Culinary Associate III

The Wonderful Company LLC; Shafter (CA); On-site; USD 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k with match

Career advancement opportunities

Mentorship program

Wellness benefits

Job summary

The Wonderful Company LLC is seeking a versatile Culinary Associate (Level 3) for La Cocina in Shafter, CA. This role blends back-of-house cooking with front-of-house service to ensure quality meals and a positive guest experience in a fast-paced setting.

Typical schedule is Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM–5:30 PM. Candidates should have 4+ years restaurant experience, ServSafe/food handler certification, and a customer-service mindset to support both kitchen operations and guest service.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4+ years of restaurant experience, including line cooking.
• Demonstrated understanding of cooking methods and food prep techniques.
• Customer service mindset with strong teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Cook menu items to order with quality, consistency, and timely service.
• Operate kitchen stations and equipment safely throughout shifts.
• Greet and assist customers; fulfill Grab & Go orders accurately.
• Maintain clean, organized BOH/FOH areas and assist with stock rotation.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Multitasking

Communication

Food quality standards

Education

Food Handler Card or ServSafe

Tools

Kitchen equipment operation

Job description

The Wonderful Company is committed to providing high-quality, healthy, and iconicbrands,includingFIJI Water, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halosand helping improve the lives of the people who live and work in the places where weoperate. Ranked No. 1 on the 2025 PEOPLE® Companies That Care list and one of Fortune® magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in the U.S., The Wonderful Company is continually recognized for its dedication to the well-being of its workforce, their communities, and the planet.

We’re growing La Cocina into a must-visit restaurant for locals and the surrounding community—known for fresh, healthy, and crave-worthy meals. La Cocina is seeking a versatile and experiencedCulinary Associate (Level 3)to support both kitchen operations and guest service. This role combines traditional back-of-house (BOH) cooking responsibilities with front-of-house (FOH) customer service and order fulfillment duties. This role ensures high-quality food preparation and presentation while delivering a positive, seamless customer experience in a fast-paced environment.

Location & Schedule: This position is based in Shafter, CA, with a typical schedule of Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM–5:30 PM. Flexibility is required to accommodate business needs and scheduling coverage.

Job Description

Cooking & 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.
• 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.
• 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 of 4+ years of restaurantexperience, including cooking on the line
• Valid Food Handler Card or ServSafe certification required, or ability to obtain within the first 60 days of employment
• Demonstrated understanding of cooking methods, ingredients, and food preparation techniques
• In-depth knowledge of restaurant best practices and cooking methods
• Prior experience in both customer service and food preparation required
• Exceptional customer service and teamwork skills required
• Ability to operate heavy kitchen equipment safely and effectively
• 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
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Flexibility to adapt to changing tasks and priorities
• 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
• Strong work ethic and reliability
• Reliability, consistency, and a positive, can-do attitude

Pay Range: $21.00 - $23.00 an hour. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

Additional Information

• Thriving Wellness Community: Access to top-notch medical coverage comprehensive vision and dental plans, and a 401k with match eligibility to secure your financial future and including:
  • 24/7 online physician consultations
  • virtual mental health resources
  • life coaching
  • engaging employee community groups
  • cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements
  • library of on-demand fitness videos
• 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 magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more about our corporate social responsibility efforts, visit csr.wonderful.com .
• Giving Back to the Community: Make a difference with Wonderful Giving , allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice, and join Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities.

The Wonderful Company is a privately held$6 billionglobal company headquartered in Los Angeles, with more than10,000 employeesworldwide. Founded by Lynda and Stewart Resnick, Wonderful produces some of the world’s most recognized healthy food and beverage brands, including FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, Teleflora, and JUSTIN, Lewis Cellars, and Landmark wines.

The company alsooperatesNeptune Pacific, a shipping and supply chain company serving the Pacific, and Wonderful Real Estate, which develops and manages industrial properties in California’s Central Valley. To date, the Resnicks, along with their foundations and The Wonderful Company, have committed more than$2.5 billionto philanthropy and community investment primarily where its employees live and work. Wonderful is regularly named one of Fortune’s“100 Best Companies to Work For”and ranked No. 1 on PEOPLE magazine’s Companies That Care list.

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.