Prep Cook - Atlanta, GA

Yay Lunch; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly pay

Growth opportunities

Impact on kids' meals

Job summary

Yay Lunch, LLC is looking for a hands-on Prep Cook to support the Lead Cook with prep, production, labeling, and staging for distribution, and to be the face of lunch service and grab-and-go for students. Depending on market needs, this role may include packing food for delivery to spoke schools and running that delivery.

This is a fast-paced, hands-on position that requires anticipation, accuracy, and a positive demeanor with students, with close collaboration to the Kitchen Manager and Lead

Qualifications

• Experience in a kitchen, café, or food service environment.
• Strong attention to detail for labeling, staging, and portioning.
• People-first mindset with students in a lunch setting.
• Reliable and self-directed; proactive in task completion.
• Team player who supports teammates and kitchen operations.
• Delivery readiness and valid driver’s license if route is required.
• Food handler’s certification or willingness to obtain within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Prepare mise en place for the Lead Cook and portion ingredients.
• Keep the Lead Cook's station clean and ready between production runs.
• Label items leaving the kitchen with date, quantity, and use-by date.
• Stage items by school, service time, or route and notify completion.
• Pack and deliver spoke school orders when assigned; load delivery routes.
• Assemble lunch trays and oversee grab-and-go checkout and restocking.
• Assist with end-of-shift cleaning and kitchen breakdown.

Skills

Kitchen prep experience

Attention to detail

People-first mindset

Reliable and self-directed

Team player

Delivery readiness

Food handler's certification

Job description

Prep Cook

Role Overview

The Kitchen & Service Assistant keeps the kitchen running and the café stocked. They support the Lead Cook with prep and production, handle labeling and staging for distribution, and are the face of Yay during lunch service and grab-and-go. Depending on the market and school, this role may also include packing food for delivery to spoke schools and running that delivery. This is a hands-on, fast-paced role where anticipation, accuracy, and presence with students are the standard.

Who You Report To

Your Kitchen Manager, with day-to-day direction coming from the Lead Cook during production.

Core Responsibilities

Kitchen Prep Support

• Handle mise en place for the Lead Cook - washing, chopping, weighing, and portioning ingredients in the order they are needed
• Keep the Lead Cook's station clear between production runs so they always have a clean surface to work on
• Anticipate what is needed next and have it ready - the Lead Cook should never have to stop production for something you should have already done

Labeling & Staging for Distribution

• Label every item leaving the kitchen - item name, date, quantity, and use-by date - the moment it is filled or packed, no exceptions
• Stage items by school, service time, or route as directed by the Kitchen Manager
• Record quantities staged on the production sheet and notify the Kitchen Manager when staging is complete so distribution or pickup can begin

Spoke School Packing & Delivery

• Pack food for delivery to spoke schools per the Kitchen Manager's production and route schedule - correct quantities, correctly labeled, staged in the right order for the route
• Load and transport food to spoke school locations safely and on time, maintaining temperature standards throughout
• Confirm delivery with the receiving Lead Cook or school contact and flag any discrepancies immediately to the Kitchen Manager
• Reliable transportation and a valid driver's license required for roles that include delivery

Lunch Distribution

• Assemble trays, organize pre-order pickup by classroom or grade, and ensure every student receives the correct order - whether at the hub kitchen or at a spoke school location
• Flag any discrepancies to the Lead Cook or Kitchen Manager immediately

Grab & Go Café

• Stock and maintain the grab-and-go fridge and pantry shelves before and during service per the planogram
• Confirm items are in the correct location, prices are visible, and shelves are faced and full
• Run checkout accurately and warmly
• Monitor stock levels throughout service and flag anything running low before it runs out

Cleaning & Kitchen Support

• Clean as you go - clear the Lead Cook's station, wipe down surfaces, and wash and sanitize equipment between tasks
• Participate fully in end-of-shift kitchen breakdown - this is a team effort
• Clock out on BambooHR on location at your actual end time

Day at a Glance

Opening - Set up your prep station, pull ingredients as directed by the Lead Cook, and begin mise en place before production starts.

Production - Execute prep tasks in the order the Lead Cook needs them. Label everything as it is packed or staged. If your role includes delivery, pack and load spoke school orders before your route window.

Service - Distribute pre-order lunches on site and/or at spoke schools, run grab-and-go checkout, and restock shelves. Be present, be warm, be fast.

Closing - Clean your area, rotate remaining stock, wipe down the grab-and-go fridge and shelves, and assist with full kitchen breakdown.

What Success Looks Like

• The Lead Cook never has to stop production to do something you should have already handled
• Every item leaving the kitchen is labeled correctly, every time
• Spoke school deliveries go out on time, at temperature, and with zero packing errors
• Students receive the right order, on time, with a warm interaction
• The grab-and-go café is stocked, faced, and running smoothly throughout service
• Your section of the kitchen is clean and organized from open to close

What We're Looking For

• Experience in a kitchen, café, or food service environment - you know how to move with urgency and purpose
• Strong attention to detail - labeling, staging, and portioning accuracy are non-negotiable
• A people-first mindset - you enjoy interacting with students and take pride in making service feel welcoming
• Reliable and self-directed - you don't wait to be told what needs doing; you see it and handle it
• A team player who takes ownership of their station and shows up for the people around them
• Comfortable on the road if delivery is part of your role - reliable transportation and a valid driver's license required
• Food handler's certification or willingness to obtain within 30 days of hire

What We Offer

• Competitive hourly pay
• A high-growth, mission-driven company where your work directly impacts what kids eat every day
• A team that values accountability, transparency, and operators who take pride in their craft
• Real opportunity to grow within TYC as we expand into new markets

Compensation:

$20.00 per hour + mileage reimbursement

This is more than just a job-it's a chance to bring healthy meals and smiles to kids every day. If this sounds like you, help us change school food for the better!