Prep Cook | Nichols College

Worcester, MA, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Hourly

Range $14.50 - $18.50

Work Schedule

Flexible

Benefits

weekly pay

401k with match

Employee Meal

Employee Referral Bonus Program

Employee assistance program

Flexible hours and shifts

Medical insurance

Prescription coverage

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Uniforms Provided

Safety shoes provided

Learning and advancement opportunities

Job Description

American Dining Creations is a prominent division of American Food & Vending, recognized as one of the largest privately held hospitality service partners in the United States. With a nationwide presence, the company excels in providing tailored dining programs that cater to the unique needs of its corporate and educational dining partners. By leveraging a blend of national strength and local flexibility, American Dining Creations offers innovative culinary solutions and high-quality dining experiences. The company prides itself on pairing superior culinary offerings with outstanding management practices, ensuring each client receives the highest operational standards and prompt, creative service. Its comprehensive dining services include full café dining featuring the Fresh Difference culinary philosophy, mobile ordering, catering, events, and the convenient grab-and-go program named My Fresh Market. Employing over 2,000 people, American Dining Creations serves hundreds of thousands of customers daily, emphasizing true partnership, customization, and 24/7 support.

The role of Lead Cook at American Dining Creations is pivotal in delivering exceptional dining experiences through skilled food preparation and leadership within the kitchen. The Lead Cook is responsible for the accurate and efficient preparation, portioning, grilling, and presentation of menu items, ensuring consistency and quality across all offerings. This position demands strong leadership skills, as the Lead Cook must promote teamwork, support their culinary team, and efficiently multitask in a fast-paced environment. The ability to operate various kitchen equipment such as stove tops, flat tops, and open flame grills is essential. Furthermore, Lead Cooks handle food safety by adhering to established standards for storing, rotating, and logging temperature and production records. They maintain inventory, replenish supplies, and ensure stations are clean and sanitized according to local and state food safety regulations. Exceptional customer service skills are also vital, as Lead Cooks interact with guests to provide memorable dining experiences. This role often includes operating point-of-sale systems for order completion and packaging to-go items. The position is physically demanding, requiring the ability to lift up to 50 pounds and remain on their feet for scheduled shifts. American Dining Creations values candidates who are self-motivated, detail-oriented, and dedicated to hospitality excellence, offering opportunities for learning and career advancement. This position is located in Dudley, Massachusetts, with pay varying by location, and includes weekly pay with additional employee benefits.

Job Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent preferred
Previous experience in a lead kitchen role or food service
Ability to operate stove top, flat top, and open flame grill
Knowledge of food safety and sanitation regulations
Strong communication and teamwork skills
Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment
Must be able to lift 50 pounds and stand for long periods
Must be flexible with scheduling and location
Willingness to learn and take initiative
Must maintain professional appearance and positive attitude

Job Qualifications

Previous experience in a lead kitchen role or a proven background in hospitality/food service, utilizing a flat top or open flame grill
Basic knife skills a plus
Ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced, high-volume, high-quality environment
Self-motivated achiever, eager to learn and interested in taking on additional roles and responsibilities
Must be dedicated to excellence in hospitality and have a desire to offer a great dining experience
Ability to cross train and cross utilize skills
Safety and detail oriented
Ability to lift 50 pounds, bend, walk, climb stairs, and stand for scheduled shifts

Job Duties

Lead by example, support the team, and take initiative to streamline and improve dining services
Cook, grill and serve menu offerings within a designated station
Utilize a stove top, flat top, open flame grill and other necessary kitchen equipment
Carry pans, kettles, and trays of food to and from workstations, stove, and refrigerator in accordance with established safety standards
Prepare and serve food and any goods per guest specifications
Store foods in designated areas following standard wrapping, dating, food safety, and rotation procedures
Retain temperature logs and production records in an efficient manner
Keep supplies replenished, coolers restocked, and take inventory as directed
Set-up and breakdown stations, clean and sanitize equipment, utensils, dishes for designated workstation
Adhere to all state and local food production, safety, and sanitation regulations
Remain focused on customer satisfaction through providing excellent service to all guests, clients, and team members
Listen well and communicate in a professional and friendly manner
Be efficient and organized
Operate POS to complete orders and package to-go items
May be assigned other duties and responsibilities as needed