CulinaryArts Student Worker - Baker & Lab Tech (FWS/NFWS)

Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a prominent private Christian university known for its commitment to providing excellent education and fostering student development across various disciplines. Nestled in the vibrant city of Phoenix, Arizona, GCU offers a dynamic learning environment that blends academic rigor with practical experience, preparing students for successful careers. The university emphasizes a student-first approach, fostering growth both inside and outside the classroom through hands-on learning, community engagement, and professional development opportunities. Within this educational atmosphere, GCU's culinary arts programs shine by equipping students with real-world skills necessary to excel in the competitive food industry.

The Culinary Baker & Lab Tech (Student Worker) position at GCU for the Fall 2026 semester is crafted thoughtfully to provide students with immersive, practical experience in pastry and baking production, alongside culinary laboratory support duties. This role is integral to the campus culinary operations, particularly within the Grand Canyon Baking Company (GCBC), where quality, consistency, and safety are top priorities. Employment is part-time, aimed at students balancing academics and work, with a pay rate at minimum wage. The position spans approximately 10 to 15 hours per week, predominantly during afternoon hours on weekdays to align with baking shift schedules and lab activities.

As a student worker in this role, you'll delve deep into the art and science of baking, preparing pastries, cookies, breads, muffins, and doughs by following standardized recipes and portion controls to ensure uniform quality across GCU's retail outlets. You will actively participate in scaling, mixing, baking, packaging, labeling, and monitoring product quality, adhering strictly to food safety guidelines. Beyond baking production, your responsibilities extend to supporting faculty in culinary lab setups, maintaining orderly kitchen and storage areas, restocking essential tools and ingredients, and assisting with equipment maintenance reporting. This blend of responsibilities offers a comprehensive view of culinary operations, marrying production efficiency with educational support.

The campus culinary environment values cleanliness, organization, and compliance with ServSafe and GCU's rigorous safety protocols to maintain a safe workspace. Students stepping into this position enhance not only their baking techniques but also develop vital skills in kitchen sanitation, ingredient management, inventory control, and workflow optimization. This job fosters responsibility, teamwork, and professionalism by engaging with faculty, staff, and peers in a foodservice setting. Preferred applicants are those with prior bakery or culinary experience, though willingness to learn and a positive, proactive attitude are equally valued.

In addition to gaining tangible bakery production experience, students will build competencies in high-volume mise en place, preparation tasks, culinary lab operations, knife skills, sanitation, and product evaluation. The role also encourages growth in soft skills like professionalism, teamwork, and adaptability—qualities highly sought after in culinary and hospitality careers. Successful candidates will also meet GCU's student employment eligibility criteria, including full-time enrollment in a degree program and maintaining specified GPA and academic standing.

Overall, this role offers a vital stepping stone for culinary arts students desiring hands-on practice in baking and culinary technology within a university setting. It supports both academic and career development while contributing to the seamless function of GCU’s culinary learning spaces and retail production. Joining the GCU Culinary Arts team as a Culinary Baker & Lab Tech student worker is an excellent opportunity to enhance your culinary expertise, apply classroom knowledge, and prepare for a thriving career in food production and hospitality management.