Cook's Helper (2 Positions, Part-Time, 18 hrs., Academic Year)

University of Rhode Island; Kingston (RI); On-site; USD 29,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Rhode Island is seeking two Cook's Helper positions for the Academic Year, part-time 18 hours weekly at Kingston campus. The role involves assisting cooks and bakers with food preparation, washing, and kitchen cleaning under supervision.

Posting includes $21.01–$22.41 hourly pay, with duties spanning food prep, dining service, and central processing plant support. A strong emphasis on following instructions and maintaining kitchen cleanliness is required.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with cooking or baking methods and food service procedures, plus cleaning of kitchen areas.
• Ability to understand and follow simple verbal or written directions.
• Careful handling, washing, drying and storing of cooking equipment and glassware.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience accepted.

Responsibilities

• Wash, peel, chop, dice, or grind vegetables, fruits, and other foods for cooking or salads.
• Prepare cereal, coffee, tea, and simple items; assemble diet trays as instructed.
• Wash dishes and operate dishwashing equipment; clean kitchen and dining areas.
• Assist in bakery tasks such as weighing ingredients, mixing dough, and moving bakeware; support central food processing tasks.

Skills

Cooking knowledge

Food service experience

Follow instructions

Safety and cleanliness

Education

Basic education

Experience in kitchen helper roles

Job description

Cook's Helper (2 Positions, Part-Time, 18 hrs., Academic Year)

Posting Number: CS02301

FTE:

FLSA:

Pay Rate: $21.01 - $22.41

Salary Range:

Pay Grade Level: Grade 309

Union: C94/L528 - Council 94/Local 528 (Serv/Maint)

Status: Academic Year, Permanent, Part-time

Department: Dining Central Operations

Campus Location: Kingston

Duties and Responsibilities

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: To work as a helper to a cook or baker by performing simple tasks in the preparation of foods and beverages (hot or cold) in a kitchen of a state institution; or, to perform food services duties in a dining room or cafeteria served by this kitchen; to work in the food preparation areas or to operate the pan and rack washing machine in the central food processing plant; or to perform those duties necessary to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen and related areas; and to do related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: To work under the close supervision of a superior from whom are received detailed and explicit instructions; work is reviewed for compliance with such instructions.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: As required, may supervise the work of patient or inmate help.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

As assigned to work as helper under the close supervision of a cook by performing such duties as: To wash, peel, chop, dice, or grind vegetables, fruits, and other foods for cooking or for salads; to do other simple work in food preparation such as: making toast, coffee, tea, chocolate; preparing cereal, cooking eggs; making sandwiches; stirring soup; boiling potatoes or other vegetables; to assemble diet trays and as instructed arranges food thereon to be served to patients; loads food onto food trucks or places food in receptacles in steam tables; to set up dining tables for service; and as required to serve food to persons in a cafeteria from steam tables; to collect trays, soiled dishes, cutlery, glassware, etc. after meals and to dispose (swill) of scrap or leftover foods; to wash dishes manually or in an automatic dishwashing machine and to wash cutlery and glassware and to put them in their designated places for reuse; to clean and wash food trucks, dishwashing machines; iceboxes, walk-in refrigerators and other kitchen equipment and utensils; to clean and wash down the kitchen cafeteria and related dining areas; and to do related work as required.

As assigned to work as a helper under the close supervision of a baker by performing such duties as: To assemble materials and to weigh, measure, and as instructed mix ingredients by hand or in an electric powered mixing machine; to roll dough, and fill pans with dough or batter; to place good to be baked in, and remove them from ovens; to perform such tasks as carrying materials to a baker or to machines, depositing ingredients in containers, greasing pans, lining pans with greased paper or other appropriate lining; to move racks or rack trucks of dough and/or batter, or baked goods to and from ovens; to clean bakery areas and related equipment and utensils; and to do related work as required.

As assigned to work in the central food processing plant by performing such duties as: to work as a helper to cooks, bakers and meat cutters in performing such tasks as assembling, portioning, packaging and transporting of materials, to operate a pan and rack washing machines; to wash pots and pans; to clean work areas and refrigerators; and to do related work as required.

Required Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND CAPACITIES:

A familiarity with the methods and procedures applied in the cooking or baking of food, and in food service and in cleaning of kitchen or bakery areas; the ability to understand and follow simple verbal or written directions; the ability to exercise care in the handling, washing, drying and storing of cooking or baking equipment, and glassware; and related capacities and abilities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATION: Sufficient to follow simple verbal directions; and

EXPERIENCE: Such as may have been gained through employment as a helper in a kitchen or bakery in a hospital, hotel or restaurant which required the performance of routine work in food preparation, food service and various tasks incidental to the preparation of food in a kitchen or bakery, and food service in a dining room or cafeteria.

OR- any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

None.

Posting Information

Posting Date: 09/08/2026

Closing Date: 09/17/2026

Additional Information

URI is unwavering in its commitment to equal opportunity, community, equity, and diversity. In furtherance of its mission to serve and support all learners as the state's public flagship university, URI continues to expand efforts to recruit and retain a broadly representative workforce as well as to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of those efforts.

All employment decisions, including hiring, are made without regard to protected status. Qualified individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting the URI benefits office at 401-874-2416. For TTY assistance, contact R.I. Relay Services at 711.

For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the search process may be subject to applicable bargaining unit procedures.

The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment criminal background report paid for by the University.

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