Cook Associate (Full Time)

King's Daughters; Ashland, Northern (KY, KY); Hybrid; USD 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

UK King's Daughters in Ashland, KY is seeking a dedicated kitchen worker to prepare, season, and plate meals for patients, staff, and visitors. The role supports trayline and cafeteria operations while upholding safety and sanitary standards.

You will follow recipes, monitor temperatures, and assist with inventory and scheduling to ensure timely, appetizing meals. Prior healthcare food service experience is helpful but not required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 0–2 years in healthcare, clinical, or related food service preferred.
• Paid, relevant experience counted; internships not included.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, portion, and plate meals for patients, staff, and visitors.
• Support trayline, cafeteria, and catering operations with timely service.
• Maintain safe food handling, sanitation, and temperature records.
• Assist with inventory, menu planning, and helping train new staff.

Skills

Food preparation

Sanitation & safety

Equipment operation

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Kitchen equipment

Job description

At UK King's Daughters, we’re not just a healthcare facility - we’re a family of dedicated professionals who share a passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients. We’re more than just a place to work; we’re a place to grow, thrive, and contribute to our community.

Job Summary

Responsible for preparing, seasoning, and cooking meals for hospital patients, employees, and visitors. Works on the patient trayline and ensures proper food handling and sanitation standards are maintained. Supports food preparation for the cafeteria, and catered events, ensuring quality and safety in all food service operations.

Essential Functions

• Prepares, portions, and plates food for patient, cafeteria, and catering, following recipes and menu cycles.
• Ensures food items are delivered accurately and in a timely manner to designated areas, supporting trayline and cafeteria operations.
• Handles and stores food according to established safety regulations, maintains a clean and orderly work area, and follows safe food-handling procedures.
• Operates, cleans, and maintains kitchen equipment and utensils according to safety and manufacturer guidelines.
• Monitors food quality, portion sizes, and presentation, ensuring meals meet dietary requirements and standards for palatability and appearance.
• Reviews menus and production schedules to determine food quantities, plans cooking schedules, and prepares foods to be ready at specified times.
• Maintains inventory of food and supplies, prepares menu tallies, and updates forecasts as needed.
• Assists kitchen staff, provides training to new employees, and functions as a team member to ensure smooth operations.
• Documents and monitors food and equipment temperatures, maintains records, and ensures compliance with health department standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education Requirement

High school diploma or equivalent experience

Experience Requirement

0-2 years of experience in a healthcare, clinical setting, or a relevant area. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. All experience must be paid and in the same related field. Part-time and PRN experience will be prorated based on hours worked per week. Volunteer work and internships for academic credit are not counted.

Certifications & Licensures

N/A

Working Conditions

• A. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects up to 50lbs: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
• B. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects over 50lbs: 2. Occasional (< 10% of the time)
• C. Standing or walking with objects up to 10lbs: 4. Regular (> 50% of the time)
• D. Standing or walking with objects up to 25lbs: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
• E. Sitting at computer workstation for extended periods: 1. Never
• F. Risk of back injury from moving, lifting or positioning patients, equipment, or materials: 2. Occasional (< 10% of the time)
• G. Repetitive motion: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
• H. Working at heights above 4 feet: 1. Never
• I. Working in confined spaces: 1. Never
• J. Risk of injuries from use of equipment on the job: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
• K. Job-related travel: 1. Never
• L. Loud noises: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
• M. Temperature extremes: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
• N. Hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste: 2. Occasional (< 10% of the time)
• O. Radiation: 1. Never
• P. Burns: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
• Q. Cuts/Punctures: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
• R. Bloodborne/airborne pathogens: 1. Never
• S. Recombinant DNA or viral vectors: 1. Never
• T. Combative/violent people: 1. Never
• U. Animal handling (including carcasses): 1. Never
• V. Please specify other(s) and amount of exposure (i.e. Occasional, Intermittent or Regular): N/A

Physical Demands

This position requires regular standing or walking with objects weighing up to 10 pounds; intermittent standing or walking with objects weighing up to 25 pounds; intermittent lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects weighing up to 50 pounds; and occasional lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects over 50 pounds. Also involves intermittent repetitive motion (such as chopping or stirring); intermittent exposure to risk of injuries from use of equipment on the job; intermittent exposure to loud noises, temperature extremes, burns, and cuts/punctures; and occasional exposure to hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste, and risk of back injury from moving, lifting, or positioning equipment or materials.

Additional Job Descriptions

N/A

Department: Food Services (Kingsbrook)

Shift: Flex (United States of America)

Time Type: Full time

Address: 2500 State Rt 5 City, State: Ashland, Kentucky

Our growth is creating opportunities! Our team is expanding, and we want to hire the most talented people we can. Continued success depends on it!

Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that's unique about us: our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it's our people.

Our employees are self-disciplined, hard working, curious, trustworthy, humble, and truthful.