SENIOR COOK - TERRACE DINING HALL

Ithaca College; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare (vision and dental)

Paid time off

403B retirement plan

EAP

Flexible work plans

Educational benefits

Career trainings

Job summary

The Senior Cook at Ithaca College leads daily kitchen operations, ensuring high‑quality meals and compliance with HACCP and safety guidelines. You will train staff, manage production timelines, and collaborate with culinary teams to meet service goals across all meal periods.

Based on a 40‑hour weekly schedule, this role requires a strong foundation in food preparation, a flexible work routine including nights and weekends, and a commitment to inclusion and professional development within a

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with 1–2 years leading a kitchen.
• Knowledge of cooking processes and equipment.
• Food handling and HACCP procedures familiarity.
• Ability to follow recipes and standards.
• Flexible schedule including nights, weekends, holidays.
• Excellent customer service in diverse environment.
• Knife skills demonstrated during interview.

Responsibilities

• Lead peers in daily kitchen operations with unit sous chefs.
• Ensure equipment, inventory, and resources meet goals.
• Provide hands-on coaching to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Motivate staff and ensure timely production for service.
• Prepare food per recipes and safety guidelines.
• Safely operate kitchen utensils and equipment.
• Record production and plan quantities from menus.
• Requisition supplies and equipment as needed.
• Maintain clean and sanitized workstations per policies.
• Attend required training including allergy and safety.

Skills

Leadership

HACCP knowledge

Food safety

Communication skills

Flexibility

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Knives

Ovens

Slicers

Mixers

Job description

Position Summary

The Senior Cook is a culinary leader responsible and accountable for accurately and efficiently preparing, portioning, cooking, and presenting various hot and cold food items and ensuring timely food production by other culinary team members through monitoring and assistance. They will prepare and cook food according to recipes and production guidelines while adhering to food safety, food handling, kosher, and sanitation procedures. The position is considered to be essential during emergency situations and the incumbent is subject to being requested to report to work.

Supervision

This position reports to the Executive Sous Chef of the unit, indirectly reports to the Executive Chef for their campus area daily operations, and reports to the Unit Manager for their campus area for all administrative business operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead peers in daily kitchen operations in union with the unit sous chefs.
• Arrange daily operations to ensure culinary teammates have appropriate equipment, inventory, and resources to perform their jobs and meet goals and deadlines.
• Provide direct, in-person support of culinary team members to propel and inspire accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with all HACCP plans and protocols.
• Motivate, encourage, and support staff performance through hands‑on coaching and training.
• Guarantee culinary team members complete required production for service stations and on time for all meal periods.
• Prepare food independently per current applicable federal, state, and cultural standards, as well as guidelines and regulations, to yield high‑quality food service.
• Safely utilize and operate various utensils, including knives and equipment such as ovens, stoves, slicers, mixers, etc.
• Taste products, read menus, estimate food requirements, check production, and keep records to plan production accurately.
• Work with operational and culinary staff to requisition product, supplies, and equipment.
• Clean and sanitize all workstations and equipment and follow all Ithaca College and regulatory rules and procedures.
• Attend all required training sessions, including allergy, foodborne illness, and safety training.
• Develop and demonstrate a multicultural awareness and cultivate an inclusive, diverse, and respectful Ithaca College community. Demonstrate civil and inclusive behavior when interacting with staff, faculty, students, and visitors to the College. Promote a flexible, collaborative, and inclusive work and living environment and engage in educational opportunities to increase diversity and inclusion awareness.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and 1-2 years experience as a kitchen lead in a restaurant or collegiate/university food service or equivalent combination of experience.
• Enhanced knowledge of cooking processes (e.g., roasting, steaming, frying, sautéing, baking, broiling, grilling, braising) and equipment.
• Food handling and food safety skills, understanding of HACCP procedures, and allergen knowledge.
• Ability to adhere to all food preparation and service standards set by Ithaca College Dining Services staff.
• Capacity to read and follow written and electronic recipes.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to provide excellent customer service while working effectively and respectfully within a diverse and inclusive environment.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, overtime, and some holidays.
• Demonstrate proficient knife skills and complete a cooking demonstration as part of the interview process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional education and experience including collegiate/university food service.
• ServeSafe Certification.

Work Environment

The Senior Cook completes work within an accessible, safe, indoor, and occasional outdoor environment. Long periods of walking, standing, bending, and carrying moderately heavy items (up to 50 pounds) may be necessary. Employees will be issued and/or required to wear slip‑resistant shoes and cut gloves.

This position is 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.

Salary

Hiring Rate: $22.00 per hour

Benefits

• Healthcare including vision and dental
• Generous Paid Time Off Policies
• 403B Retirement Savings Plan with Matching Employer Contribution
• EAP
• Flexible Work Plans
• Educational Benefits
• Career-Enhancing Trainings

For an overview of our benefit offerings, please visit https://www.ithaca.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits-wellness

Background Checks

In an effort to promote campus safety and the security of College resources, Ithaca College will, consistent with the requirements of the law and prudent practices, conduct criminal background investigations per College policy. This position is subject to a criminal background check. All offers of employment are contingent upon review of the criminal background check.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.

Inclusion Statement

Ithaca College is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Experience that contributes to the diversity of the college is appreciated.

About Us

At Ithaca College, a comprehensive residential campus community of approximately 5,000 students, we strive to be at the forefront of the higher education landscape. We offer a distinct integrative learning experience that makes students ready for the personal, professional, and global challenges of our age.

We seek candidates who embrace integrative learning and want to be a part of this exciting time in Ithaca College history. We encourage creative collaboration and innovation in our faculty and staff, providing support and resources for them to grow in their fields and lead students to their own innovative ideas and achievements.

We welcome different ways of thinking and look for candidates with unique points of view and life experiences. We are inclusive of individuals with a wide range of cultural, personal, and professional backgrounds, talents, and skills. Our campus is a vibrant and rewarding community where diverse minds can learn, succeed, and excel.

When reviewing candidates, we are looking for indicators of an number of core competencies. Prospective candidates must be adaptable, collaborative, inclusive, respectful, responsive, results driven, and sustainable. They must communicate effectively, demonstrate leadership, exhibit professional integrity and ethics, take initiative, value personal and professional development, and show that they will engage in the college.

Nestled in the heart of New York State’s scenic Finger Lakes region, Ithaca College sits atop South Hill overlooking picturesque Cayuga Lake and is just minutes away from the city center. Combining small town warmth and charm with the vibrancy of a college community, the thriving and culturally diverse city of Ithaca has been rated by Kiplinger’s as one of the top 10 places to live in the United States.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact our ADA Coordinator, Linda Koenig, at [e-mail] or 607-274-7761. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.

Visit

To learn more about Ithaca College, visit us at http://ithaca.edu