Kitchen Cooperator FT

The Merc Co+op; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 20,884 - 22,262; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% employee discount

Vacation and paid time off

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Free life insurance

401(k) retirement plan with match

Birthday and service anniversary recognition

Job summary

A local grocery cooperative in Lawrence is hiring a Kitchen Cooperator to support kitchen operations. This full-time position focuses on dishwashing, food preparation, and maintaining cleanliness in a fast-paced environment. Ideal candidates will have strong customer service skills and be able to work flexible shifts, including holidays and weekends. This role also includes benefits such as medical insurance, a 401(k) match, and an employee discount.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a customer service role preferred.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must demonstrate safe food handling and knife skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain dish area, ensuring cleanliness and organization.
• Assist with food preparation and cooking as needed.
• Provide exceptional customer service to shoppers.
• Comply with safety and sanitation standards throughout shifts.

Skills

Dependability

Customer service

Flexibility

Problem-solving

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Cooperators - Kitchen

Cooperators are entry level positions at the co-op. These team members work closely with department Specialists and Managers to consistently meet the needs of shoppers in a fast-paced service environment. Deli Cooperators report to the Kitchen Manager. This full-time role is designed to support the department during peak business days, with a primary focus on dishwashing and sanitation to ensure smooth kitchen operations. In addition to dish responsibilities, this position will assist with food preparation and must demonstrate safe knife skills and adherence to department recipes and procedures while maintaining quality standards.

Job Summary

Cooperators are entry level positions at the co-op. These team members work closely with department Specialists and Managers to consistently meet the needs of shoppers in a fast-paced service environment. Deli Cooperators report to the Kitchen Manager. This full-time role is designed to support the department during peak business days, with a primary focus on dishwashing and sanitation to ensure smooth kitchen operations. In addition to dish responsibilities, this position will assist with food preparation and must demonstrate safe knife skills and adherence to department recipes and procedures while maintaining quality standards.

Schedule Expectations

• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• Flexibility to support department needs, including holidays, nights and weekends

Steward Shift Focus (Primary Assignment)

• Maintain the dish area as the primary assignment, ensuring all dishes, utensils, cookware, and equipment are cleaned, sanitized, and ready for use in a timely manner
• Keep the dish station, prep areas, and kitchen organized, clean, and compliant with food safety and sanitation standards
• Support overall kitchen flow by prioritizing dish and sanitation needs throughout the shift
• Assist with trash, recycling, and general cleaning as needed

Cook & Production Support (Secondary Responsibilities)

• Operate and maintain the hot food warmer throughout the shift, including cooking off product as needed, stocking and rotating items, monitoring food quality and holding times, and completing markdowns according to department procedures
• Handle, prepare, and package food safely and accurately, following proper food handling, temperature control, labeling, and sanitation standards
• Utilize proper knife skills and safe cutting techniques when preparing or portioning items to support warmer production and kitchen operations
• Assist with basic food production following department recipes and procedures

Cooperator Duties & Responsibilities

• Collaborate with department Specialists to execute daily tasks within the department including opening, mid, and closing duties as assigned
• Provide exceptional, prompt and friendly service in person and over the phone
• Comply with safety procedures and identify unsafe conditions; report all safety risks to store management (e.g., items in need of repair, customer or employee accidents, safety risks or issues including robbery, theft, or fraud)
• Support training of new staff members by modeling best practices and established department procedures
• Assist with ordering, inventory, and other duties as assigned
• Gain and maintain knowledge of cooperative ownership and business model practices
• Gain and maintain knowledge of products sold within the store and be able to respond to questions and make suggestions about products
• Stay current with present, future, seasonal and special promotions and ads
• Willing to work weekends and holidays
• Reports to work as scheduled and on time

Department Duties

• Prepare and package hot and ready-to-eat foods according to department recipes and procedures, maintaining and demonstrating quality standards of the department
• Serve and assist customers, explain products, ingredients, flavor, taste and preparation
• Follow, maintain and perform safety and sanitation procedures throughout all shifts
• Ensure that all production, inventory, prep, and display cases are properly stored, labeled, and rotated
• Assist with management of deli inventory and ensuring supplies are fresh and high quality
• Maintain a neat, clean and safe department and equipment, including coolers, backstock and other storage spaces
• Communicate effectively with co-workers, engage in huddles and discussions of sales reports

Physical Requirements, Working Conditions + Equipment

• Work requires standing/walking for 90% of a shift
• Work requires the following motions: lifting up to 50 lbs., bending, twisting, squatting and reaching; hand use: single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing, and pulling
• Exposure to temperatures: <32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing), 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit (refrigerators), >90 degrees Fahrenheit
• Ability to work in a wet and cold environment
• Ability to use tools and equipment, including box cutters, electric pallet jacks, and other heavy machinery
• Must be able to work with various cleaning solutions, safely use sharp tools, and carefully operate all production equipment

Qualifications and Skills

• Past work record reflects dependability and integrity
• Flexibility of schedule to adapt and respond to the needs of the department
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Proven ability to follow through on commitments, prioritize and reprioritize as necessary
• Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills
• Must have the ability to read written and interpret verbal or demonstrated instructions; write identifying information and make requests verbally or in writing
• Must be able to solve practical problems and work towards solutions
• Must be able to perform simple addition and subtraction, as well as counting and recording

Salary & Benefits

• $15.16-$16.16/hour
• 20% employee discount
• Vacation and paid time off accrual
• Medical, dental, vision insurance (at 30+ hours per week)
• Free life insurance (at 30+ hours per week)
• 401(k) retirement plan with up to 3% match
• Birthday and service anniversary recognition

About Us

Who says fresh, local and organic has to be exclusive? Not us. At The Merc Co+op, we think that all of us, every parent and caregiver, every coach, every friend, every teacher and every kid are hungry for affordable, healthy, delicious food. Our co‑op is on a mission to make sure that everyone in our community has access! The Merc Co+op is a grocery store owned by our community, not some corporate office 1,000 miles away. So, instead of focusing on Wall Street investors, we focus on what our neighbors want — nourishing everyone according to their budget and cooking style. We know how to get the best local food because we know our farmers by name. And, we’re passionate about giving back to our community because we know that good food is just the beginning of what we can achieve by working together. So, if you want the neighborhood gathering place for fresh, healthy and delicious food, our doors are wide open — to everyone.

Note: The purpose of this document is to provide a general summary of essential responsibilities for the position and is not meant as an exhaustive list. Requirements build as one progresses through the job levels, so any job duties required at a lower level may be required at the higher level in addition to the duties listed for that higher level.

Duties, assignments, and other responsibilities may differ for similar positions based on business conditions, departmental location, and/or needs for the particular position. An individual must demonstrate successful performance in their current position before being considered for promotion. In addition, in order to promote into a higher-level position, a business need for the promotion must exist and the candidate must be considered the most qualified person for the new position.