Chef (5230U) The Lawrence Hall of Science, #88116

University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Berkeley is seeking a Chef for The Lawrence Hall of Science’s ’ammatka Kitchen. The role supports all food service operations, prepares and serves items for the onsite cafe and campus events, and promotes inclusive, respectful culinary experiences centered on Ohlone culture.

The position handles food preparation, customer service, catering, POS transactions, and maintains facilities and equipment.

Qualifications

• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of food and production.
• Verbal and written communication in English.
• Decision‑making and problem solving.
• Basic computer application skills.
• Leadership and guiding kitchen staff.
• Ability to operate and maintain restaurant equipment.

Responsibilities

• Food Preparation, Production & Service: prepare, cook, and present menu items using various methods and follow recipes.
• Sanitation, Food Safety & Kitchen Maintenance: maintain compliance with health regulations and keep areas clean.
• Customer Service & Culinary Operations: provide excellent service and maintain knowledge of menus and allergens.
• Oversees kitchen staff and ensures health, safety, nutrition, and policies are followed.
• Advising and coordination of staffing needs and schedules, assigning cooks.
• Team Support & Professional Development: collaborate with staff and participate in training.

Skills

Food production

English communication

Decision making

Leadership

Equipment operation

Education

High school diploma

Tools

ServSafe Certification

TIPS Training

Job description

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full‑time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.

Learn more about some of our accomplishments at Points of Pride.

Departmental Overview

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.

Position Summary

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 café 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.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 8/31/2026

Responsibilities

Food Preparation, Production & Service - 35%

• 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 café, catering, and special event operations by preparing food for onsite and campus‑wide service.

Sanitation, Food Safety & Kitchen Maintenance - 25%

• 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 - 20%

• 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.

10%

• Oversees kitchen staff and ensures all food service health, safety, nutritional, recipe, policies, and guidelines are adhered to at all times.

5%

• Advising and coordination of staffing needs and schedules. Provides assignments to cooks.

Team Support & Professional Development - 5%

• Collaborate effectively with kitchen, café, 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a foodservice operation in public‑facing, cultural organization.
• Knowledge and/or experience related to using indigenous ingredients in food preparation.
• Experience in large volume production.

Education / Training

• High school diploma or equivalent experience.

Licenses / Certifications

• ServSafe or Good Service Handler Certification (Preferred)
• TIPS Training (Preferred)

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & 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 an 1‑year, full‑time (40 hours/week) contract position eligible for UC benefits.

Driving Required

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.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H‑1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

“Misconduct” Means Any Violation Of The Policies Or Laws Governing Conduct At The Applicant’s Previous Place Of Employment, Including, But Not Limited To, Violations Of Policies Or Laws Prohibiting Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Or Other Forms Of Harassment, Discrimination, Dishonesty, Or Unethical Conduct, As Defined By The Employer. For Reference, Below Are UC’s Policies Addressing Some Forms Of Misconduct

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.