Prep Cook (Long Island City, NY)

Magnolia Operating•Long Island City, NY

About The Position

Magnolia Bakery is a retail bakery and desserts brand with locations in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as e-commerce, wholesale, international, and grocery businesses. The Prep Cook prepares and bakes menu items according to recipes, production requirements, and Magnolia Bakery quality standards. The role helps maintain a safe and sanitary food service environment while supporting the bakery’s brand integrity and quality. The Prep Cook completes assigned preparation tasks, keeps the prep area and supplies organized, monitors ingredient and product inventory, and communicates progress or shortages to management. When prep duties are complete, the role assists other back-of-house staff as needed. Hours may vary and can include day, weekend, and overnight shifts.

Requirements

High-energy, positive approach and ability to work with a diverse group of people.
Follow policies and procedures.
Take direction well, get started promptly, and ask questions when needed.
Understand the expectations of the role and work within its boundaries.
Be organized and have good time-management skills.
Ability to stand and walk for periods of 3–5 hours without a rest break.
Ability to perform occasional moderate to heavy lifting and carrying, bending, and reaching overhead.
Manual dexterity to use and operate necessary equipment.
Ability to perform the role’s required grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, and repetitive motions, and to meet its listening, hearing, and visual-acuity demands.

Responsibilities

Prepare dessert items according to recipes, production requirements, and Magnolia Bakery quality standards.
Start food items that are prepared ahead of time, date food containers, and report out-of-stock times or possible shortages to the Kitchen Manager.
Follow safe food-handling practices and safety procedures when using equipment and cleaning supplies.
Operate and monitor equipment, including mixers, choppers, and meat slicers, and sanitize the work area during and after use.
Complete the prep cook list assigned by the Production Manager and/or Production Supervisor.
Assemble, measure, weigh, portion, and label ingredients and foods according to standard recipes and guidelines.
Prepare items such as buttercream and chocolate icing, banana pudding, red velvet icing, cream cheese icings, cheesecakes, shredded carrots, chopped and toasted nuts, and ingredients for crisps and pies.
Stock the prep cook area with supplies and ingredients needed for the shift.
Clean the prep cook area, including walls, tables, mixers, and floors.
Stock goods for the next prep cook shift, including butter so it has time to soften.
Monitor icing and filling inventory and keep supplies stocked as needed.
Keep the Production Manager/Floor Supervisor informed about progress and low or depleted stock.
When assigned prep tasks are complete, help back-of-house staff with tasks such as removing cupcakes from pans, wrapping cupcakes, stocking or cleaning the baker’s refrigerator, and assisting porters and cake icers.