Cook II - Baker

Claremont McKenna College is a renowned liberal arts college located in Claremont, California. Known for its rigorous academics and commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment, the College is a vibrant community that values diversity and equal opportunity. It emphasizes creating a harassment-free workplace and educational setting, abiding by all applicable state and federal laws to ensure equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or other protected categories. The College not only promotes equality but also is proactive in maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all its members.

The Cook II - Baker role at Claremont McKenna College is a vital position within the College's food services, specifically under the Bon Appetit management team. This full-time, non-exempt, benefits-eligible position is structured around a nine-month academic calendar, requiring flexibility with working hours that may include overtime, weekends, holidays, and evenings as needed. The primary function of the Cook II - Baker is to expertly prepare a wide variety of baked goods including breads, muffins, cakes, cookies, bars, pies, and specialty desserts from scratch. This includes producing vegan and gluten-free options daily to accommodate diverse dietary needs. The position requires close collaboration with the Sous and Executive Chef to innovate and introduce new bakery items, ensuring that meal services and catering offerings meet the high standards expected by the College community.

Operating within a fast-paced commercial kitchen environment, the Cook II - Baker must adhere strictly to food safety protocols and sanitation standards as mandated by the Health Department, maintaining a clean and safe work area throughout their shift. The role involves not only baking from scratch but also preparing baked goods for catering events, including fine dining selections, and managing bakery prep assignments cooperatively with the baking team. Additional responsibilities include calibrating ovens and scales to ensure product consistency, setting up the baking cart for the next day, and contributing ideas to enhance the department's offerings through customer interaction and personal research.

Physical demands of this role include the ability to stand for prolonged periods, lift up to 50 lbs, and perform various physical movements such as bending, climbing, pushing, and reaching. The employee is also expected to wear appropriate attire, including a uniform provided by the College. The position does not include supervisory responsibilities but requires excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to take and follow directions, and a positive attitude to work cooperatively with others.

The compensation for this role ranges from $23.00 to $26.00 per hour. Claremont McKenna College supports its employees with a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision plans, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, paid vacation, sick and holiday leave, retirement benefits, life insurance options, dependent tuition remission, and ride share incentives.

This position requires prior baking experience in a commercial kitchen setting and a California Food Handlers Card. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to bake from scratch, understand food sanitation policies, and perform necessary arithmetic related to food preparation. The College encourages applicants who can communicate clearly and professionally and who can manage multiple priorities effectively. Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants and employees with disabilities, with an emphasis on equal opportunity employment practices throughout the College.