Cook at Good Foods Co-op Inc – Lexington, Kentucky

JOB TITLE: Cook

DEPARTMENT: Prepared Foods - Kitchen

SUPERVISOR: Prepared Foods Manager

FLSA STATUS: Non-exempt

STATUS: Group 2

PT/FT: Part –Time or Full-Time

END GOALS

Good Foods Co-op is at the forefront of a vibrant cooperative economy and is engaged in community partnerships to nourish:

• An equitable and sustainable food system
• Education that cultivates food citizenship
• Access to healthy food for all

SUMMARY

The Cook is responsible for preparing high-quality menu offerings according to established recipes and food safety guidelines. This position ensures the Prepared Foods Department remains stocked with fresh products, maintains cleanliness and organization within the kitchen, and provides exceptional customer service. A strong knowledge of natural foods is essential for this role.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understand, support, and reinforce

1. The cooperative principles and values
2. Good Foods Co-op’s End Goals and Visions of Success
3. Good Foods Co-op’s product standards
4. Good Foods Co-op’s customer service vision and standards
5. The history of cooperatives, including Good Foods Co-op
6. Local, organic, and natural foods
7. Workplace positivity and accountability

• Understand the requirements of the job and perform duties and tasks consistently, efficiently, and effectively as directed by the Prepared Foods Manager
• Understand and adhere to the Co-op’s Policies and Procedures Manual and the departmental policies and procedures, achieving expected results for the Kitchen Department and the Co-op.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Department Operations

• Respond to customers’ requests and needs, following store and department guidelines for excellent customer service.
• Perform daily department tasks as assigned.
• Alert department manager of equipment repair and replacement needs.
• Follow safety, sanitation, and security procedures.
• Ensures proper food safety and storage techniques as established by the Local Health Department.
• Properly record and dispose of unsellable items and trash.
• Contribute to accurate monthly and quarterly inventory counts, as requested.
• Work at an effective, efficient pace with a focus on the priorities established by the Prepared Food Manager.

Merchandise

• Ensure the Prepared Foods Department is clean, fully stocked and correctly rotated.
• Ensure well-organized back stock to minimize loss and out of stocks on the retail floor.
• Prepare all menu items according to established recipes
• Receive and process orders. Check condition of product and invoice accuracy on all deliveries. Document items and communicate inaccuracies for credit.
• Ensure the cleanliness of common spaces
• Receive and process special and wholesale orders
• Check for accuracy of all signage and scale labels. Alert the department manager of any inaccuracies or needs.

Other

• Attend staff and other meetings as necessary and/or requested.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.
• Maintain up to date certifications – Food Handlers Permit and Snap Training

Department Maintenance

• Keep retail areas for Prepared Foods, storage areas, and equipment including walk in cooler and freezer clean, orderly, and efficient condition as assigned.
• Implement regular and thorough cleanings of retail areas for Prepared Foods, storage areas, and equipment including Dish areas, walk-in cooler and freezer as assigned.
• Notify Prepared Foods Manager of specific needs for equipment repair or replacement.

Availability

• Sunday 8am - 4pm
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 12:30pm - 8:30pm

QUALIFICATIONS

• Availability – Must be available to work as scheduled and at least one weekend day each week.
• Education and/or Experience

1. High School diploma or equivalent.
2. Previous Grocery Deli or Food Service experience preferred.
3. High level of interest in natural and organic foods. High level of interest in the cooperative business structure and in the long-term sustainability of locally-owned, independent businesses preferred.
4. Very strong work ethic and demonstrable attention to detail. Must be a fast, focused, and hardworking person.
5. Experience working with the public. Experience with diverse cultures and backgrounds preferred.

PERFORMANCE SKILLS

• Customer Service – Puts customers first, treats everyone encountered while working fairly, consistently, and respectfully, ensures efficient, informative, and friendly service, responds to calls for assistance with customer needs, protects customers from internal disagreements.
• Communication – Effectively communicates in English. Listens well and gets clarification, communicates respectfully, clearly, directly, and honestly with all others in the organization at all times, understands and uses positive problem-solving methods, clearly presents information through the spoken or written word, edits work for spelling and grammar, presents numerical data effectively, reads and accurately interprets written information including all policies and procedures.
• Creativity and Initiative - Generates new and feasible ideas for improving the department and the cooperative overall. Transforms ideas into productive business outcomes. Meets challenges with thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, and creativity. Deals effectively with ambiguity. Brings about great results from ordinary circumstances.
• Decision Making – Performs tasks according to department procedure. Exhibits judgment and a realistic understanding of issues. Reviews facts, weighs options, and uses reason, even when dealing with emotional topics. Applies an appropriate sense of urgency when making decisions. Performs basic mathematical procedures correctly.
• Flexibility – Remains open-minded and changes opinions on the basis of new information. Learns and adapts to new tasks, situations, and the varying needs of the cooperative quickly and cooperatively.
• Planning/Organizing – Prioritizes and plans work activities and uses time efficiently, managing transitions from task to task effectively. Stays productive and focused, maintains a neat work area, and demonstrates attention to detail, performing tasks accurately and efficiently.
• Professionalism – Works number of hours/week scheduled for and arrives on time and ready to work for scheduled shifts, meetings, and other tasks or appointments regularly and predictably. Accepts direction willingly. Approaches others in a tactful manner, exhibits calmness and accuracy under pressure, and treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position. Maintains confidentiality and accountability for own actions. Understands technical requirements of job, applies technical knowledge consistently, and follows through on assigned tasks and commitments. Keeps emotions under control.
• Stewardship – Conserves and protects the assets and the overall success and sustainability of the co-op. Contributes to and supports improvements to the co-op’s systems and standards.
• Team Work –Treats co-workers with consistency and fairness, in a style appropriate to a cooperative work environment. Gives and welcomes feedback and exhibits objectivity, neutrality, and calmness under pressure. Open to others' views. Keeps store, backroom, offices, and other work areas orderly and clean.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Fast paced work environment
• Business office with moderate to loud environment including but not limited to: Computers, printers, paging, telephones, human voices, equipment, and machinery
• Work near moving mechanical parts (i.e. store equipment, tools, etc.)
• Work in cold/hot climate areas (i.e. outdoors, walk in cooler, freezer)
• Ability to work in an environment with moderate to loud noises (i.e. equipment and machinery)
• Crowded work spaces. Equipment sharing required
• Work in high precarious places (i.e. ladders, ladder work)

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Standing for long periods of time
• Walking, bending, sitting, reaching for long periods of time
• Using hands or fingers to handle or feel
• Ability to repeatedly lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to team lift up to and over 100 lbs.
• Ability to climb up and down step stools, ladders
• Ability to use feet and hands to operate machinery and equipment
• Ability to work in hot, cold, and wet climates
• High level of maneuverability
• Ability to communicate by talking and hearing

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER NOTICE

The job duties, elements, responsibilities, skills, functions, experience, educational factors, requirements, and conditions listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that the employee may be required to perform. The employer reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and require employees to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations or a work environment change.