Cook's Helper (9mon, 1st)

Michigan Technological University; Houghton (MI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking a Cook's Helper in the Wadsworth Hall Food Service to support dining operations by assisting cooks in proper preparation and coordinating production of menu items. This position ensures services align with the department's mission and serves faculty, staff, students, and guests.

The role emphasizes teamwork, excellent communication, safety-conscious food handling, and the ability to train new staff while handling standard kitchen duties in a 1st shift

Qualifications

• High school diploma and culinary training or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of customer service experience.
• Two years experience with food production in high-volume operation; Cook's Helper training can suffice.
• SERV Safe Certification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate food production with cooks.
• Perform cooking techniques such as baking, sauteing, grilling, frying, braising, simmering and stewing.
• Perform proper knife techniques.
• Assist cooks in developing and modifying recipes with approval from dining service management.
• Read, interpret and quantify recipes to meet production needs.
• Practice safe food handling per health regulations and dining services policies.
• Maintain food production records.
• Assist in training new regular and student employees.
• Garnish food and operate all dining service equipment.

Skills

Customer service

Cooking

Knife skills

Recipe interpretation

Food safety

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma and culinary training

SERV Safe Certification (desirable)

Job description

Sub Department: Wadsworth Hall Food Service

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area's waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

Cook's Helpers at Michigan Technological University will provide support to dining service operations by assisting cooks in the proper preparation and help coordinate production of all menu items assigned by management with staff. This position will work to ensure that services are consistent with the mission and goals of the department and the university. This position will provide service excellence faculty, staff, students and guests.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

1. Plan and coordinate food production with cooks.
2. Perform proper cooking techniques such as baking, sauteing, grilling, frying, braising, simmering and stewing.
3. Perform proper knife techniques.
4. Assists cooks in developing and modifying recipes with approval from dining service management.
5. Read, interpret and quantify recipes as needed to meet production needs.
6. Practice safe food handling procedures in accordance with health department regulations and dining services' policies and procedures.
7. Maintain food production records.
8. Assists in the training and instructing new regular and student employees.
9. Properly garnish food.
10. Properly operate all equipment within dining services.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High school diploma and culinary training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.

Required Experience

• Two years of customer service experience.
• 2 years experience with food production and cooking in a high volume food service operation and or successfully completed Cook's Helper training program.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• SERV Safe Certified

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal, customer service and written/oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate and solve complex problems.
• Demonstrated ability to independently organize and prioritize work assignments in a complex work environment.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret recipes relative to quantity, consistency, and composition of all menu items assigned to the department.
• Demonstrate knowledge of food products.
• Demonstrate the ability and knowledge to properly quantify recipes.
• Demonstrate the ability and knowledge of product yields and cook shrinkage.
• Demonstrate the ability and knowledge to use proper cooking techniques.
• Demonstrate the ability and knowledge to use proper knife techniques.
• Demonstrate the ability and knowledge of meat fabrication.
• Knowledge of safe food handling procedures and storage practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with frequent and multiple interruptions.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and detailed-oriented in a changing environment.
• Ability to understand and carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with people in varying situations and in all areas assigned.
• Ability to effectively present information in one -on -one situation to staff and customers.
• Ability to regularly lift 50 pounds of weight and occasionally lifting up to 100 pounds of weight.
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment.
• Demonstrate the ability and commitment to engage in continuous improvement practices.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to very loud
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus
While performing the duties of this job, the employee works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; work in high, precarious places, is exposed to fumes or airborne particles, and extreme heat and cold.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Employee Safety Overview
Annual Data Security Training
Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
Annual Title IX Training
Additional training will be required by the department on a periodic basis.
Background Check: Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

1.0

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Appointment Term

9 months

Shift

1st Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Contractual. External candidates will receive the minimum amount ($18.22/hr).

Title of Position Supervisor

Director of Dining

Posting Type

Internal & External

Dependent on Funding

No

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

AFSCME Posting 10/08/2026 - 10/15/2026
External applicants are encouraged to apply, however internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates.

Other Conditions of Employment

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech's hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or [e-mail].