COOK (PART TIME)

Rockford, IL, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Part-time

Compensation

Hourly

Exact $16.50

Work Schedule

Rotating Shifts

Benefits

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

holiday time off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and wellness programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee assistance program

flexible spending accounts

Job Description

Fresh Ideas Management is a vibrant and dynamic food service management company dedicated to delivering exceptional culinary experiences. Based in Rockford, Illinois, Fresh Ideas operates at Rockford University located at 5050 East State Street, providing quality food services in a vibrant academic environment. The company believes in the powerful impact of good food, emphasizing how food brings people together and creates lasting memories. Fresh Ideas fosters a fun and creative workplace culture where innovation and openness thrive, encouraging its team members to contribute fresh ideas and culinary creativity. Known for its diverse workforce and commitment to excellence, Fresh Ideas Management offers comprehensive benefits and training opportunities to support its employees' growth and well-being. The firm emphasizes work-life balance and respects flexible schedules, making it an attractive employer for part-time workers and culinary professionals alike.

The current opportunity is for a part-time Cook position based at Rockford University. This role emphasizes food preparation according to rigorous federal, state, and corporate health and safety standards to ensure all meals are consistently high quality, attractive, and safe. The position offers an hourly pay rate of $16.50, with schedules designed to accommodate Monday through Friday work weeks, which may include rotating weekends. This role requires prior cooking experience, ensuring that candidates are familiar with cooking principles, portion control, and food safety procedures. The cook will be responsible for preparing meals using standardized recipes, maintaining cleanliness in food preparation areas, managing storage to uphold food safety, and handling kitchen equipment safely and efficiently. This position is integral to delivering engaging and enjoyable dining experiences for guests of Rockford University. Working at Fresh Ideas offers accelerated career growth and promotion opportunities due to the company’s rapid expansion and ongoing commitment to continuous training. Applicants must submit applications online, and further details about schedules and job specifics will be provided during the interview process. Fresh Ideas also maintains a drug-free workplace and complies with all applicable labor laws and safety regulations, ensuring a professional and secure work environment. This role will appeal to culinary professionals eager to join a supportive and creative team while contributing their expertise to a respected food service management company.

Job Requirements

Prior cooking experience required
Ability to follow federal, state and corporate food safety standards
Willingness to work part-time hours Monday through Friday with rotating weekends
Ability to stand for extended periods
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Basic English proficiency for communication
Ability to handle kitchen equipment safely
Reliable and punctual
Ability to work in a team environment

Job Qualifications

Prior cooking experience
Ability to follow standardized recipes and food safety guidelines
Knowledge of food preparation techniques
Familiarity with kitchen equipment operation and maintenance
Strong attention to detail
Good communication and teamwork skills
Ability to maintain cleanliness and organization in the kitchen
Commitment to safety and health standards

Job Duties

Prepares high-quality food items according to standardized recipes and instructions to meet production, delivery and service schedules
Serves meals or prepares for delivery by using correct portioning, meeting outlined standards, ensuring that food is at the correct temperature and is attractive and tasty
Tastes all prepared food items
Uses established ticket collection procedures during service
Responsible for records from area worked during service periods
Cleans kitchen after preparation and serving, maintaining high standards of cleanliness
Stores or discards excess food in accordance with safe food-handling procedures
Keeps refrigerators and storerooms clean and neat
Ensures food and supply items are stored per standards
Operates and maintains kitchen equipment as instructed
Assists in production planning, record keeping and reporting as required
Assists in the ordering and receiving of all food and supplies as required
Reports needed maintenance, faulty equipment or accidents to the supervisor immediately
Attends in-service and safety meetings
Maintains good working relationships with coworkers, customers, administrators and managers
Performs job safely while maintaining a clean, safe work environment
Performs other duties as assigned
Ensures proper presentation, portion control and maintenance of serving temperatures
follows HACCP standards
Personal commitment to your own safety and that of others
Abides by all Company policies and procedures including but not limited to: The use of medium weight cut gloves when handling or using knives, peelers, choppers, mandolins or cleaning a slicer
The use of oven mitts, fryer gloves or steamer gloves when handling hot pans from ovens, warmers or steam tables
The use of slip-resistant shoes and proper lifting techniques