Cook 1 - Student Union Dining

Central Washington University is recruiting a Cook 1 to join our Dining team in Ellensburg, Washington. We are seeking dedicated team members who want to help change students' lives. Grow your career in the dynamic world of College and University Dining, and support the campus community through food. In addition to promotion and growth opportunities, CWU offers incredible benefits, including 8 credits in tuition waivers each quarter for employees and 50% off for dependents, generous paid time, and retirement matching. The role is a 10.5-month cyclic campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $37,152 - $49,116 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

The Role:

The Cook 1 actively participates in the daily production while regularly instructing, training, and checking the work of others. This position is directly involved in working with student employees. This position ensures professional food preparation, leads food production, and helps prep for next day's meals, ensures proper food storage practices are taken, and maintains a sanitary work environment. The Cook 1 is a hands-on member of the kitchen staff and must be able to perform the cooking duties found in any of the dining units on campus, including line cooking. All employees are expected to support CWU's commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment.

The Cook 1 is responsible for preparing all dishes according to recipes and standards, with accountability for:

• Ensuring recipes compliance, execution, and food safety practices
• Preparing all dishes to meet company standards for flavor, color, and aroma
• Guiding Kitchen Help and assisting with their training
• Performing all Back of House (BOH) and Front of House (FOH) responsibilities

- Ensures the successful and timely execution of the menu and culinary direction provided by the Executive Chef.
- Prepares menu selections for customers according to established production standards and specific recipes.
- Regularly assigns tasks, instructs and checks work of FSW employees, temporary employees, and student staff members.
- Properly sets up and uses equipment for production. Cleans and sanitizes equipment once production is completed.
- Reads, interprets, and follows standardized recipes. Adjusts weights and measurement of ingredients to match quantity produced. Stages necessary ingredients for production.
- Reads, interprets, and follows production guidelines produced by the menu management software system (Computrition). Looks up and prints recipes as needed. Fills out all production guides for assigned shift. Makes sure all amounts prepared, consumed and leftovers are imputed on appropriate lines.
- Answers questions on recipes interpretations and explains established kitchen/production procedures.
- Monitors customer counts and consumption of food items during service hours.
- Always ensures the availability of fresh and properly garnished products for customer selection. Decides on alternative menu selection if production requires additional food items.
- Visually inspects and tastes food products before and during meals to ensure quality.
- Adjusts recipes to volume of demand.
- Ensures food products are always properly garnished and merchandised.
- Uses mixers, ovens, choppers, steamers, grills (gas and electric), broiler, fryers and warmers.
- Supports department mission of serving exceptional food to the campus community.
- Interprets and explains established kitchen and production procedures. Initiates needed corrections on recipes and production guides.

Lead Duties:
- Assigns and checks work and provides training. May provide feedback to supervisor to assist with work assignments and job performance.
- Leads FSW and student employees.

Other Functions:
- Performs more detailed cleaning of work area during non-operational times.
- Assists in working and setting up for special events on or off campus as needed.
- Provides direction to student employees in the absence of the Service Supervisor or Cook 2.
- Performs other duties as assigned.

• Ability to cook foods from scratch using a variety of cooking techniques.
• Knowledge of operation and production kitchen equipment.
• Two years of work experience as a Cook, or the equivalent education/experience in a large-scale food service operation.
• Ability to use email.
• Demonstrated willingness and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
• Or equivalent combination of experience and/or training which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Special conditions of employment:
  • Must have or be able to obtain a WA. State Food Handlers permit within 30 days of initial hire date.
  • Must be able to obtain SERVSAFE Certification within 6 months of initial hire date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience cooking and leading other kitchen staff in a large-scale food service operation.
• Food production experience within a university or hospitality driven environment.
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Demonstrated participation in programs designed to promote inclusion.
• A record of promoting inclusivity in the work environment.

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Salary: This position is based on the range 35 of the Washington State Classification Listing, which has a minimum annual salary of $37,152 and maximum annual salary of $49,116. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Schedule/Appointment: Varies / 40 hours per week / 10.5 month cyclic position / WFSE Bargaining Unit 1

Working Conditions: Work is performed primarily indoors, at times in hot/cold/noisy/wet areas with some exposure to hazardous equipment and products. Working in temperatures from 0 degrees (freezer) to 350+ degrees (around cooking equipment) is common. Work requires walking and standing (often in a stationary position) for most of each shift. Bending/climbing/carrying/pulling/pushing/lifting associated with loading/unloading of supplies and preparation, plating and serving of food is required. Occasional overtime is required, and shift work may be required. Additional physical requirements of the position include pushing utility carts, and hand carts with up to 150 lbs. of supplies around to various workstations; correctly lifting 35lbs. individually from the floor or shelf locations to heights of 48" so products can be poured into smaller containers or put on worktables. Dining Service's mission is to provide exceptional food services to the campus community. All staff are expected to work in support of this mission in every function they perform. All staff are expected to work in support of the department's continuous quality improvement program, so service and products are properly handled, prepared, garnished/merchandised, and served to our customers. There is some exposure to hazardous equipment and products found in kitchen environments. Work will be in a kitchen setting. Work requires the ability to use both hands for production work. Staff members are hired with the understanding that they may be scheduled to work throughout the week including nights, weekends and holidays.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.