Culinary Worker II- Continuous Post (2026)

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; Carbondale (IL); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale is hiring for a food service position represented by AFSCME Local 878. The role involves routine kitchen tasks, food preparation, and serving duties under supervision.

Residency in Illinois is required, and duties include training student assistants and maintaining food service areas. The starting wage is listed above and the position emphasizes preparing food, assisting in menu planning, and ensuring safe, clean service areas.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Six (6) months of work experience in food preparation in a commercial setting.
• Possession of Illinois Department of Public Health, Food Handler Training Certification as required by the position.

Responsibilities

• Prepares or assists in the preparation of food items, including cleaning, dicing, and peeling vegetables, weighing and mixing ingredients.
• Performs simple cooking and beverage preparation tasks, makes short order items and assists in baking bread/pastries.
• Prepares and serves food, portions, serves and wraps, or plates items for service to patrons.
• Places food trays on warmers or into refrigerated storage, cleans and sanitizes work areas, stores food properly, and assists in training staff or student workers.
• Completes basic recordkeeping functions and performs duties consistent with the level of the series.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Food preparation experience

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Description

The starting wage for this position is listed above. This position is represented by AFSCME Local #878. For more information regarding salary and other details please visit https://laborrelations.siu.edu/labor-contracts/

These employees perform routine and repetitive kitchen tasks such as simple food preparations before cooking or serving raw food; compiling and preparing ingredients before cooking, setting tables, serving food, and cleaning up food service equipment and areas. They work under the direct supervision of a designated supervisor.

Examples of Duties

• prepares or assists in the preparation of food items, includingsuch tasks as cleaning, dicing, and peeling vegetables, andweighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients;


• performs simple cooking, grilling, and food preparation, such asboiling eggs, making toast, and making coffee; preparing/cookingshort order items such as hot cereals, eggs, sausage, bacon, etc.;grilling, such as for hamburgers, hot dogs, or chicken; andassisting in mixing, kneading, panning, and bakingbread/pastries;


• prepares and assists in serving of food as required. Portions,serves and wraps the food, or places it directly on plates forservice to patrons, such as cutting pies or sandwiches and makingsodas;


• places food trays over food warmers for immediate service, orstores them in refrigerated storage cabinets;


• cleans and sanitizes work areas, counters, tables, equipment,utensils, dishes, or silverware;


• stores food in designated containers and storage areas to preventspoilage;


• oversees and trains student assistants and/or assigned personnel asrequired;


• participates in planning menus, overseeing and/or trainingstaff/students on simple operations; fills beverage or ice dispensers;


• makes minor adjustments to equipment in service area; reportsequipment failures to the designated supervisor, maintainsequipment and supplies needed in service area;


• completes and maintains basic recordkeeping functions;


• performs duties consistent with the lower level in thisseries;


• performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent.


2. Six (6) months of work experience in food preparation in a commercial setting.


3. As required by the position to be filled, possession of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Food Handler Training Certification (from an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited trainer).

Supplemental Information

Illinois Residency Requirement: Pursuant to the State Universities Civil Service System, candidates must be a current Illinois resident.

About Civil Service Examination/Testing:

The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of application materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, your application will move forward for examination/testing in which you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. This score will be emailed to the email address noted on your application. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview.

Sponsorship for Work Authorization is not available. For more information visit https://policies.siu.edu/policies/employment-non-us-citizens.php