First Cook

Tufts Medicine; Lowell (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

403(b) retirement with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Free on-campus parking

Career growth opportunities

Guaranteed hours and set schedule

Job summary

Tufts Medicine is seeking a dedicated hospital cook at Lowell General Hospital in Lowell, MA. You will prepare meals for staff and visitors, plan portions, and present hot and cold items across breakfast, lunch, dinner and events while adhering to recipes and production sheets.

Responsibilities include HACCP-based food safety, kitchen operation, inventory, and collaboration with team members to ensure timely service and quality across patient, retail, and catering areas.

Qualifications

• Two years of related experience in a food services environment or restaurant.
• Associates degree in culinary arts, cooking, or similar area of study preferred.
• Three years of experience as a cook in food services or restaurant preferred.
• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• ServSafe certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Follow guidelines to prepare and cook foods according to recipes and production sheets.
• Practice HACCP principles and maintain sanitation per regulations.
• Prepare food using kitchen equipment and portion meals.
• Ensure timely service and proper food handling across all service areas.

Skills

Food service experience

Cooking

Meal preparation

Education

Associates degree in culinary arts

High School diploma or equivalent

ServSafe certification

Job description

Job Profile Summary

Tufts Medicine is a leading integrated health system bringing together the best of academic and community health care to deliver exceptional, connected and accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts. Comprised of Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, Melrose/Wakefield Healthcare, an expansive home care network and a large clinically integrated physician network, Tufts Medicine has more than 15,000 dedicated employees and caregivers.

Job Overview

Under general supervision, this position prepares meals for staff and visitors using the Hospital’s standards of accuracy, quantity, appearance and quality. This position is responsible to accurately and efficiently prepare, portion, cook, and present a variety of hot and/or cold food items for various meal periods (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Special/Catered Events) in all areas of food production (Patient, Retail and Catering). This position will support the activities of workers and/or service employees engaged in food operations in the production area/ kitchen.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Two (2) years of related experience in a food services environment or restaurant.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Associates degree in culinary arts, cooking, or similar area of study.
2. Three (3) years of experience as a cook in food services or restaurant.
3. High School diploma or equivalent.
4. ServSafe certification

What We Offer

Competitive salaries & benefits that start on day one

403(b) retirement with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Free on-campus parking

Career growth opportunities

Guaranteed hours and set schedule

Location

Lowell General Hospital - 295 Varnum Avenue - Lowell, MA

Hours

40 Hours - Flexible between 6:30am - 8:30pm - Every other weekend (Sat-Sun) and every other holiday is required

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Followings the menu prepares and cooks food for all regular and modified diet meals assuring quantity, quality and timeliness of the meals according to designated recipes and daily production sheets.
2. Practices accepted HACCP food a production and food handling principles. Utilizes hairnet, gloves, apron, etc. to optimize infection control and cleanliness per regulations.
3. Reviews menus and prepares any food items that can be prepared in advance and stores appropriately.
4. Follows basic recipes and/or product directions for preparing, seasoning, cooking, tasting, carving and serving soups, meats, vegetables, desserts and other food items for consumption in eating establishments.
5. Prepares foods by operating a variety of kitchen equipment to measure and mix ingredients, washing, peeling, cutting and shredding fruits and vegetables, and trimming and cutting meat, poultry or fish for culinary use.
6. Tastes products, reads menus, estimates food requirements, checks production, and keeps records in order to accurately plan production requirements and requisition supplies and equipment.
7. Opens and closes kitchen. Ensures the uninterrupted supply of food to the service area, planning and preparing ahead for menu substitutions as necessary in consultation with department leadership.
8. Monitors quality of food, alerting Manager of foods which appear substandard or spoiled.
9. Ensures proper storage of frozen and refrigerated food items, including labeling dating and marking of all prepared items according to department and HACCP standards.
10. Assures food is properly stored after each meal and consults with leadership on the use of leftovers, substitutions, and the next day’s menu.
11. Cleans and/or oversees cleaning and sanitation of work area, kitchen, supply rooms, freezers, and food preparation equipment.
12. Maintains collaborative, team relationships with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the working groups achievement of goals, and to help foster a positive work environment
13. Reports problems concerning spoiled or unattractive food, defective supplies and other unusual conditions such as unsafe equipment or any other unsafe conditions.
14. May perform a variety of routine manual tasks, such as loading and unloading and storing groceries, floor sweeping, cleaning.
15. May produce food and serve customers at an a la carte or may operate a grill station.
16. Assists in monitoring employee productivity and provides suggestions for increased service or productivity.
17. Responsible for the supervision of day-to-day activities of subordinates and assigns responsibility for specific work or functional activities as directed by on-site management.
18. Reports all accidents and injuries in a timely manner.
19. Maintains key control of operations and responsible for activities to ensure opening, closing and daily procedures are completed.
20. Serves as working lead coordinating activities of workers or service employees engaged in production kitchen.

Physical Requirements

1. Standing and walking for 95% of the day, straining and lifting approximately 30lbs., pushing loaded carts (approximately 400lbs.).
2. Requires manual dexterity to handle money, work cash register, preparing food,
3. Exposure to infectious diseases due to interacting with sick patients
4. Possible exposure hazardous chemicals due to cleaning and sanitation.
5. Exposure to heat, cold, steam, chemicals and hot equipment.
6. Frequent exposure to garbage and trash.

Skills & Abilities

1. Ability to read, write, and adjust recipes, measure ingredients, and cook large quantities of food as well as individual portions.
2. Understanding of HAACP food safety standards including sanitary food handling principles to minimize potential for food borne illness.
3. Interpersonal skills necessary to interact with patients, patient care team and employees.
4. Familiarity with therapeutic diets
5. Ability to operate simple mechanical devices such as coffee urn, dish machine, slicer, trash compactor.
6. Ability to use a knife for slicing, cutting, dicing.

About Lowell General

For more than 125 years, Lowell General has served the Greater Lowell community with pride. We balance the first-rate care of a premier medical center with the warmth of a four-time Magnet-recognized community hospital. As a member of our team, you’ll join over 3,000 dedicated care providers to offer complete, connected care, when and where patients need it most.

Magnet Designation

TheAmerican Nurses Credentialing Center(ANCC) honored Lowell General Hospital with Magnet Recognition for excellence in nursing care, our fourth designation achieved in March 2025! The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes healthcare organizations dedicated to nursing excellence, professionalism, and patient-focused care. It is the highest level of recognition an organization can receive for providing the very best quality in patient care. Only nine percent of hospitals in the United States have achieved Magnet status and fewer than one percent of hospitals have achieved a fourth consecutive Magnet designation.

At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals, while rewarding the important work you do every day.

The base pay ranges reflect the minimum qualifications for the role. Individual offers are determined using a comprehensive approach that considers relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity to ensure compensation is fair, consistent, and aligned with our business goals.

Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth—one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it.

Pay Range

$20.12 - $25.15

based on full-time equivalent