Beverages, Budgeting, Cleaning Equipment, Communication Skills, Cook Dishes, Culinary Operations, Customer Experience, Food Delivery, Food Presentation, Food Safety, Food Services, Food and Beverage Industry, Health Department, High School Diploma, Higher Education, Inventory Management, Management Science, Operational Support, Operations, Operations Management, Portion Control, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Purchasing/Procurement, Quality Metrics, Regulations, Safety Training, Sanitation, Time Management
The College of Human Sciences School of Hospitality Management is seeking a Culinary Operations Cook. This position is responsible for preparing and serving high-quality food for customers within the Hey Day Market Incubation Unit for the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management. This position supports daily culinary operations by ensuring efficient food preparation, presentation, and service while adhering to established food safety, sanitation, and quality standards. The role contributes to a positive customer experience and supports the instructional and operational goals of the hospitality program.
Responsibilities:
- Assists in preparing the kitchen for daily service by setting up workstations, organizing supplies, and preparing assigned menu items according to established recipes, quality standards, and portion guidelines.
- Helps maintain a clean, sanitary, and safe kitchen environment by following food safety regulations and properly cleaning equipment, tools, and work areas.
- Supports meal service by transporting prepared food and beverages to designated service areas efficiently and safely.
- Contributes to a positive dining experience by providing courteous, timely, and customer‑focused meal and beverage service.
- Assists with storing, labeling, rotating, and handling food products and supplies to maintain freshness, reduce waste, and meet safety requirements.
- Helps with receiving and organizing food and supply deliveries, verifying accuracy under supervision, and assisting with basic inventory tasks.
- Supports the sourcing of food and supply items from approved local vendors when needed, following purchasing guidelines and budget parameters as directed.
Qualifications:
Level I:
- High school diploma or equivalent and 1 year of experience in food services including food preparation, commercial kitchen operations, use of professional cooking equipment, or related culinary environment.
Level II:
- High school diploma or equivalent and 3 years of experience in food services including food preparation, commercial kitchen operations, use of professional cooking equipment, or related culinary environment.
License and Certifications:
- SAFE Serve Certification required upon hire
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of state and local health department regulations related to food storage and preparation.
- Knowledge of commercial kitchen operations and food‑service workflows.
- Knowledge of inventory management.
- Skilled in preparing and cooking menu items using standardized recipes, portion controls, and proper culinary techniques to ensure consistent quality.
- Ability to work efficiently in a fast‑paced kitchen environment.
- Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, vendors, and customers.
Why Work at Auburn:
- Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
- Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
- We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
- Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
- A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
- Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!
Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement:
It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.A
Auburn University
Welcome to Auburn University, a
comprehensive land, space and sea grant research institution blending arts and applied sciences. The University
continuously changes to accommodate today's needs, while still respecting the traditions and spirit of Auburn. As we grow and change, Auburn will always continue its tradition of excellence.
The main campus had an enrollment during fall of 2007 of 24,137. Auburn University offers degrees in 13 schools and colleges at the undergraduate,
graduate and professional levels.
Auburn University is known not only for its academic excellence, but for its impact on Alabama as well. A recent study
determined AU had nearly $ 4 billion
economic impact on the state of Alabama, including a $ 1.5 billion impact on the economy and a $ 2.4 billion impact in "human capital." AU's Technical Assistance Center, a collaborative Engineering / Business outreach unit, performs hundreds of projects annually for state industry, generating millions of dollars in increased efficiencies and saving or creating hundreds of jobs statewide.
Auburn University has developed into one of the largest universities in the South, remaining in the educational forefront with its traditional blend of arts and applied science, and changing with the needs of today while living with a respect for the traditions and spirit that are Auburn.