Culinary Associate

The Wonderful Company LLC; Shafter (CA); On-site; USD 30,307 - 31,684; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career advancement opportunities

Focused learning and development

Empowering mentorship program

Job summary

A leading food service provider in Shafter, CA is seeking a Culinary Associate to join their dynamic team. This role combines skilled cooking with direct customer interaction, ensuring high-quality food preparation and a positive guest experience. The ideal candidate has over 4 years of restaurant experience in both cooking and customer service. This position offers full-time hours and a supportive work environment focused on employee well-being.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4+ years of restaurant experience, including cooking on the line.
• Prior experience in both customer service and food preparation required.
• Ability to operate heavy kitchen equipment safely and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook menu items to order, ensuring quality and consistency.
• Fulfill customer orders promptly and accurately.
• Monitor inventory levels and communicate shortages or needs to leadership.

Skills

Cooking methods

Customer service

Teamwork

Inventory management

Food safety

Education

4+ years of restaurant experience

Tools

Kitchen equipment

Job description

Culinary Associate|The Wonderful Company# Culinary AssociateThe Wonderful Company | Shafter, CA | Hospitality/Food Service | Entry Level | Full-time | Job ID: REF7231BShare* Email## Company DescriptionThe Wonderful Company is committed to offering high-quality, healthy, and iconic brands such as Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, FIJI Water, and POM Wonderful. We’re looking to make the world a healthier place through an uncompromising commitment to the well-being of our employees and their families. We foster a collaborative workforce that encourages an entrepreneurial spirit and openness to change.La Cocina is The Wonderful Company’s new café located within the Wonderful Logistics Center, catering to the culinary needs of the company’s employees as well as neighboring tenants in the area as well as patrons from the surrounding community. We are committed to providing delicious food, efficient service, and a welcoming atmosphere to enhance the daily experience.The Culinary Associate, Level 3, is a highly versatile and experienced team member responsible for performing skilled cooking duties while also providing direct support to customers. This role combines the traditional back-of-house (BOH) responsibilities of a line cook with the front-of-house (FOH) duties of customer service and order fulfillment. This role ensures high-quality food preparation and presentation while delivering a positive, seamless customer experience in a fast-paced environment## Job DescriptionCooking & Food Preparation* Prepare and cook menu items to order, ensuring quality, consistency, and timely service.* Operate kitchen equipment and cooking stations (grill, sauté, oven, etc.) safely and effectively.* Set up and maintain line stations with prepared ingredients, supplies, and equipment.* Follow recipes, portioning, and presentation standards to uphold menu consistency.* Monitor food quality, taste, and appearance before service.* Ensure all dishes meet the company's high standards for taste, temperature, portion size, and presentation.* Support Grab & Go preparation, labeling, rotation, and stocking.Customer Service & Order Fulfillment* Fulfill customer orders promptly and accurately.* Greet customers with a friendly, enthusiastic, and positive attitude—always with a smile—creating a welcoming environment that encourages repeat visits.* Communicate and engage with customers to answer questions about menu items, specials, or modifications.Organization & Inventory* Monitor inventory levels and communicate shortages or needs to leadership.* Assist with receiving, storing, and rotating food and supply deliveries.* Assist with monitoring inventory levels, restocking supplies, and rotating stock to ensure freshness.* Maintain cleanliness and organization of the line, workstations, and FOH/BOH shared areas.Teamwork & Compliance* Work cooperatively with team members, anticipating needs to ensure smooth operations.* Support additional back-of-house duties as needed, including food prep and workstation setup.* Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.* Support tasks assigned by Culinary Leads and Supervisors to successfully operate Wonderful La Cocina Restaurant.## Qualifications* Minimum 4+ years of restaurant experience, including cooking on the line.* Prior experience in both customer service and food preparation required.* Ability to operate heavy kitchen equipment safely and effectively.* Strong work ethic and reliability.* Ability to stand for extended periods, bend, lift, and carry up to 50 lbs.* Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment and remain proactive and productive during slower periods.* Flexibility to adapt to changing tasks and priorities.* Exceptional customer service and teamwork skills required.* Demonstrated understanding of cooking methods, ingredients, and food preparation techniques.* In-depth knowledge of restaurant best practices and cooking methods.* Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.* Customer service mindset with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.* Organizational skills to manage work area and maintain station readiness.* Proficiency with kitchen equipment, food safety, and sanitation standards.* Positive, team-oriented attitude with willingness to support both FOH and BOH needs.* Ability to adapt quickly to changing demands and remain calm under pressure.* Reliability, consistency, and a positive, can-do attitude.Pay Range: $22.00 - $23.00 per hour. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.Headquartered in Los Angeles, The Wonderful Company is a privately held $6 billion company dedicated to harvesting health around the world through its iconic consumer brands. The company’s 10,000 employees worldwide are committed to bringing consumers everywhere the freshest, most wholesome pistachios, citrus and pomegranates; bottling the finest water and wines; and creating colorful bouquets that are sure to touch the heart. This commitment is reflected in the company’s market share: Wonderful Pistachios(R) is America’s No. 1 tree nut and America’s fastest-growing snack; Wonderful(R) Halos(R) is the No. 1 mandarin orange in America; POM Wonderful(R) is the No. 1 100% pomegranate brand in America; FIJI(R) Water is America’s No. 1 premium imported bottled water brand; JUSTIN(R) Wine has the No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon in California; and Teleflora(R) is the world’s leading floral delivery service.The Wonderful Company’s connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back at its core. The company has a long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, including more than $1 billion invested in environmental sustainability; $65 million in charitable giving, education initiatives, and innovative health and wellness programs each year; and $143 million toward the construction of two charter school campuses in California’s Central Valley. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit www.wonderful.com/csr.To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products and its core values, visit www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.The Wonderful Company is an Equality Opportunity Employer that provides opportunities for advancement. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce that embodies a deep culture of acceptance, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories.EEO is the law -* **Career Advancement Opportunities:** Unlock your potential with clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units.* **Focused Learning and Development:** Grow as a leader with our dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses.* **Empowering Mentorship Program:** Connect with colleagues through our company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive your career forward.* **Continuous Improvement Training:** Participate in training that empowers all employees to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace.* **Building a Healthy Society:**To date, our co-Founders Lynda and Stewart Resnick, through their foundations and The Wonderful Company, have invested more than $2.5 billion in education, health and wellness, community development, and sustainability initiatives across California’s Central Valley, Fiji, and the world. In 2025, Wonderful ranked as #1 in PEOPLE’s “100 Companies That Care” list and was named one of Fortune