Kitchen Assistant

Upper Crust Food Service, LLC; Lexington (VA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to support the culinary team by preparing and executing food as directed by the Head Chef and Sous Chef. The role focuses on maintaining a clean, safe kitchen, stocking supplies, and assisting with deliveries.

The candidate should have 2+ years in a full-service restaurant, pass a background check, and hold a food safety handler certification or obtain one within 30 days of employment. Strong teamwork is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a full-service restaurant preferred.
• Ability to follow directions and work under pressure.
• Comfort with professional kitchen safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Prepare food as directed by Head Chef and Sous Chef.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen and dining area.
• Wash utensils, equipment and dishes.
• Stock supplies in serving stations and storage areas.
• Assist with deliveries and unloading when needed.
• Maintain a positive, professional attitude with coworkers and customers.
• Communicate with management via calls, emails, and texts.

Skills

Teamwork

Cooking methods

Interpersonal skills

Industry best practices

Education

High school or vocational kitchen coursework

Job description

At Upper Crust Food Service we believe great food does more than fill plates, it creates connection, strengthens communities, and transforms everyday experiences. Across college campuses, K-12 schools, camps, and Greek housing, our teams bring hospitality to life through fresh food, meaningful relationships, and service people can count on. While we began serving fraternity and sorority communities more than 15 years ago, we've grown into a national hospitality partner supporting a wide range of dining programs across the country. No matter the setting, our purpose remains the same: to show up for the people we serve and for one another.

Kitchen Assistants support the culinary team by preparing and executing food as directed by the Head Chef and Sous Chef. They maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen, ensure equipment is in order, and stock supplies. Additionally, they assist with fostering a positive atmosphere with coworkers and customers.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare food as directed by Head Chef and/or Sous Chef
• Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen and dining room including but not limited to tables, shelves, grills, broilers, fryers, pasta cookers, sauté burners, convection oven, flat top range, refrigeration equipment, and floors
• Wash kitchen utensils, equipment and dishes, etc.
• Stock supplies, such as food or utensils, in serving stations, cupboards, refrigerators, or salad bars.
• Assist in unloading and putting away deliveries
• Maintain a positive and professional attitude with coworkers and customers
• Sort and remove the trash, placing it in designated pickup areas.
• Communicate regularly with management via calls, emails, and texts.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work well as part of a team.
• Understand various cooking methods, ingredients, equipment and procedures
• Exhibit excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with a variety of personalities and under pressure.
• Be familiar with the industry's best practices

Preferred Education and Experience

• 2+ years in a full-service restaurant as a prep/line cook
• Ability to pass a background check
• Have a valid food safety handler and sanitation certification in accordance with state and local regulations or obtain one within 30 days of employment
• High school or vocational school coursework in kitchen basics such as food safety, preferred.

Special Demands

• The work environment can be loud and busy. There are many kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and liquids, sharp knives, and slippery floors.
• Capability to work in a kitchen environment that may involve exposure to extreme heat or cold.
• Required to stand for long periods, up to 8+ hours, as well as walk, bend and stoop.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals

Upper Crust Food Service provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.