
- Ability to independently manage food production, service execution, and operational responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
- High school diploma preferred.
- ServSafe Manager certification preferred.
- Valid driver’s license required.
- Working knowledge of food safety, sanitation, inventory practices, and basic cost control.
- Strong organization, attention to detail, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to train, coach, and support teammates with accountability, dependability, and initiative.
- Comfort using Microsoft Office and operational technology systems.
Qualifications
- Manual dexterity to safely handle knives and kitchen equipment such as slicers, mixers, choppers, scoops, and scales.
- Standing for extended periods and frequently bending, lifting, twisting, reaching, and walking.
- Ability to handle up to 50 pounds.
- Work in warm and cold environments, including freezers and cooking areas.
Skills
- Hands-on food-service experience.
- Strong cooking and culinary skills.
- Independent management of food production and service execution.
- Effective communication and training abilities.
- Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
- Comfort with Microsoft Office and operational technology systems.
Benefits
We offer comprehensive benefits for eligible employees including medical, prescription, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement savings, paid time off, holidays, and additional benefits.
Pay
$18.10-$25.35/hr.
Schedule
Hours are 6am-2pm with occasional nights/weekends.
Why join Quad Café?
You’ll help create a daily café experience that is dependable, welcoming, and worth returning to—while working alongside a team that values craftsmanship, safety, service, and respect.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are committed to creating a place of belonging — a space where employees do not need to sacrifice who they are to exist and grow in our workplace. Quad does not discriminate on any unlawful basis including race, religion, color, national origin, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws.