Senior Cook - 141782

University of California San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Daily meal allowance

Job summary

UC San Diego’s Housing/Dining/Hospitality department is seeking a Senior Cook to prepare quality meals in a dining service or catering operation. The role supports efficient kitchen operations, maintains equipment, and adheres to safety and sanitation standards while guiding staff in production and presentation.

Two open schedules illustrate the variety: 2:00 pm–10:30 pm Tue–Sat and 12:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri–Sat plus other shifts.

Qualifications

• Experience in institutional food production.
• Experience working with standardized recipes and production sheets.
• Knowledge of safety and sanitation practices in food service.
• Ability to manage purchasing, inventory, and delivery of supplies.
• Familiarity with meat, produce, poultry, and frozen product specifications.
• Experience with warehousing, departmental recharge/ delivery protocols.

Responsibilities

• Prepare quality meals in a dining service environment or catering operation.
• Oversee production and presentation; ensure quality and safety standards are met.
• Coordinate production schedules and train staff on complex recipes.

Skills

Institutional food production

Standardized recipes

Safety and sanitation

Inventory controls

USDA specs knowledge

Warehousing & deliveries

Production data math

Customer interaction

Staff training

Time management

Follow detailed instructions

Physical lifting

Job description

Payroll Title: COOK SR

Department: HOUSING/DINING/HOSPITALITY

Hiring Pay Scale: $26.87 - $35.46 / Hour

Worksite: Campus

Appointment Type: Career

Appointment Percent: 70%

Union: SX Contract

Total Openings: 2

Work Schedule: Variable, 8 hrs/day, See Comments for Work Schedule

#141782 Senior Cook

Filing Deadline: Fri 10/30/2026

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 10/21/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

70% Variable Career position, employees may be subject to furlough and/or curtailment (i.e., winter holiday break).

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Join the Residential, Retail and Supply Chain Services (RRSS) team at UC San Diego, a dynamic and innovative campus department dedicated to delivering exceptional service to the university community. As a valued RRSS team member, you will be contributing to a broad and complex organization consisting of five key units: Housing, Dining and Hospitality (HDH), Integrated Procure-to-Pay Solutions (IPPS), the UC San Diego Bookstore, Triton Print & Digital Media, and the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC). With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, RRSS aims to inclusively meet the diverse needs of the UC San Diego community while fostering a sense of belonging for our students and staff.

As a member of the HDH team, you will be part of a self-funded unit with over 1,200 staff employees, over 2,000 student employees, and an annual operating budget of $371 million, providing housing and dining services to over 20,000 students, faculty, staff, and their families. At UC San Diego, we believe a job is more than just employment - it's a chance to be part of something meaningful. Along with competitive pay, we offer outstanding benefits, retirement plans, and a supportive environment that encourages both professional development and personal growth. Benefits begin on your first day! For Dining positions, we also provide a daily meal allowance.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Responsible for the preparation of quality food in a dining food service environment or catering operation. Responsibilities include the efficient operation and maintenance of all kitchen equipment, the execution of all department standards concerning food handling, cleanliness, safety and personal appearance. Duties also include coordination of production and food product presentation, quality control, and assisting the training of others in complex recipe preparation.

Work Schedules for two open positions:

1. Tuesday - Saturday, 2:00 pm - 10:30 pm (Sunday & Monday: OFF)
2. Friday - Saturday, 12:00 pm - 8:30 pm; Sunday/ Wednesday/ Thursday, 3:30 pm - 12:00 am. (Monday & Tuesday: OFF)

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in institutional food production.
• Experience working with standardized recipes and production sheets.
• Skills in and knowledge of related food service functions such as safety and sanitation, production methods, and equipment maintenance.
• Knowledge of efficient methods of ordering, requisitioning, storing and receiving supplies, and of developing quantity and quality production controls.
• Understanding of food specifications including meat buyer’s guide, USDA produce, poultry and frozen specifications as well as weights and measures to accurately account for inventory items.
• Skills in and knowledge of warehousing large quantities of merchandise, accounting and distributing via departmental recharge and delivery protocol, including ability to schedule, supervise and account for multiple daily deliveries to other units.
• Mathematical abilities to interpret and record production data, to use proper weights and measures in recipes as well as to provide statistical data, to store data and to reconcile invoices.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with customers, students, staff, faculty and guests.
• Writing and reading skills to understand recipes as well as to write vendor reports.
• Knowledge of methods of ensuring customer satisfaction including product analysis and problem-solving assessing user/client opinion)
• Ability to organize work and materials for maximum productivity and to delegate tasks to support staff.
• Problem solving skills to handle situations such as staff shortages, product failures or utility equipment failures.
• Ability to safely operate and maintain food service equipment.
• Ability to conduct training programs for staff and student employees.
• Skills in and knowledge of general operational management to supervise opening, closing and security of unit.
• Skills in time management and in prioritizing workload to meet daily production schedule and deadlines.
• Ability to follow detailed verbal and written instructions with little supervision.
• Ability to lift 25 to 50 pounds.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• 70% Variable position, employees may be subject to furlough and/or curtailment (i.e., winter holiday break).
• Background Check Required.
• Operating needs of the department require varied work schedules, (i.e., a.m., p.m., and/or weekend shifts and/or 10-hour workday).
• Health codes require prescribed uniform, hair covering, and good personal hygiene.
• Meal schedules require extreme attention to promptness and excellent attendance. Meal perquisite is required for all Dining Services employees.
• Employees may be required to change work location on a daily basis as needed or for an indefinite time period.

CANRA Mandated Reporter: This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter pursuant to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and requires immediate reporting of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect of anyone under the age of 18.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $56,105 - $74,040 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $26.87 - $35.46

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Prospective employees who are ordinarily residents in Iran or who are physically located in Iran are generally not eligible to for employment per suspension of General License G on 24 August 2026. If you have ever resided in Iran or have an Iranian passport and would like to confirm your eligibility, please contact [e-mail] for consideration of your particular circumstances.