HOT FOOD PRODUCTION

Independence Health System; Latrobe (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Independence Health System is seeking a Hospital Cook to prepare hot food items for patients and retail areas. You will follow recipes and production sheets, manage yields and leftovers, and ensure quality in appearance, taste, and temperature.

You will assist in daily prep tasks, set up serving areas, and cross-train for other roles as needed. The role requires 1–2 years of institutional cooking experience, strong leadership, and good communication skills.

Qualifications

• Must be 18+ years old.
• 1–2 years in restaurant or institutional cooking.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills; independent thinking and sound judgment.
• Ability to explain complex topics clearly to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Prepares hot foods per recipes and production sheets to meet quality standards.
• Completes production sheet data including usage, yields, leftovers.
• Performs daily prep work and sets up/breaks down serving areas.
• Fills in for cross-trained roles as needed.
• Maintains sanitary work area and follows HACCP guidelines.
• Communicates effectively with customers and coworkers.

Skills

Leadership ability

Organizational skills

Independent thinking

Critical thinking

Sound judgment

Communication of complex topics

Education

Culinary training

Job description

This position is responsible for the preparation of hot food items to both patient and retail areas. This position utilizes production sheets, forecasting, recipes, and equipment.

Essential Job Functions

• Patient and Retail Services
  • Prepares food according to recipes and production sheets to meet the department's standards for quality as measured by appearance, taste, temperature and portion sizes.
  • Accurately completes production sheet data to include usage, yields, and leftovers.
  • Completes all daily “prep” work as assigned.
  • Sets up and breaks down hot food serving areas.
  • Fills in for cross-trained roles in the department.
• Regulatory/Sanitation
  • Maintains work area in a sanitary manner; completes cleaning duties.
  • Prepares, serves, and stores foods according to HACCP guidelines.
  • Practices good hygiene including hand washing, wearing hair restraints, and glove usage.
  • Utilizes FIFO when obtaining foods from storage areas.
  • Takes and records temperatures of food during meal periods.
• Safety
  • Uses equipment in a safe manner; reports any issues immediately.
  • Cleans equipment according to established guidelines.
  • Refers to and follows MSDS guidelines for chemical usage and storage.
  • Uses proper body techniques in lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling.
• Performs excellent customer service skills with all customers and coworkers.
• Handles service recovery immediately or involves supervisor as needed.
• Receives and distributes all messages in a timely manner
• Other duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience [Knowledge, Skills and Abilities]

Required Qualifications/Experience

• Must be 18 years of age.
• One (1) to two (2) years of experience in Restaurant or institutional cooking.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Culinary classes and/or Vocational/Technical training in cooking and food preparation.
• Two (2) to three (3) years’ experience in healthcare food service cooking.
• Experience in Healthcare setting.

License, Certification & Clearances

• ServSafe Food Safety Certification Preferred.
• Act 34-PA Criminal Record Check from the PA State Police system

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on‑call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations.

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.Essential – Absolute Necessity.Marginal – Minimal Necessity.Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Extreme Heat

x

Extreme Cold

x

Heights

x

Confined Spaces

x

x

Mechanical Hazards

x

Use of Vibrating Tools

x

Operates Vehicle

x

x

Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices

X

Rotates All Shifts

x

x

x

On-Call

x

Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hr/wk)

x

x

x

Respirator Protective Equipment

x

Eye Protection

x

x

Hearing Protection

x

Hand Protection

x

Feet, Toe Protection

x

Body Protection

x

Latex Exposure

x

Solvent Exposure

x

Paint (direct use) Exposure

x

Dust (sanding) Exposure

x

x

Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure

x

x

x

Mist Exposure

x

x

x

x

Laser Exposure

x

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

x

x

Walking

x

x

Climbing Ladders

x

Standing

x

Kneeling

x

Squatting (Crouching)

x

Twisting/Turning

x

Keyboard/Computer Operation

x

Gross Grasp

x

Hand/Arm Coordination

x

Pushing/Pulling(lbs. of force)

x

Carry

x

Transfer/Push/Pull Patients

x

Seeing Near w/Acuity

x

Feeling (Sensation)

x

x

Hearing Clearly

x

Pulling/Pushing Objects Overhead

x

Reaching Above Shoulder Level

x

Reaching Forward

x

Lifting Floor to Knuckle

###

Lifting Seat Pan to Knuckle

###

Lifting Knuckle to Shoulder

###

Lifting Shoulder to Overhead

###

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.