Cook - SE Portland

Elephants-Delicatessen; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 28,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Elephants Delicatessen in Portland, OR is seeking a dynamic Cook to join our Production Kitchen team. The Cook is responsible for preparing high-quality items while following recipes, safety standards, and production schedules.

You may work across Soup, Prep, Hot Production and other kitchen areas as needed. This role suits someone who thrives in a fast-paced production environment, takes pride in consistent quality, and enjoys teamwork focused on continuous improvement and operational

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of commercial kitchen or high-volume food service experience.
• Experience in large-batch food preparation.
• Ability to follow standardized recipes and food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Produce all food precisely according to Elephants' recipes.
• Scale recipes to meet daily production needs.
• Maintain consistent quality in taste, presentation, portioning, and labeling.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, storage, and temperature control standards.
• Safely operate kitchen equipment and report malfunctions.
• Maintain a clean and orderly work area.
• Support inventory rotation, stocking, and waste reduction efforts.
• Work across multiple production departments as assigned.
• Complete required production records, including time and temperature logs.
• Follow allergen-control and food safety procedures.
• Assist with sanitation and end-of-shift cleaning responsibilities.
• Communicate production priorities and needs clearly with supervisors and team members
• Participate in required training

Skills

Strong communication skills

Teamwork

Organizational skills

Recipe measurement & scaling

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Description

Salary: $20 - $21/hour

FLSA Status: Hourly Non-Exempt

Schedule: Full Time | Schedule to be determined

*Flexibility required, including early mornings, weekends, holidays, and peak-season hours.

Required: Current Oregon Food Handler's Card

Location & Transportation: Elephants Central Kitchen is located at 1611 SE 7th Ave. Reliable transportation is required. Due to our location, dependable transportation to and from our store is essential.

About Elephants

A locally owned company since 1979, Elephants Delicatessen pioneered the gourmet food industry in the Pacific Northwest and now operates seven Portland-metro retail locations and a thriving catering company. As a certified B Corporation, we are committed to sustainability, transparency, and using business as a force for good — while serving exceptional, scratch-made food rooted in our local community.

Elephants Delicatessen is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion.

What We Offer

• Employer contributed vacation and sick time
• Kaiser Medical coverage, with alternative care as a bonus (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, etc.)
• Mental Health Services
• Dental, FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts), and 401(k) with 4% company match
• Training that will fast-track your culinary/hospitality career
• Free counseling and financial services
• Opportunities for advancement
• Discounts on our delicious made-from-scratch food
• Pet insurance
• Chance to win employee raffles
• Discounts at Sketchers, Shoes for Crews, Verizon, Sprint, select B Corporations, and many more
• A commitment to inclusion, diversity, community involvement, employee well-being, and environmental protection

Elephants Delicatessen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Elephants Delicatessen participates in the E- Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Please see the following notices for more information: E-Verify Participation Poster (English/Spanish) Right to Work Poster (English/Spanish)

Requirements

About the Role

We are seeking a dynamic and dependable Cook to join our Production Kitchen team. The Cook is responsible for preparing and producing high-quality food items while following standardized recipes, food safety standards, and production schedules. Cooks may be assigned to and work across multiple production departments, including Soup, Prep, Hot Production, and other kitchen areas based on operational needs and production priorities.

This position is a great fit for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced production environment, takes pride in producing exceptional food, and thrives as part of a team committed to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

What You’ll Do

• Produce all food precisely according to Elephant's recipes ??
• Scale recipes to meet daily production needs?
• Maintain consistent quality in taste, presentation, portioning, and labeling?
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, storage, and temperature control standards?
• Safely operate kitchen equipment and report any malfunctions?
• Maintain a clean and orderly work area ?
• Support inventory rotation, stocking, and waste reduction efforts?
• Work across multiple production departments as assigned.
• Complete required production records, including time and temperature logs.
• Follow allergen-control and food safety procedures.
• Assist with sanitation and end-of-shift cleaning responsibilities.
• Communicate production priorities and needs clearly with supervisors and team members
• Participate in required training

What We’re Looking For

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)
• Minimum of 2 years of commercial kitchen, food production, or high-volume food service experience
• Experience preparing large-batchs
• Strong communication and organization skills
• Ability to accurately measure, weigh, and scale recipes
• Strong communication, teamwork, and organizational skills
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for extended periods
• Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment

If you love building strong teams, holding high standards, and creating memorable guest experiences, we’d love to meet you!?