Cook's Helper (Full-Time, 40 hrs., Academic Year)

University of Rhode Island; Kingston (RI); On-site; USD 34,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition waiver

Paid time off

Public holidays

Retirement plan

Job summary

University of Rhode Island is seeking a Cook's Helper for the academic year. The role involves assisting cooks and bakers in food preparation, maintaining cleanliness of kitchen areas, and serving meals in a hospital-style setting on campus in Kingston, RI.

The position runs full-time for 40 hours per week during the academic year, with a shift schedule and benefits. Training and supervision are provided by kitchen staff and supervisors in Dining Central Operations.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with cooking or baking methods and basic food service
• Ability to follow simple verbal or written instructions
• Careful handling and washing of kitchen equipment and glassware

Responsibilities

• Wash, peel, chop, dice, or grind vegetables and foods for cooking or salads.
• Set up dining tables and serve foods from steam tables to patients.
• Clean and wash kitchen equipment, trucks, walk-in refrigerators and related areas

Skills

Food prep

Kitchen cleanliness

Follow directions

Job description

Position Information

Posting Number CS02319

Job Title Cook's Helper (Full-Time, 40 hrs., Academic Year)

Position Number 215 FTE FLSA

Pay Rate Salary Range $33,619 - $35,865 (ACADEMIC YEAR SALARY) PLUS (There is an ADDITIONAL $3,200 annually for shift differential)

Pay Grade Level Grade 309

Position Type Classified Civil Service Staff Union C94/L528 - Council 94/Local 528 (Serv/Maint)

Status Academic Year, Full-time, Limited Restriction or Limitation Reason Leave to Protect Status End Date of Restriction or Limitation

Leave to Protect Status: 4/3/2027

Department Information

Department Dining Central Operations Contact(s)

Sean Nelson

Specialist, Talent Acquisition

Office of Human Resources

80 Lower College Road

Kingston, RI 02881

Contact Phone/Extension Contact Email [e-mail]

Physical Demands

At the time of appointment must be physically qualified to perform assigned duties as evidenced by a physician’s certificate.

Campus Location

Hope Commons (all areas)

Grant Funded Extension Contingent on Funding Date Extension Contingency Notes 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

Preferred Qualifications Environmental Conditions

This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Work Hours

• Wednesday & Thursday – 11:30 am to 10:00 pm
• Friday & Saturday – 1:30 pm to 12:00 am
• Work hours and days off will vary during the month of August, J-Term, and Spring Break period
• Academic year dates are 08/09/26 through 05/15/27

Posting Information

Posting Date 10/13/2026 Closing Date 10/22/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants

Full-Time, 40 hrs., Academic Year

A generous benefits package including a tuition waiver for CCRI, RIC, and URI for the successful candidate, spouse, and dependents (if applicable) based on current education. paid time off, paid state holidays, and a mandatory retirement plan are also available in addition to many other types of benefits.

To Learn More About The Benefits Package, Please Visit

https://www.exploreemployeebenefits.ri.gov/

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.