Line Cook

University at Buffalo Campus Dining & Shops; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits Included

Union Contract Overtime

Job summary

University at Buffalo Campus Dining & Shops is seeking a Probationary Full-Time Line Cook for a fast-paced campus kitchen. Expect variable shifts and mandatory overtime per the union contract; starting wage $18.35/hr.

The role requires cooking in a high-volume environment, training on equipment, and teamwork. Responsibilities include food prep, following recipes, serving orders promptly, and maintaining sanitation per HACCP and NYS guidelines.

Qualifications

• 2 years professional cooking experience required, including stir fry, deep frying, grilling, roasting, steaming, cold food production, and presentation standards.
• Proficiency in professional knife handling.
• Experience following standardized recipes and measuring ingredients accurately.
• Experience organizing and maintaining kitchen workstations.
• Ability to identify products correctly and work under high-volume conditions.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, work quickly and accurately.
• Excellent customer service skills and teamwork.
• Must read, write, and speak English; accurate math skills.
• Maintain professional appearance and hygiene.
• Reliable transportation and attendance.

Responsibilities

• Food preparation and cooking of items as assigned.
• Follow established recipes and production systems; maintain records.
• Accurately prepare orders and handle requests promptly.
• Maintain high sanitary, hygienic, and safety standards per HACCP and NYS Dept. of Health.
• Assist with training new hires and student workers.
• Handle high-volume prep work including knife-based prep tasks.
• General cleaning and other kitchen duties as requested by management.

Skills

Professional cooking

Knife handling

Food safety

Teamwork

English literacy

Tools

Fryers

Char-broilers

Flat-tops

Convection ovens

Job description

Probationary Full-Time Union

May incur lay-offs during University recess periods

FLSA Status

Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Hourly

Starting Rate

$18.35/hr (Union Employees: See Appendix “A” of Union contract)

Benefits

Benefits Included

Present Schedule

Various shifts available

Note that stated hours and days may vary – Mandatory overtime, as required, in the Union Contract

Position Summary

Prepare and cook items such as omelets, made to order eggs, fresh gourmet burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, and breakfast items. Must be able to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Must be familiar with and trained on how to use and clean equipment such as fryers, char-broilers, flat-tops, convection ovens. Required to clean equipment, provide preventative maintenance on the equipment, and is responsible for maintaining a clean workspace. This position requires teamwork, communication skills, ability to read tickets, and multi-task.

Job Classification

Line Cook

Job Assignments

• Food Preparation and cooking of various items.
• Follow established recipes and production system, maintain production and usage records.
• Accurately prepare customers’ orders and handle requests in a timely manner.
• Maintain high sanitary, hygienic, and safety standards and conditions, adhering to HACCP & NYS Dept. of Health guidelines. Includes cleanliness and maintenance of kitchen & equipment.
• Assist with training new hires and student workers.
• High volume prep work included in daily duties including using knife skills to prepare recipes and complete prep work.
• General cleaning, other food service duties, and projects as requested by management.

Job Requirements

• Minimum 2 years professional cooking experience required, including stir fry, deep frying, grilling, roasting, steaming, cold food production, and food presentation and garnishing standards.
• Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in professional knife-handling skills.
• Experience in following standardized recipes, measure ingredients accurately.
• Experience at organizing and maintaining kitchen workstations.
• Ability to correctly identify product.
• Must be able to prioritize work and execute tasks with speed, efficiency, and accuracy, in a high-volume environment.
• Ability to work independently and part of a team to fulfill customer orders.
• Must demonstrate excellent customer service.
• Must be able to speak, read, and write English, and have accurate math skills.
• Must maintain professional appearance, demeanor, and hygiene.
• Must have reliable transportation and attendance.

Work Environment

• The work environment can be loud and busy. There is exposure to kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and liquids, sharp knives, and slippery surfaces.
• The position operates in a kitchen environment where the employee is frequently exposed to heat, steam, fire, noise as well as extreme temperatures in coolers and freezers.
• Work may take place in a refrigerated and temperature-controlled environment.

Physical and Mental Demands

• The position is very active, and the employee must be able to stand and walk for a minimum of 8 hours.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The position requires manual dexterity; auditory and visual skills; and the ability to follow written and oral instructions and procedures.
• The employee must have the ability to use hands to finger, manipulate fingers; and reach with hands and arms, to stir, measure, pour, cut, chop, dice, and decorate, etc.
• The position requires working taste buds, ability to smell, feel with fingers and visually inspect, include close and distance vision.
• The employee must frequently lift and or move up to 25 lbs. and occasionally lift and or move up to 50 lbs.

Licenses and Certifications

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

Campus Dining and Shops is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, gender, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, veteran status, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the University community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely based upon a protected characteristic. Campus Dining and Shops policy is in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and harassment. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, and the New York State Human Rights Law. These laws prohibit discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual violence.