Cook I (Prep Cook)

Starting at $18.64 hourly

Schedule (subject to change): 

Full Time / Weekdays & Weekends Vary / 10:45am-7:15pm

Position Summary: 

Under the supervision of the Sous Chef and Cook 3, provides assistance for the kitchen staff by preparing a variety of meats, fish, vegetables and fruit to produce high quality large volume meals. May work on the line preparing, cooking and plating food sent through from the restaurant ensuring to follow the kitchen manual provided and takes directions from the Chef in charge.

Major Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Prepare a variety of cooking ingredients to include vegetables and fruits by washing, peeling, cutting, chopping and slicing.
• Prepare a variety of protein to include meat and fish by cleaning, trimming, cutting, chopping and slicing.
• Perform cooking duties such as, but not limited to, par boiling vegetables, searing meats and fish, and making basic sauces. 
• Must be able to read and understand a variety of materials, including but not limited to, menus, orders, labels, and recipes. 
• Follow production lists created by the Sous Chef.
• Prepares food in accordance with recipe specifications and standard food preparation practices that maximize freshness, food safety and sanitation and minimizes waste. 
• Ensure that all food has been prepared is correctly covered, labeled, dated, and stored in correct location in the refrigerator.  
• Performs kitchen clean up including, but not limited to, sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning sinks and countertops.
• Ensure all equipment and utensils used in the preparation of food are clean and sanitized. Maintain a continuous state of cleanliness.
• Maintains high standards of quality food production and appropriate quantities of food needed to meet menu requirements at the proper time.
• Prevents food waste, rotates stock, and maintains appropriate inventory pars.
• May be required, based on assigned location, to operate/drive a golf cart for the purpose of transporting supplies around campus as needed. This may also include transporting employees, residents and/or guests when needed. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Has good knife handling skills in food preparation.
• Has ability to listen to instructions and follow directions.
• Is organized, able to multi-task, think creatively and to adapt to different situations. 
• Demonstrates proficiency in basic knife handling, cutting, chopping, slicing, and dicing techniques. 
• Must be able to complete training on computer and/or other devices.
• Maintain competency in the position and knowledge of trade/industry advances and new technologies.
• Must be able to effectively communicate in English with all levels of staff, residents, and guests. 

Education and Experience:

• Preferably has a high school diploma or GED equivalent. 
• Has experience working in a professional, full-service restaurant environment. 
• Has experience performing prep cook duties which include cutting & chopping meats, fish, fruits & vegetables. 
• Experience performing basic cooking duties which includes roasting, grilling, steaming, sautéing & searing. 

Licenses and Certifications:

• Obtains a Maricopa County food handler’s card within 30 days of employment. 
• If driving duties apply, has current, valid driver’s license. Driving record must meet the criteria set forth by Royal Oaks’ insurance carrier. 
• If applicable, has a Certificate of Completion for memory care services training or obtains within 30 days of hire and complies with annual certification requirements.

Physical Requirements:

• Is able to carry/lift/push/pull up to 50 pounds.
• May need to operate a fire extinguisher.
• Is able to assist in evacuation procedures. 

Essential Functions:

Physical: climbing to include legs and arms, kneeling, lifting/moving, carrying/transporting, walking/traversing or moving, standing/stationary position, bending, reaching to include forward and above shoulder level, pulling, pushing, fine manipulation (pen, using a mouse), gross/total manipulation (firm hand grasping, twisting), twisting, stooping

Cognitive: written and oral communication, work under time constraints, concentrate amid distractions, problem solve, make decisions, work rapidly, working within minimal errors

Environmental: inside, outside, humid, wet, change of temperature, toxic or caustic chemicals, hot, odors, near moving mechanical parts, working with others, working around others, dirty

Hiring Process:

