Culinary Assistant

College of the Holy Cross • Worcester, MA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

At Holy Cross, we are focused on creating a world-class workforce by attracting and retaining employees dedicated to fostering a culture of professionalism, pride, mutual trust, and respect—one that values appreciation and recognition, empowering each of us to flourish both individually and collectively. We seek candidates who are inspired by our mission and values, and who are eager to make a meaningful difference on our campus. Learn more about Life at Holy Cross here. Perform various duties to provide meals for students and other guests following established practices and methods. Responsibilities include serving guests and assisting in food production, stocking and rotating product, setting up and cleaning food production and service areas following proper sanitation standards. Responsibilities also include the use of a slicing machine, grill, fryolator, pizza oven, stir fry equipment and/or similar types of equipment. Assist in the set-up, execution and clean-up of catered events as needed.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Ability to frequently lift up to 25 pounds, occasionally lift up to 50 pounds and 100 with assistance.
• ServSafe Food Safety Certification or training is required. If training is not up-to-date, training/certification must be completed upon 3-6 months from date of hire.
• Food allergy training is essential.
• Excellent customer service and appropriate communication skills are needed in order to provide a welcoming, professional and safe environment for students and guests.
• Upon hiring the following additional training must be completed on a yearly basis: Title IX harassment training, Security awareness training.

Nice To Haves

• Up to two years related work experience is preferred.
• Prior experience in special food allergy meal preparation is preferred.
• If a candidate does not have prior experience, the necessary training must be completed upon hiring.
• Initial training will include a review of information, departmental responsibilities and a recap of the Food Allergy Program.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook food items to order, ensuring adherence to established standards and specifications.
• Follow menu and recipe guidelines precisely to maintain consistency and quality across all food items.
• Ensure all menu items are consistently prepared, properly portioned, of the highest quality, and served at the correct temperatures.
• Fill out the temperature log book charts.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and fully functional work area that is adequately stocked, properly rotated, and organized at all times.
• Supervise on-call staff, student captains/workers, and temporary employees, providing direction on routine tasks to ensure smooth operations.
• Be adaptable and capable of working in various areas of the servery as assigned by management.
• Provide exceptional customer service by serving guests in a friendly, professional, and attentive manner when required.
• Assist with the setup, service, and cleanup of catered events, ensuring all operational standards are met.
• Accurately complete service records and inventory data within the FoodPro system to ensure proper tracking and reporting.
• Demonstrate proficiency in accommodating students with special dietary restrictions, ensuring their needs are met with care.
• Seek guidance from management with questions.
• Understand and apply food waste management practices, utilizing FIFO (First In, First Out) to minimize waste and maintain inventory efficiency.
• Adhere to all state and local food safety regulations to ensure compliance and uphold the highest standards of food safety.
• Perform other similar or related duties as required or requested.
• All documentation is recorded accurately and timely.
• Follow all chemical guidelines according to the Material Safety Data Sheets.
• Superior customer service and communications skills are needed to provide a welcoming, friendly and professional manner to all of our guests.
• Offer training/support to co-workers, staff and students where applicable.
• Follow all verbal and written instructions from managers/supervisors.
• All staff are considered to be emergency essential personnel and are required to report during times of inclement weather.
• Schedule flexibility is important, you need to be aware of the academic calendar and special event dates.
• We will/may adjust schedules due to events on campus.
• Be innovative as it pertains to your position.
• Be comfortable sharing your suggestions and ideas for process or work improvements.
• Comply with all safety and risk management practices, policies and procedures.
• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced food service environment.
• Ability to communicate with guests, co-workers and other members of the college community with professionalism and respect.
• Be sure to know and come to work each day with our department’s core values in mind.
• Must adhere to the uniform standard as it applies to your position.

Benefits

• The hourly rate for this position is $18.00 per hour.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED