Culinary Associate

The Wonderful Company•Shafter, CA

4h•Onsite

About The Position

The Wonderful Company is committed to offering high-quality, healthy, and iconic brands such as Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, FIJI Water, and POM Wonderful. The company aims to make the world a healthier place through an uncompromising commitment to the well-being of its employees and their families, fostering a collaborative workforce that encourages an entrepreneurial spirit and openness to change. La Cocina is The Wonderful Company’s new café located within the Wonderful Logistics Center, catering to the culinary needs of the company’s employees, neighboring tenants, and patrons from the surrounding community. The café is dedicated to providing delicious food, efficient service, and a welcoming atmosphere. The Culinary Associate, Level 3, is a highly versatile and experienced team member responsible for performing skilled cooking duties while also providing direct support to customers. This role combines traditional back-of-house (BOH) responsibilities of a line cook with front-of-house (FOH) duties of customer service and order fulfillment, ensuring high-quality food preparation and presentation while delivering a positive, seamless customer experience in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Minimum 4+ years of restaurant experience, including cooking on the line.
Prior experience in both customer service and food preparation required.
Ability to operate heavy kitchen equipment safely and effectively.
Strong work ethic and reliability.
Ability to stand for extended periods, bend, lift, and carry up to 50 lbs.
Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment and remain proactive and productive during slower periods.
Flexibility to adapt to changing tasks and priorities.
Exceptional customer service and teamwork skills required.
Demonstrated understanding of cooking methods, ingredients, and food preparation techniques.
In-depth knowledge of restaurant best practices and cooking methods.
Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Customer service mindset with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Organizational skills to manage work area and maintain station readiness.
Proficiency with kitchen equipment, food safety, and sanitation standards.
Positive, team-oriented attitude with willingness to support both FOH and BOH needs.
Ability to adapt quickly to changing demands and remain calm under pressure.
Reliability, consistency, and a positive, can-do attitude.

Responsibilities

Prepare and cook menu items to order, ensuring quality, consistency, and timely service.
Operate kitchen equipment and cooking stations (grill, sauté, oven, etc.) safely and effectively.
Set up and maintain line stations with prepared ingredients, supplies, and equipment.
Follow recipes, portioning, and presentation standards to uphold menu consistency.
Monitor food quality, taste, and appearance before service.
Ensure all dishes meet the company's high standards for taste, temperature, portion size, and presentation.
Support Grab & Go preparation, labeling, rotation, and stocking.
Fulfill customer orders promptly and accurately.
Greet customers with a friendly, enthusiastic, and positive attitude—always with a smile—creating a welcoming environment that encourages repeat visits.
Communicate and engage with customers to answer questions about menu items, specials, or modifications.
Monitor inventory levels and communicate shortages or needs to leadership.
Assist with receiving, storing, and rotating food and supply deliveries.
Assist with monitoring inventory levels, restocking supplies, and rotating stock to ensure freshness.
Maintain cleanliness and organization of the line, workstations, and FOH/BOH shared areas.
Work cooperatively with team members, anticipating needs to ensure smooth operations.
Support additional back-of-house duties as needed, including food prep and workstation setup.
Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.
Support tasks assigned by Culinary Leads and Supervisors to successfully operate Wonderful La Cocina Restaurant.

Benefits

Access to top-notch medical coverage comprehensive vision and dental plans
401k with match eligibility
24/7 online physician consultations
virtual mental health resources
life coaching
engaging employee community groups
cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements
library of on-demand fitness videos
Clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units.
Dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses.
Company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive your career forward.
Training that empowers all employees to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace.
Wonderful Giving, allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice
Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities.