Catering Prep-Cook

Yavapai College•Prescott, AZ

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Part-Time Catering Prep Cook supports Yavapai College Dining Services with a primary focus on scratch cooking, food preparation, and culinary production for catered events and functions. Working under the direction of Dining Services culinary leadership, this position prepares ingredients, recipes, menu components, and finished foods using fresh, seasonal, and quality ingredients whenever possible. Responsibilities include knife work, batch cooking, baking and roasting, preparing sauces and dressings, assembling cold foods, portioning, plating, garnishing, and preparing food for transport and service. The Catering Prep Cook also assists with packing, delivery, event setup, service, breakdown, and cleanup as operational needs require. The position plays an important role in ensuring catered food is prepared safely, consistently, attractively, and on schedule. This position requires a dependable and organized individual who enjoys hands-on kitchen work and can manage multiple food preparation tasks in a fast-paced culinary environment. Work schedules will vary based on catering production and event needs and may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalency.
Food Handler Certification or ability to obtain required certification within the timeframe established by Yavapai College.
Basic knowledge of food preparation and commercial kitchen practices.
Ability to safely use kitchen knives and basic commercial food preparation equipment.
Ability to follow standardized recipes, production sheets, portion guidelines, and written and verbal instructions.
Ability to perform basic food preparation tasks including knife work, measuring, mixing, portioning, cooking, and assembling menu items.
Knowledge of or ability to learn proper food safety, sanitation, temperature-control, cooling, reheating, storage, and safe food-handling procedures.
Ability to organize food production, prioritize multiple preparation tasks, and meet established catering deadlines.
Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a culinary and catering team.
Ability to maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary workstation throughout the shift.
Ability to maintain composure, professionalism, and flexibility in a fast-paced kitchen environment with changing production needs.
Dependable attendance and punctuality are essential functions of the position.
Ability and willingness to work a flexible part-time schedule based on catering and operational needs, which may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience as a prep cook, line cook, catering cook, banquet cook, or similar culinary position.
Experience with scratch cooking and preparing fresh ingredients in a restaurant, catering, hotel, college, university, healthcare, or institutional food service environment.
Experience preparing food in volume for catered events, banquets, buffets, conferences, or large groups.
Working knowledge of professional knife skills and commercial cooking techniques.
Experience following standardized recipes and production schedules.
Knowledge of portion control, product rotation, and reducing food waste.
Knowledge of food allergies, dietary restrictions, cross-contact prevention, and proper food storage.
Experience with food presentation, plating, garnishing, and buffet preparation.

Responsibilities

Prepares food from scratch for catered events, meetings, conferences, receptions, and other college functions.
Performs daily food preparation including washing, cutting, chopping, slicing, dicing, peeling, measuring, mixing, seasoning, and portioning ingredients.
Prepares proteins, vegetables, grains, starches, salads, sandwiches, sauces, dressings, dips, appetizers, side dishes, desserts, and other menu components according to recipes and production needs.
Uses appropriate cooking techniques including roasting, baking, grilling, sautéing, steaming, blanching, simmering, and other commercial kitchen methods.
Follows standardized recipes, production sheets, portion standards, and presentation guidelines to maintain consistent food quality and control food costs.
Assists with batch cooking and advance preparation for large catered events while maintaining food quality and proper temperature control.
Uses commercial kitchen equipment, knives, slicers, mixers, ovens, ranges, food processors, and other food preparation equipment safely and correctly.
Portions, plates, garnishes, and arranges food for attractive and professional catering presentation.
Prepares cold platters, displays, boxed meals, grab-and-go items, buffets, and other catering menu items.
Reviews catering orders, menus, guest counts, dietary requests, and production schedules to determine preparation requirements and priorities.
Organizes prepared foods for transport, ensuring items are properly labeled, covered, stored, and maintained at safe temperatures.
Assists with receiving, rotating, storing, and organizing food products using proper FIFO procedures and date marking.
Monitors ingredient and product levels and communicates food and supply needs to culinary leadership.
Helps minimize food waste through proper preparation, portion control, storage, product rotation, and responsible use of ingredients.
Maintains clean, sanitary, organized, and safe food preparation and storage areas throughout the workday.
Follows established food safety procedures for cooking, cooling, reheating, holding, temperature control, allergen awareness, and prevention of cross-contact and cross-contamination.
Cleans and sanitizes workstations, cutting boards, knives, equipment, utensils, and food-contact surfaces.
Assists with packing, loading, transporting, delivering, and setting up catering orders at locations throughout Yavapai College and Yavapai County.
Assists with buffet setup, food displays, replenishment, event service, breakdown, and cleanup when needed.
When catering production hours or event needs are limited, supports other Dining Services operations as assigned. Duties may include preparing scratch-made and grab-and-go items for the campus café, completing food preparation and production for The Eatery, or providing shift coverage in the café.
Assists with cross-functional food production throughout Dining Services to support operational needs, maintain adequate coverage, and ensure efficient use of scheduled hours.
Works collaboratively with chefs, cooks, catering staff, and other Dining Services employees to complete production accurately and within established timelines.
Communicates production issues, shortages, special dietary requests, food safety concerns, or event changes to the appropriate supervisor.
Maintains a professional and positive approach when interacting with coworkers, students, employees, guests, and members of the college community.
Follows Yavapai College and Dining Services policies, procedures, safety requirements, sanitation standards, and customer service expectations.
Performs other duties of a similar nature or level as assigned.