Cook - Killingly School Nutrition

School Cook – Fuel Young Minds with Every Meal!

Monday–Friday | Daytime Hours | No Nights or Weekends!

Love to cook but looking for a schedule that gives you your evenings and weekends back? Join our school nutrition team as a Cook and help prepare fresh, nutritious meals that fuel students throughout their school day.

What You'll Do

• Prepare and cook meals according to established menus, recipes, and production needs.
• Follow proper cooking techniques, portioning, and presentation standards.
• Ensure food is prepared, cooked, held, and served safely.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen and work area.
• Work as part of a team to ensure meals are prepared and served on time.
• Follow food allergy procedures and support students with special dietary needs.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety requirements.

Why You'll Love This Job

• Monday–Friday daytime schedule – be home by mid-afternoon.
• No nights or weekends.
• Steady, consistent hours in a school environment.
• Paid training and opportunities to grow.
• Make a difference by helping provide nutritious meals to students every day.
• Work with a supportive, team-oriented food service team.

What We're Looking For

• Knowledge of recipe preparation and cooking techniques.
• Commitment to food safety, sanitation, and maintaining a clean kitchen.
• Dependable, positive, and professional attitude.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Ability to stand and walk for most of the workday and lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Willingness to complete all required Whitsons and government training.

Why Join Whitsons?

• Competitive pay with opportunities for growth.
• Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement options for eligible team members.
• Paid time off for eligible team members.
• A schedule that works well for individuals looking for a better work-life balance.
• The opportunity to do meaningful work in your community.

About Whitsons

At Whitsons, we believe food has the power to transform a school day. Our cooks are everyday heroes who prepare meals that nourish bodies and minds. Join us and bring your heart to the kitchen where it matters most.

Apply today and help cook up a brighter future—at Whitsons our mission is Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™.

Pay Rate: $18.00/hour

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Must complete all Whitsons and government-required training as applicable to the position.

Certifications

• ServSafe certification required.
• Local food safety certification, if required by the jurisdiction of employment.

Experience and Competencies

• Minimum of 1 year of professional culinary experience required.
• Proficiency in recipe preparation, cooking procedures, and proper cooking techniques.
• Ability to read, speak, and understand English sufficiently to perform job duties, follow recipes, and understand safety procedures and instructions.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced food service environment.
• Must consistently demonstrate a positive, professional attitude and appearance.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a team and provide excellent customer service.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the team member may be required to:

• Stand and walk for the majority of the workday.
• Sit, walk, talk, and hear as necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate equipment, tools, and controls.
• Frequently reach with hands and arms.
• Lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Lift, carry, bend, reach, and occasionally turn from side to side while handling items.
• Perform repetitive movements associated with food preparation and service.
• Maintain close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed primarily in the kitchen and on food service/serving lines.
• Standing and walking are required for the majority of the workday.
• Work requires frequent movement between kitchen areas, serving areas, storage rooms, refrigerators, and freezers.
• Team members may be exposed to temperature extremes associated with ovens, cooking equipment, refrigerators, and freezers.
• The noise level in the work environment may range from moderate to loud.
• Proper food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety procedures must be followed at all times.

Additional Information

The duties and responsibilities listed above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications required.

The omission of a specific duty does not exclude it from the position when the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment of the position. Whitsons reserves the right to add, modify, or reassign duties as operational needs and job requirements change.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between Whitsons and the team member and is subject to change based on the needs of Whitsons and the requirements of the position.