Line Cook

careers-ucfs; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service in San Jose, CA is hiring Line Cooks to prepare ingredients, set up stations, and present dishes for clients across campus and events.

You will maintain sanitation, work as part of a team, and support management with events. A background in food service, strong communication, and a willingness to obtain a food safety certification within 30 days are valued.

This role offers hands-on kitchen experience in a fast-paced environment with opportunities to grow.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of food service experience preferred.
• Experience with bulk food prep in a commercial kitchen.
• Pass a background check.
• Food safety handler and sanitation certification or obtain within 30 days.
• High school or vocational coursework in kitchen basics preferred.

Responsibilities

• Set up workstations to prepare food and ingredients for cooking.
• Dress dishes to ensure great presentation before serving.
• Apportion and serve food to clients.
• Enforce sanitation and food safety standards per state and local regulations.
• Maintain a professional and positive attitude with coworkers and customers.
• Assist in planning and executing special events as directed by management.
• Help unload, inspect, and store raw ingredients and supplies.
• Communicate regularly with management via calls, emails, and texts.

Skills

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Verbal & written communication

Food handling techniques

Industry best practices

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Food safety certification preferred

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.

If you're looking for meaningful work, real ownership, and a team that believes hospitality can make a difference, we'd love to meet you.

Line Cooks are responsible for setting up workstations and preparing ingredients for cooking, including chopping vegetables and cutting meat. They ensure great presentation by dressing dishes before serving the client. Additionally, they assist with fostering a positive atmosphere with coworkers and customers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Set up workstations to prepare food and ingredients to use for cooking.
• Ensure great presentation by dressing dishes before they are served.
• Apportion and serve food to clients.
• Enforce sanitation and food safety standards per state and local regulations.
• Maintain a professional and positive attitude with coworkers and customers.
• Assist in planning and executing special events as directed by management.
• Help with unloading, inspecting, and storing of raw ingredients and supplies.
• 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.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with a variety of personalities and under pressure.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of or the ability to learn food handling techniques, preparation, and cooking procedures.
• Be familiar with the industry's best practices.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• 2+ years food service skills or related experience preferred.
• Have experience with bulk food prep and production in a commercial kitchen setting.
• 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 and/or move objects up to 50 pounds.
• 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.

Compensation $18-$25 per hour