Cook 2 - Float

Washington State University (WSU) is a prominent public research university located in Pullman, Washington. Known for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement, WSU offers a diverse range of programs and services that contribute to the educational development and well-being of its students. The university's Dining Services department, operating under Student Affairs, plays a crucial role in providing high-quality culinary experiences to the campus community through various dining venues and catering services. WSU Dining Services emphasizes quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction while fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment for its employees.

The Cook 2 - Float position is a full-time, classified role within Dining Services, designed to operate on an 11-month term basis at 100% FTE (full-time equivalent). This position is located in Pullman, WA, and primarily supports the Southside Café under the direction of the General Manager and culinary leadership team, including the Chef/Manager and Sous Chef. The Cook 2 - Float works under general supervision and has a dynamic responsibility to prepare menu items that include standard daily offerings, special menus, and catering selections. In addition to filling in temporary vacancies across other Cook 2 positions within Dining Services, this role requires flexibility, teamwork, and the ability to maintain consistent quality standards while adapting to the varying demands of different kitchen environments.

The role includes collaborating with culinary leaders to develop new and seasonal menu items, ensuring food safety and proper handling, maintaining appropriate stock levels to minimize waste, establishing production levels for both peak and off-peak service times, and providing exceptional customer service. The Cook 2 - Float must demonstrate sound judgment, integrity, and a strong commitment to high-quality food preparation and customer experience. Employees in this position are expected to maintain a clean and organized workspace, comply with safety standards, and support oversight and record-keeping duties within their designated production areas.

WSU offers a competitive salary range from $3,495 to $4,653 monthly, with scheduled salary increments as part of a collective bargaining agreement. To enhance recruitment, a hiring incentive payment of up to $3,500 is available for qualified candidates. The position is overtime eligible and requires a flexible work schedule that may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Candidates must have at least two years of cooking experience in large-scale food service or culinary operations, with supervisory experience preferred. Educational substitutions and equivalent experience in State service are also recognized. Possession or the ability to obtain a Food Handler's Permit within 14 days of employment is mandatory. The university values multi-faceted food experience, including familiarity with à la carte restaurant cooking and various international or ethnic cuisines. Experience in leading and training employees, as well as knowledge of commercial kitchen equipment use, safety, and maintenance, are considered assets.

Working for WSU comes with an extensive benefits package including paid sick and vacation leave, paid holidays, medical, dental, life and disability insurance for employees and their dependents, retirement plans, deferred compensation options, training and development opportunities, and an employee tuition waiver. The university is committed to equal opportunity employment and encourages applications from veterans, persons with disabilities, and other qualified groups. Background checks are part of the hiring process due to the nature of the access and responsibilities this role entails. This position does not offer visa sponsorship and requires candidates to be U.S. citizens or lawfully authorized to work in the United States.