Cook II - Parkside Dining Hall

Forty-Niner Shops•Long Beach, CA

3d•$23 - $25

About The Position

Under the direction of a Cook III or above, the Cook II prepares, cooks, and dispenses food for students, faculty, staff, and guests, and assists with preparing and cooking weekly meals. The role supports food service across dining areas such as salad bars, grill areas, sandwich bars, and franchise kiosks. It helps ensure food quality, safe handling, timely service, sanitation, and compliance with menus, recipes, HACCP standards, and Beach Shops policies. Work shifts are assigned during regular Residential Dining operating hours, typically Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 9 PM and weekends from 9 AM to 7:30 PM. Shifts may include mornings, afternoons, evenings, and nights. The schedule follows the CSULB Academic Calendar, with peak activity during academic semesters and reduced hours during breaks depending on operational needs. Occasional campus and organizational event support may be required, including evenings and weekends. The position is expected to work a full-time schedule, although work is activity-dependent and some weeks may have little or no scheduled hours. The employee works in a traditional dining-services and kitchen environment that is frequently busy and has tight workspaces. Conditions range from climate-controlled dining rooms to hot, humid kitchen areas and cold refrigeration areas. Noise levels are moderate to loud, and the employee is regularly exposed to ovens, grills, knives and other cutlery, as well as cleaning and sanitizing chemicals. Physical demands include standing and moving for long periods, manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination, frequently lifting or moving at least 50 pounds, and using upper-body strength to mix and carry pots and pans. The role also occasionally requires sitting, climbing, balancing, bending, pushing or pulling, reaching above shoulder level, stooping, and kneeling. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and must have a California Food Handler Card or be able to obtain one within the first 30 days of employment. A high school diploma or equivalent and three to five years of cook experience are preferred. Experience preparing high volumes of multicultural foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is required. The employee must know food quality, food standards, and food-service equipment; communicate proficiently in written and spoken English; follow safety instructions; attend employer-provided training; maintain effective working relationships and cooperative behavior with a diverse population; and comply with University and Beach Shops policies and procedures. This is a union position. A satisfactory background check is required before an offer can be finalized.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
Must have experience preparing high volumes of multicultural foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Must have a California Food Handler Card or be able to obtain one within the first 30 days of employment.
Must know food quality, food standards, and food-service equipment.
Must demonstrate proficiency in written and verbal communication in English.
Must be able to follow written and verbal safety instructions and attend employer-provided training.
Must be able to develop and maintain effective working relationships and demonstrate cooperative behavior with a diverse population of staff, students, and coworkers.
Must understand and comply with University and Beach Shops policies and procedures.
Must satisfactorily complete a background check before an offer can be finalized.
Must be able to meet the stated physical demands, including frequently standing and moving throughout the shift and frequently lifting or moving at least 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or high school equivalent.
Three to five years of work experience as a cook.

Responsibilities

Prepare, cook, and dispense food for students, faculty, staff, and guests.
Coordinate and prepare food items for salad bars, grill areas, sandwich bars, franchise kiosks, and other food areas.
Supervise food preparation activities to ensure recipe adherence, quality control, timeliness, safe food handling, and attractive presentation.
Coordinate daily activities, including assisting with line service and dish-room work.
Comply with required safety and health regulations and procedures.
Support the Chef and leadership with recipe development.
Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of kitchen equipment and areas.
Prepare and follow menus, recipes, and formulas.
Prepare and cook all food groups, exercising judgment about quality and quantities for groups of varying sizes.
Receive, verify, sort, and stock supplies, and inspect deliveries for quality.
Monitor or guide other kitchen staff as needed.
Assist with cost-control monitoring, including inventory management.
Comply with Beach Shops policies and HACCP standards.
Taste, smell, and test food to confirm it is cooked before serving, and maintain appropriate food temperatures.
Evaluate menu acceptance by fielding suggestions, criticisms, and compliments.
Store food in proper containers and at appropriate storage and holding temperatures.
Maintain accurate records to determine food preparation quantities.
Ensure required kitchen opening and closing procedures are completed.
Follow standard weekly menus and standardize food handling, preparation, display, and product quality.
Ensure quality food is prepared and served in a timely manner.
Perform other duties reasonably within the scope of the job.