Dining Senior Cook

University of California, Santa Cruz; California (MO); On-site; USD 39,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meal Allowance

Job summary

UC Santa Cruz is seeking a Senior Cook to lead kitchen operations across residence hall meals and events. The role requires organizing production staff and ensuring the highest quality while following HACCP-based safety standards.

Under supervision of Sous Chefs or Managers, you will manage recipes, production sheets, and ensure health and safety compliance, delivering exceptional dining experiences for students and staff.

Qualifications

• Experience leading kitchen staff in a high-volume setting.
• Knowledge of HACCP and food safety practices.
• Ability to follow recipes and production sheets accurately.

Responsibilities

• Prepares assigned menu items following recipes and production sheets.
• Directs production staff and ensures timely meal service.
• Maintains HACCP safety and sanitation standards.

Skills

Leadership

Food production

Kitchen management

HACCP compliance

Job description

• Meal Allowance

JOB POSTING

Multiple full time Partial Year Career positions available in multiple Dining Halls across the UC Santa Cruz campus.

Benefits To Working At UC Santa Cruz Include

• Medical, Dental & Vision Care Insurance Plans
• UC Retirement Plans
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Legal Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Holidays plus accrued vacation and sick leave
• Meal Allowance

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

09-28-2026

About Uc Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It’s known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus’s DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

The Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS), led by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success, consists of nearly 800 professional staff and 2100 student staff spanning five major units. Deeply devoted to offering students a transformational educational experience, our division provides campus-wide coordination and leadership of student success programs, activities, and initiatives.

Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services (CHES) is a multi-funded organization within the Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS) at the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz. CHES provides leadership in the areas of college student life and residential services, housing services, facilities, capital planning, dining services, conference services, early education services, business and financial analysis for these areas.

CHES provides on-campus housing and dining services to approximately 9,500 undergraduate and graduate students in ten residential colleges and six multi- college affiliated residential communities, which support single students and students with families.

UC Santa Cruz Dining is instrumental in the success of our students as well as providing services to staff, faculty and guests of the campus. Our mission is to be committed to creating a diverse, safe, fun and trusting environment for our guests and team; building an innovative dining program providing high quality service and food while embracing social, nutritional and financial responsibilities.

More information can be found at: https://dining.ucsc.edu

Job Summary

Under the general supervision of Sous Chefs or Managers, the Senior Cook prepares food that is complex and of the highest quality, which is appropriate to the skill level of a Senior Cook. Prepares assigned recipes for residence hall meals and other events, providing the highest quality of service to the customers. The incumbent will fill a leadership role in the kitchen by organizing and directing all assigned production staff for meal service. Follows all policies, rules and regulations of the University. Ensures health and safety guidelines are practiced. Performing under general supervision, this is a leadership kitchen position with the appropriate level of experience and competency in food preparation, productions and kitchen management.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $28.05/hourly

Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: To be determined and details to be discussed at the interview
• Shift Includes: Day, Evenings Night, Weekends, to be determined and discussed at the interview

Employee Classification

Employee Classification: Partial Year Career, Furlough to be determined and details to be discussed at the interview

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Service Employees (SX)

Job Code Classification: COOK SR (005522)

Travel: Never or Rarely

Job Duties

50% - Food Production

• Prepares assigned menu items following recipes and production sheets for all meals. Follows the standard HACCP principles of food preparation, safety and sanitation in food production.
• Merchandises food including garnishing for serving presentation. Participates in on-going customer service programs which include "just in time" cooking, demonstration cooking and interaction with customers. Completes production service records at the end of each meal period or shift.
• The Senior