Cook

careers-ucfs; Oxford (MS); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service is seeking a Kitchen Member to join our team in Oxford, MS. Responsibilities include setting up stations, preparing ingredients, and presenting dishes with care. You will help serve clients and support events while upholding sanitation standards.

The role emphasizes teamwork, strong communication, and adaptability in a busy kitchen environment. Prior food service experience is preferred, with certification in food safety or the willingness to obtain one within 30 days.

Qualifications

• 2+ years food service experience preferred.
• Experience with bulk food prep and production in a commercial kitchen setting.
• Ability to pass a background check.
• Have a valid food safety handler and sanitation certification or obtain one within 30 days of employment.
• High school or vocational school coursework in kitchen basics, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Set up workstations to prepare food and ingredients for cooking.
• Ensure great presentation by dressing dishes before they are served.
• Apportion and serve food to clients.
• Enforce sanitation and food safety standards per state and local regulations.
• Maintain a professional and positive attitude with coworkers and customers.
• Assist in planning and executing special events as directed by management.
• Help with unloading, inspecting, and storing raw ingredients and supplies.
• Communicate regularly with management via calls, emails, and texts.

Skills

Team collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Verbal & written communication

Food handling knowledge

Industry best practices

Education

Food safety certification

High school diploma or equivalent

Background check clearance

Bulk prep experience

Kitchen basics coursework

Job description

Proudly serving Sororities and Fraternities, Upper Crust Food Service is known for freshness, quality, variety, and excellent customer service. Upper Crust Food Service began with a vision to solve a problem that many Fraternity and Sorority houses face. That problem is a lack of consistency and professionalism in the kitchen. With a focus on great food and personal service, we’ve remained true to our roots. Today, the chefs of Upper Crust Food Service prepare tens of thousands of meals weekly for students across the country.

Cooks are responsible for setting up workstations and preparing ingredients for cooking, including chopping vegetables and cutting meat. They ensure great presentation by dressing dishes before serving the client. Additionally, they assist with fostering a positive atmosphere with coworkers and customers.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Set up workstations to prepare food and ingredients to use for cooking
• Ensure great presentation by dressing dishes before they are served
• Apportion and serve food to clients
• Enforce sanitation and food safety standards per state and local regulations.
• Maintain a professional and positive attitude with coworkers and customers.
• Assist in planning and executing special events as directed by management.
• Help with unloading, inspecting, and storing of raw ingredients and supplies.
• Communicate regularly with management via calls, emails, and texts.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work well as part of a team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with a variety of personalities and under pressure.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of or the ability to learn food handling techniques, preparation, and cooking procedures.
• Be familiar with the industry's best practices

Preferred Education and Experience

• 2+ years food service skills or related experience preferred.
• Have experience with bulk food prep and production in a commercial kitchen setting.
• Ability to pass a background check
• Have a valid food safety handler and sanitation certification in accordance with state and local regulations or obtain one within 30 days of employment
• High school or vocational school coursework in kitchen basics such as food safety, preferred.

Special Demands

• The work environment can be loud and busy. There are many kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and liquids, sharp knives, and slippery floors.
• Capability to work in a kitchen environment that may involve exposure to extreme heat or cold.
• Required to stand for long periods, up to 8+ hours, as well as walk, bend and stoop.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals

Upper Crust Food Service provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.