School Nutrition Cook / Culinary Assistant

School Nutrition Cook / Culinary AssistantJob Summary

We are seeking an experienced, dependable, and self-motivated School Nutrition Cook / Culinary Assistant to join our growing culinary team.

This position will primarily support a new private school meal contract, where our company will be responsible for preparing nutritious meals for approximately 50–200 students daily. The ideal candidate must be a confident and experienced cook who can follow recipes, maintain consistency, manage food production efficiently, and eventually work independently with minimal supervision.

The selected candidate will receive hands-on training directly from our Executive Chef to learn our recipes, production standards, systems, and expectations. As training progresses, this individual will be expected to take greater ownership of daily meal preparation and be capable of managing assigned kitchen responsibilities unsupervised.

Because we also operate a full-service catering and hospitality company, additional opportunities may be available to assist with catering events, food production, event preparation, deliveries, and other culinary operations based on availability, performance, dependability, and scheduling.

Primary Responsibilities

• Prepare breakfast and/or lunch meals for approximately 50–200 students daily according to established menus and recipes.
• Execute meals consistently while maintaining proper portion sizes, presentation, and quality.
• Complete daily food preparation, including proteins, vegetables, starches, sauces, breakfast items, and other menu components.
• Follow standardized recipes and production instructions provided by the Executive Chef.
• Assist with packaging, organizing, and preparing meals for transportation and service.
• Occasionally deliver prepared meals to the assigned school or client location when needed.
• Ensure food is prepared and ready according to strict daily production and delivery schedules.
• Properly operate commercial kitchen equipment, including ovens, stovetops, fryers, food processors, knives, and other kitchen tools.
• Follow proper food handling, sanitation, temperature-control, and food safety procedures.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen throughout each shift.
• Properly label, store, rotate, and organize food products and ingredients.
• Monitor inventory and communicate when food, supplies, or ingredients need to be replenished.
• Minimize food waste while maintaining appropriate production quantities.
• Follow dietary instructions and menu requirements associated with school meal service.
• Work efficiently and independently once trained.
• Communicate immediately when production issues, shortages, delays, or food-quality concerns arise.

Catering & Hospitality Responsibilities

Depending on scheduling, performance, and company needs, this position may also assist with our catering and hospitality operations.

Additional responsibilities may include:

• Preparing food for weddings, corporate events, private events, and large-scale catering productions.
• Assisting with event prep, kitchen production, packaging, loading, and breakdown.
• Picking up food, supplies, or equipment when necessary.
• Assisting with deliveries and off-site food service.
• Helping maintain kitchen, warehouse, and catering inventory.
• Supporting the culinary team during high-volume production days.
• Assisting the Executive Chef with additional operational responsibilities as needed.

What We Are Looking For

This is not an entry-level cooking position. We are looking for someone who already understands how to work in a professional kitchen and can eventually be trusted to complete production without constant supervision.

The ideal candidate is:

• An experienced cook with strong food preparation skills.
• A self-starter who can identify what needs to be done and execute without being micromanaged.
• Reliable, punctual, and consistent.
• Comfortable working independently after completing training.
• Organized and able to manage multiple responsibilities.
• Comfortable preparing food in larger quantities.
• Able to follow recipes accurately and maintain consistency.
• Able to work efficiently while meeting production deadlines.
• Detail-oriented with strong sanitation and food-safety habits.
• Flexible and willing to assist in different areas of our culinary and hospitality operations when needed.
• Professional and dependable when representing the company at client locations.

Preferred Experience

• Previous professional cooking experience required.
• Catering, restaurant, institutional, school food service, or high-volume kitchen experience strongly preferred.
• Experience preparing meals for large groups is preferred.
• Strong knife skills and knowledge of commercial kitchen equipment.
• Understanding of food safety, sanitation, proper food storage, and temperature control.
• Experience working independently in a kitchen environment is highly desirable.
• Experience with meal prep, batch cooking, or large-scale food production is a plus.

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to stand for extended periods.
• Must be able to lift and transport food, supplies, and kitchen equipment as required.
• Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Must have reliable transportation, particularly because occasional deliveries, supply pickups, or catering assignments may be required.
• Must be dependable and able to maintain an agreed-upon work schedule.
• Food Manager or Food Handler certification is strongly preferred and may be required depending on assigned responsibilities.

Growth Opportunity

We are looking for someone who can grow with our company.

Initially, you will work closely with our Executive Chef and receive hands-on training on our menus, recipes, production systems, and expectations. As you demonstrate consistency, dependability, and strong performance, you will receive greater responsibility and independence.

For the right candidate, this position may expand beyond the school nutrition program into additional catering, hospitality, event production, and culinary leadership opportunities within our growing company.

Pay: $15.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15.0 – 20.0 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Work Location: In person