Production and Prep Cook

Carnation Farms; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Carnation Farms seeks a Production & Prep Cook to support our growing food production and event operations. This hands-on kitchen role blends daily production cooking, food preparation, and event support, following established recipes and production standards to keep the kitchen running smoothly.

Ideal candidates are organized, dependable, and able to shift between production, prep, and events as schedules demand.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1-2 years of kitchen experience, preferably in a commercial kitchen.
• Basic knife skills and experience with food preparation and equipment.
• Familiarity with culinary terminology, techniques, and basic cooking methods.
• Ability to follow recipes accurately and consistently.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook food for Farmstand products, catering, and events.
• Complete daily prep and production work according to recipes and standards.
• Assist with event preparation, setup, execution, and breakdown as needed.
• Work with Chefs to ensure food quality, presentation, and timely completion.
• Safely operate knives and commercial kitchen equipment.
• Maintain inventory and organization of ingredients in storage.
• Keep a clean, sanitary work environment throughout each shift.
• Participate in shared kitchen responsibilities and general upkeep.
• Assist with inspections and communicate maintenance needs.
• Adapt to changing priorities while maintaining quality and efficiency.
• Perform other culinary duties as assigned.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Knife skills

Food preparation

Culinary terminology

Cooking methods

Job description

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Production and Prep Cook

Carnation Farms is a community-based hub for regenerative food and agriculture that educates and empowers culinary, food, and farm professionals. We aspire to help create a thriving regional food system connecting farmers and culinary professionals around shared values of regenerative food, health, and equity.

Reports To: Director of Culinary Operations and Education

Employment: Full-Time - Day shift

Position Overview

The Carnation Farms Culinary Team is looking for a talented and motivatedProduction & Prep Cookto support our growing food production and event operations.

This is a hands-on kitchen role that blendsdaily production cooking, food preparation, and event support. The Production & Prep Cook will help prepare products for our Farmstand, support catering and special events, follow established recipes and production standards, and contribute wherever needed to keep the kitchen operating efficiently.

We are looking for someone who is organized, dependable, detail-oriented, and comfortable shifting between different types of work as business needs change. The right person enjoys being part of a collaborative kitchen, takes pride in producing high-quality food, and is willing to jump in wherever the team needs support.

Schedule & Flexibility

This is a full-time position, generally expected to average40 hours per week. Because our culinary operation supports Farmstand production, catering, dinners, weddings, conferences, and other special events,considerable schedule flexibility is an essential part of this role.

Schedules will vary based on production and event needs and may include weekdays, weekends, and occasional evenings. For example, an employee may work Monday-Friday one week and Tuesday-Saturday the following week depending on the event calendar and operational needs. Some events and schedule changes may also arise with relatively limited advance notice.

Candidates should be comfortable working a variable schedule and understand that a consistent Monday-Friday schedule cannot be guaranteed.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook food for Farmstand products, catering, special events, and other culinary programs.
• Complete daily prep and production work according to recipes, production schedules, and established quality standards.
• Assist with event preparation, setup, execution, and breakdown as needed.
• Work closely with Chefs and other Culinary Team members to ensure food quality, consistency, presentation, and timely completion of production.
• Safely operate knives, cooking equipment, and other commercial kitchen tools.
• Help maintain inventory, organization, rotation, and quality of ingredients in pantry, refrigerated, and freezer storage.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary work environment throughout each shift.
• Participate in shared kitchen responsibilities, including dishwashing, sweeping, mopping, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and equipment, and general kitchen upkeep.
• Assist with inspections of kitchen facilities and equipment and communicate maintenance or repair needs.
• Adapt to changing production priorities, event schedules, and business needs while maintaining quality and efficiency.
• Perform other culinary and kitchen duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We are looking for a positive, reliable, hardworking individual with a strong interest in food and enthusiasm for working within a farm-based culinary operation.

• Minimum of 1-2 years of related kitchen experience, preferably in a commercial kitchen, required.
• Basic knife skills and experience with food preparation and commercial kitchen equipment.
• Familiarity with culinary terminology, techniques, and basic cooking methods.
• Ability to follow recipes accurately and consistently.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and work with a sense of urgency in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable moving between production, prep, event, and general kitchen responsibilities as business needs change.
• Reliable and able to work a flexible schedule that may include weekdays, weekends, and evenings.
• Positive attitude and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Comfortable working around hot surfaces, sharp equipment, and other normal commercial kitchen conditions.
• Interest in regenerative agriculture and farm-to-table food systems.
• Valid Food Worker Card required.
• Must be able to satisfactorily complete a background check.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds frequently.
• Ability to stand and work on your feet for up to 8 hours per day.
• Ability to bend, reach, lift, and perform repetitive kitchen tasks throughout the workday.
• Ability to work safely and cleanly in a fast-paced commercial kitchen environment.

Compensation

$24 - 28 per hour, depending on experience.

Carnation Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Carnation Farms does not discriminate or determine employment on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, age, or any other protected characteristic. Employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business needs. Carnation Farms is committed to an environment of mutual respect and maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination or harassment of any kind. Carnation Farms also values the power of diverse lived experiences and perspectives.

Pay: $24.00 - $28.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Shift:

• Day shift

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply