‘ammatka Cafe Chef

Lawrencehallofscience; Berkeley, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lawrence Hall of Science is seeking a Chef to support all aspects of food service for the The ‘ammatka Kitchen on the UC Berkeley campus. The role focuses on cooking, food preparation, and serving for cafe, catering, and campus-wide offerings while upholding safety standards.

Ideal candidates bring hands-on kitchen experience, strong English communication, and the ability to manage staff and events. This is a full-time, 1-year contract with UC benefits and a competitive hourly rate.

Qualifications

• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of food and production.
• Verbal and written communication in English.
• Decision-making and quality control in operations.
• Basic computer application skills.
• Ability to lead and guide kitchen staff.
• Ability to operate restaurant equipment.
• HS diploma or equivalent; valid driver's license or eligibility for DMV program.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and present menu items using various cooking methods.
• Assist with menu production, portioning, plating, and packaging.
• Monitor food quality, freshness, and inventory; replenish as needed.
• Support cafe, catering, and event operations for onsite and campus-wide service.
• Maintain compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health regulations.
• Clean and sanitize equipment and work areas; ensure FIFO and HACCP practices.
• Oversee kitchen staff and assign tasks; coordinate staffing needs and schedules.
• Perform duties to support The Lawrence Hall of Science, the 'ottoy Initiative, and 'ammatka Kitchen operations.

Skills

Food production

Food safety

Customer service

Team leadership

English communication

Driver's license

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

POS system

Job description

Located in the hills above the UC Berkeley campus, The Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley’s public science center, inspires and engages millions each year through science discovery and learning in ways that advance equity and opportunity. Located in the hills above the UC Berkeley campus, The Lawrence welcomes over 100,000 visitors per year to programs and events onsite and hundreds of thousands more in schools and community settings across Northern California. Our programs, products, and research impact youth, communities, educators, leaders and partners locally, nationally and globally. The Lawrence Hall of Science is the home of UC Berkeley’s ‘ottoy Initiative. The ‘ottoy Initiative aims to foster understanding of and respect for Ohlone people and culture and to repair and improve UC Berkeley’s relationship with the Ohlone community.

As the home of UC Berkeley’s ‘ottoy Initiative, The Lawrence Hall of Science offers multiple culinary experiences at The Lawrence and across the UC Berkeley campus designed to foster understanding of and respect for Ohlone people and culture. These experiences are all serviced by the ‘ammatka Kitchen, located at The Lawrence Hall of Science.

The Chef supports all aspects of food service operations for the ‘ammatka Kitchen at the Lawrence Hall of Science, which is the home of UC Berkeley’s ‘ottoy Initiative. This position prepares, cooks, and serves both made-to-order and grab-and-go food for the onsite cafe and other culinary offerings across the UC Berkeley campus. The Chef assists with food preparation, presentation, customer service, catering, point-of-sale transactions, and the cleaning and maintenance of facilities, equipment, and tableware.

This role is dedicated to fostering understanding of and respect for Ohlone people and culture through culinary experiences and is committed to creating inclusive work environments for diverse communities.

Responsibilities

Food Preparation, Production & Service

• Prepare, cook, and present menu items using a variety of cooking methods, including grilling, frying, baking, and oven production, in accordance with ‘ammatka Kitchen recipes and quality standards.
• Assist with menu production, food preparation, portioning, plating, and packaging to ensure consistent quality and presentation.
• Monitor food quality, freshness, and inventory levels; replenish products and supplies to meet customer demand.
• Support cafe, catering, and special event operations by preparing food for onsite and campus-wide service.
• Maintain compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and health regulations.
• Clean and sanitize kitchen equipment, food preparation areas, workstations, utensils, and service areas.
• Operate and maintain kitchen equipment, including ovens, grills, fryers, mixers, and steamers.
• Ensure proper handling, storage, labeling, and rotation of food products using FIFO and HACCP principles.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment and promptly report maintenance or safety concerns.

Customer Service & Culinary Operations

• Provide exceptional customer service and maintain a welcoming dining experience for guests and colleagues.
• Maintain knowledge of menu offerings, ingredients, allergens, and food preparation methods.
• Serve and present food using established portion-control and food-safety standards.
• Assist with transporting, delivering, and serving food at multiple campus locations and events.
• Be a public-facing voice for the kitchen; event presentations showcasing technique and ingredients used from traditional Ohlone recipes.
• Oversee kitchen staff and ensure all food service health, safety, nutritional, recipe, policies, and guidelines are adhered to at all times.
• Advise on and coordinate staffing needs and schedules; provide assignments to cooks.

Team Support & Professional Development

• Collaborate effectively with kitchen, cafe, and catering staff to support daily operations and special events.
• Participate in training and professional development opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of The Lawrence Hall of Science, the ‘ottoy Initiative, and ‘ammatka Kitchen operations.

Required Qualifications

• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of food and production.
• Verbal and written communication in the English language, active listening, dynamic flexibility, critical thinking, multi-task and time management.
• Decision-making, reasoning, ability to develop original ideas to solve problems, operations analysis, and quality control analysis.
• Basic computer application skills.
• Effective interpersonal and work leadership skills to provide guidance to all operational and technical personnel or new employees at this level.
• Ability to operate and maintain restaurant food service equipment.
• High school diploma or equivalent experience.
• Required to hold a valid driver’s license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a foodservice operation in a public-facing, cultural organization.
• Knowledge and/or experience related to using indigenous ingredients in food preparation.
• ServSafe or Good Service Handler Certification.
• TIPS Training.

Salary & Benefits

• For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California’sCompensation & Benefits website.
• Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
• The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $32.75 – $34.91.
• This is a non-exempt, bi-weekly paid position.
• This is a 1-year, full-time (40 hours/week) contract position eligible for UC benefits.