Newport Aquarium Café Cook - Part-Time Year Round [S]

All Career • Newport, KY

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Cook works in Newport Aquarium’s Food and Beverage department to prepare food and support café operations while following Herschend Enterprises’ Core Values, Newport Aquarium Guest Experience Standards, policies, procedures, and safety protocols. The position provides friendly guest service, maintains a positive attitude and appearance, and works effectively with team members and other departments. It is primarily a day-shift position, with availability required for weekends, holidays, and evenings.

The Cook sets up food stations, gathers supplies, prepares a variety of foods, and supports guest transactions and café cleaning. The role includes maintaining safe and hygienic food handling practices, keeping work areas organized and sanitized, storing and dating prepared foods correctly, taking inventory, documenting waste, and notifying management of shortages. The Cook also follows opening and closing procedures and uses kitchen tools and equipment according to manufacturers’ instructions. The position requires standing for extended periods, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 25 pounds. Work may involve exposure to nut allergens, inclement weather, dust, potentially dangerous or unpredictable animal species, machinery, restraint devices, and toxic chemicals or drugs; protective equipment may occasionally be required.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must know and follow sanitary food-handling procedures.
• Must be friendly, outgoing, and proactive.
• Must be able to learn all facets of Food and Beverage operations.
• Must work effectively with all team members and maintain an appropriate attitude.
• Must be able to interpret instructions provided in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Must be available to work weekends, holidays, and evenings.
• Must be able to remain on feet for long periods, climb stairs, bend, and stoop.
• Must be able to lift 25 pounds.
• Must successfully complete a pre-employment background check.

Nice To Haves

• Previous Food and Beverage experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Follow and implement Herschend Enterprises’ Core Values, Newport Aquarium Guest Experience Standards, policies, procedures, and safety protocols.
• Maintain a positive attitude and appearance and provide friendly, helpful information to guests.
• Arrive on time and ready to work scheduled shifts.
• Work with Newport Aquarium team members and departments to maintain effective communication.
• Maintain knowledge of aquarium activities, aquatic life, special events, and promotions to inform guests.
• Maintain appropriate guest and team-member relations and support guest and team satisfaction.
• Set up stations and gather supplies needed for guest service operations.
• Prepare meat, seafood, poultry, vegetable, and cold food items.
• Maintain hygienic kitchen and café conditions and participate in guest transactions, food preparation, and lobby and café cleaning.
• Ensure hosts are knowledgeable about their location and job functions, and notify the Food and Beverage Manager if they are not.
• Cover, date, and correctly store food preparation items.
• Take accurate inventory, document food waste, and notify the Food and Beverage Management Team in advance of inventory shortages.
• Use food preparation tools and kitchen equipment according to manufacturer instructions.
• Keep work areas organized and sanitized and consistently follow safe food-handling practices.
• Implement opening and closing procedures for kitchen stations.
• Perform other related duties or projects assigned by the Food and Beverage Management Team.

Benefits

• 24 hours of Sick PTO annually
• Profit Sharing and 401K Plan with company match
• Free entrance for the employee and dependents at most Herschend Enterprises properties
• One complimentary General Admission ticket per pay period to give to anyone
• Discounts at Sharky’s Café, Sweet Dreams Candy Company, and the gift shop
• Discounted tickets and annual passes for friends and family
• Training and development
• Grow U offers programs from certifications and college preparation to associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees; most programs are fully funded.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed