General Cook II

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Villanova University is seeking a General Cook II to support the Inn at Villanova University. The role involves food preparation, grill cooking, and sanitation with supervision from the Inn's chefs and managers.

You will help ensure quality, portion control, and safety in a fast-paced catering environment on event-driven schedules. The ideal candidate has at least three years of basic food service experience, a high school diploma or GED, and a Serve Safe certification is a plus.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Current Serve Safe Certification is a plus.
• At least three years of basic food service experience.
• In-depth knowledge of food service safety and sanitation.
• Ability to read and interpret recipes and adjust scale.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision; strong personal hygiene.
• Ability to interact with people on a constant basis.

Responsibilities

• Work in main kitchen, buffets, and action stations with minimal supervision.
• Follow recipes and produce food items as assigned.
• Maintain proper food temperatures and appearance; manage production records.
• Lead kitchen team during functions when required.

Skills

Read recipes

Personal hygiene

Communication

Minimal supervision

People interaction

Education

High School Diploma

Serve Safe Certification

Tools

Knives and slicer

Rational oven

Job description

General Cook II

The schedule for this role varies. This is based on events of the Inn.

Posting Details

Posting Number: 20260426S Position Title: General Cook II Position Type: Staff Location: Villanova, PA Recruitment Type: Internal/External Applicants Work Schedule: full-time/12-months Avg Hours Week Department: 507-Inn at Villanova University

Why work at Villanova?

• Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University’s founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
• Villanova has been included among the nation’s best colleges and universities. VU’s inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 “Best Colleges” rankings is another indication of the University’s continued prominence and forward momentum.
• Villanova’s most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.

The General Cook II performs a variety of task including, but not limited to food prep, grill cooking, cleaning and sanitation of kitchen area with minimal supervision. This person has in-depth knowledge of food safety and sanitation under guidelines set by The Inn at VU. This person works with chefs, managers and other staff to ensure the success of the Inn. All team members should improve our systems and overall operation.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work assigned areas such as main kitchen, buffets, action stations, etc. Ability to identify needs for various stations, with minimal supervision. This includes small ware needs, equipment needs and settings, portion controls, and overall quality of ingredients.
• Follow recipes and produce food items as assigned by Chefs. Maintain proper food temperatures and appearance of food. Record and maintain food production records. Be responsible for gathering ingredients, utensils, pots, pans and food from walk-ins and freezers for preparation of product.
• Clean and sanitize equipment including but not limited to hoods, ovens, grills, floors, walls, hot trucks, kettles, prep tables, broilers, char broilers and other cleaning task as assigned by chefs/ managers.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Work special functions if requested.
• Ability to lead the kitchen team without Manager presence. Additional duties as assigned by chefs/managers that may include utility and pantry duties.

Minimum Qualifications

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS :

Formal Education: (e.g., degree)

• High School Graduate or Formal GED
• Current Serve Safe Certification (a plus)

Specific Job Knowledge: (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area)

• In-depth knowledge of food service safety and sanitation procedures.

Minimum Work Experience: (type and number of years)

• Must have at least three years of basic food service experience.

Work Skills: (e.g., written and verbal communication skills)

• Ability to read and interpret recipes and adjust scale to yield requirement
• Practices excellent personal hygiene habits; follows and adheres to uniform standards daily.
• Basic communication skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to interact with people on a constant basis.

Equipment Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of operating commercial kitchen equipment and their functions.
• Ability to set-up, operate, break down and clean.
• Ability to properly use knives, slicer, ovens and other equipment as directed by chef/managers.

Working Conditions/Environment: (conditions, if known, which may impact the incumbent working in this position)

• Tools, machinery and equipment used: Knives, oven, grill, fryer, slicer, broiler, rational oven, dish machine, floor cleaning machines such as wrangler.
• Environmental conditions: (any unusual/adverse conditions such as exposure to chemicals, noise, illumination, air quality, weather exposure etc.) Ability to use chemicals daily as required. Will use proper protective equipment as called for by the specific chemical and task.
• Physical requirements: (items such as lifting, pushing, pulling, standing or sitting for extended periods of time, manual dexterity, walking etc.) Ability to lift up to 40 pounds independently, sit stand for extended periods, push/pull up to 40 pounds independently, use various chemicals

Preferred Qualifications

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours: Special Message to Applicants: The schedule for this role varies. This is based on events of the Inn. Posting Date: 09/10/2026 Closing Date (11:59pm ET): Salary Posting Information: $18.98 per hour/ shift differential added for qualifying shifts Salary Grade: 9 Job Classification: non-exempt

References Needed

Minimum Number of References Needed 3 Maximum Number of References Needed 3