Cook 2 (Lead Cook)

Oregon State University; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 26,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meal perquisites

Job summary

Oregon State University, on the Corvallis campus, is hiring multiple Cook 2 (Lead Cook) positions for the UHDS dining operations. These are full-time, 12-month roles focused on coordinating food production, training staff, and delivering high‑quality meals with safety and sanitation at the forefront.

The department seeks individuals with two years of institutional cooking experience or an related associate’s degree, and a commitment to serving a diverse campus community.

Qualifications

• Two years cooking experience in an institution or commercial firm serving complete meals.
• Associate's degree in Food Service Management, Foods and Hospitality Service, or a directly‑related field.
• Experience with kitchen equipment including grills, fryers, knives, slicing machines, mixers, ovens and steam kettles.
• Knowledge of large quantity food preparation.
• Experience in safe and sanitary methods for food and beverage preparation, handling, and storage.
• Demonstrated ability to follow instructions and stay organized.
• Demonstrated passion for food service.
• Ability to work with a variety of individuals.
• Must possess a valid Food Handler’s certificate within 30 days of employment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate food production for a designated area and ensure appealing, nutritious meals.
• Prepare foods for special diets.
• Train students and staff on cooking methods and procedures.
• Provide leadership and model high standards of safety and sanitation.

Skills

Two years cooking experience

Safe and sanitary methods

Effective communication

Ability to train others

Lead and supervise team

Adaptability to changing demands

Education

Associate's degree in Food Service Management or related

Tools

Kitchen equipment operation (grills, fryers, knives, etc.)

Job description

Location

On-Campus Work

Corvallis (Main Campus)

Full time

End Date: October 9, 2026

Department

University Housing & Dining Services

Special Instructions to Applicants

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

• 1) A resume
• 2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.

Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For additional information please contact:

• Arwen Douglas
• [e-mail]
• 541-737-8804

Job Summary

University Housing and Dining Services is seeking to hire multiple Cook 2 positions (Lead Cooks). These are full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, classified positions.

The purpose of the Cook 2 position is to ensure that guests of UHDS dining operations receive an appealing, nutritious and satisfying meal. This position has responsibility for coordinating the food production for a designated area, preparing foods for special diets, maintaining adequate product, and training students and staff on cooking methods and procedures. This is done by providing leadership and role‑modeling on how to maintain high quality food and how to prepare menu items using solid cooking methods with a focus on safety and sanitation. This position is required to support the established professional standards, policies and procedures of the work unit, department, and university.

UHDS’s vision is to engage our students, enrich their lives and help them thrive. UHDS strives to provide students, faculty, staff, and guests with safe, economical, convenient, and comfortable living and dining options, and the department works to maintain the highest educational and service standards. On the Corvallis campus, UHDS houses 5,000 students and offers a variety of living and dining options in residence halls, student and family apartments, three dining centers, catering, a market, retail restaurants and coffee shop locations across campus. UHDS is an auxiliary enterprise and is funded solely by customers who use our services – we receive no State or General fund allocation. UHDS fosters an open, respectful and enjoyable living, learning and working environment.

UHDS staff members are expected to demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to providing excellent customer service. Creating inclusive, welcoming, and safe environments are core values of University Housing and Dining Services.

The UHDS Culinary Team is committed to providing an inspirational culinary experience through a food‑first philosophy: integrating nutrition, quality, and passion in food. This team is dedicated to sustainable practices, food innovation, and supportive work environments. Food is a voice to expressing these values along with educating students, staff, guests, and the OSU community.

This position is eligible for meal perquisites per the SEIU contract.

This position will adhere to all OSU and UHDS policies and procedures.

Learn more about University Housing & Dining Services: https://uhds.oregonstate.edu/

Key Responsibilities

• Maintains standards of safety and sanitation
• Food preparation
• Cost awareness
• Safety and sanitation
• Leadwork
• Collaboration
• Customer service
• Miscellaneous

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Two years of cooking experience in an institution or commercial firm serving complete meals; OR an Associate's degree in Food Service Management, Foods and Hospitality Service, or a directly‑related field.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Experience working with kitchen equipment including, but not limited to, grills, fryers, knives, slicing machines, mixers, ovens, and steam kettles.
• Knowledge of large quantity food preparation.
• Experience in safe and sanitary methods for food and beverage preparing, handling, and storage.
• Demonstrated ability to follow instructions and stay organized.
• Demonstrated passion for food and the food service industry.
• Ability to respond positively to changing work demands.
• Ability to work cooperatively with a variety of individuals.
• Professional and effective oral and non‑verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to work shift on feet and perform frequent arm movements.
• Demonstrable ability to work with and/or lead diverse groups of employees.
• Requires a valid Food Handler’s certificate within 30 days of employment. Must maintain certification throughout service with UHDS.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a lead worker, including training and directing employees.
• Experience in a retail food environment.
• Experience providing good customer service.
• Demonstrated knowledge of food allergens and special dietary needs.
• Experience in exhibition cooking.
• Experience in various global cuisines.
• Experience working in a team‑based environment.

Working Conditions/Schedule

Working Conditions

• This a physically active job in a kitchen environment. Incumbent will experience long periods of standing on a hard floor; working with commercial kitchen institutional equipment; and fluctuations in work flow, temperature, and noise level.
• Must be able to work shift on your feet and perform frequent arm movements.
• The employee in this position will often be required to lift or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds, and push or pull carts weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Will require work in areas that prepare and handle raw meat, as well as most common food allergens, including gluten.
• OSU is a 100% tobacco‑free campus.
• Flexibility in work shifts is necessary. Shift and/or work assignment may be changed based on operational needs. Because we are responsible to provide all meals for the student residents, we are a seven‑day‑a‑week operation, and early morning, evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required.
• Good attendance is crucial for stability and day‑to‑day business needs. Must follow attendance schedule and break schedules, and must be on time and in uniform when shift begins.
• This position is deemed essential; and the incumbent is expected to report to work during inclement weather, emergency and other University work curtailments or closures.
• This position will potentially serve as a back‑up person for the delivery of food and beverage items into access‑secured residence halls, where there may be minors present; and /or this position may need to regularly access storage areas in a residence hall without an escort. These security‑sensitive tasks will require passing a criminal history check (CHC).

Salary Range

$19.36 - $28.75

Anticipated Start Date

2026-10-09

Anticipated End Date

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job‑related pre‑employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks (https://hr.oregonstate.edu/careers/background-checks) website including the for candidates (https://hr.oregonstate.edu/careers/candidates) section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre‑employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [e-mail] .