• Pre-employment Drug Screening
• Criminal Background Check 
• MVR Background Check
• Adult Protective Services (APS) Registry Check
• Employment Verification
• TB Testing
• Royal Oaks is a Drug Free Workplace. Royal Oaks conducts pre-employment, random and reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with its drug-free workplace policy. Royal Oaks' general hiring policy does not discriminate against registered medical marijuana cardholders. However, in accordance with A.R.S. 23-493.06 Royal Oaks may decline to employ or to continue to employ persons in safety-sensitive positions based on the results of drug testing.
• Royal Oaks does not discriminate in hiring or employment against holders of Arizona's Medical Marijuana card, although we do prohibit marijuana use on premise.   Although Arizona has legalized recreational marijuana use as well as medical use, the law creates no employment protections for applicants or employees who are recreational marijuana users.  Royal Oaks will require a drug screen for all applicants who accept a job offer and may decline those applicants who are positive for marijuana without a Medical Marijuana card.  Royal Oaks will continue to prohibit all employees from using, selling, possessing, or being impaired by marijuana in the workplace and while on duty.

Incredible Perks Available to you!

• Get Health Benefits Fast – Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits start the first day after the month you're hired! (Full-time only)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Access to mental health support, legal counseling, financial coaching, and more through Talkspace and other resources.
• Choice of Two Affordable Medical Plans – Starting as low as $82/paycheck for employee-only coverage (Full-time only). 
• On-Campus Medical Providers – Convenient healthcare options right at your workplace.
• Six Annual Paid Holidays – Enjoy time off to recharge with paid holidays throughout the year.
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) – Start accruing PTO from day one, with up to 3 weeks in your first year (Full-time only).
• Cash in Unused PTO Hours – Convert unused PTO into cash (limits and details apply).
• Volunteer Time Off (VTO) – Get 4 hours of paid VTO annually to give back to your community, without using your PTO.
• Referral Bonus – Earn up to $600 for each friend you refer who gets hired – and there’s no limit to how many people you can refer!
• Tuition Reimbursement – Receive up to $5,000 annually in tuition reimbursement to support your educational goals.
• Career Growth Opportunities – We promote from within! Last year, we proudly promoted over 30 employees.
• FREE Fitness Center Access – Stay healthy with on-site gym facilities or enjoy gym reimbursement up to $200 annually.
• Annual Shoe Reimbursement – Get up to $40 annually for work shoes to keep you comfortable and stylish.
• Uniform & Reimbursement – Uniforms provided or reimbursed for many positions.
• Covered Parking – Convenient parking at no extra cost.
• Employee Meal Discount – Enjoy 20% off meals while at work.
• Exclusive Employee Discount Program – Save big on travel, electronics, entertainment, and more!
• Retirement Plan with Matching – Save for the future with a retirement plan offering 4%-10% matching contributions.

Interview Process:

• 30-minute phone interview with a Royal Oaks Recruiter
• 90-minute in-person and cooking interview at Royal Oaks.  The first 30 minutes will involve speaking with a Sous Chef and the remaining 60 minutes will be a hands-on cooking assessment, where you’ll sanitize and uniformly dice fruits and vegetables, followed by grilling a chicken breast to demonstrate proper grill marks and ensuring it reaches a proper internal temperature. 

Who is Royal Oaks?

• We are a retirement community for Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory care for our 700+ residents.
• We have 400 employees
• We are located on 52 acres 
• We serve over 1300+ meals daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch)
• We have over 150+ Food Service employees.
• We have 12 onsite dining rooms, including a Café Grill Dining, Casual Dining, Buffet Dining and High-End Scale Dining. Our dining rooms range from 25-100 seats each.
• We have 7 kitchens, including 1 kitchen measuring at 4500 square feet and several smaller kitchens too.  Some of our smaller kitchens only hold 1-10+ cooks and dishwashers per shift.  Some of our larger kitchens hold 30-40+ cooks and dishwashers per shift.
• We have a brand-new Culinary Building consisting of a 3200 square foot state-of-the-art culinary kitchen, including Award Winning high-end Hestan Appliances.  Attached to that kitchen are 3 brand new restaurants, which include outdoor seating with waterfalls, and glass fire pits.
• We have a stone pizza oven that was hand made in Italy just for Royal Oaks.  It was shipped over on a barge ship that took several months to arrive.  Master your pizza skills learning to cook in this magnificent stone pizza oven.
• We have an Executive Chef, an Executive Sous Chef and 3 Sous Chefs, most of which were promoted from our internal kitchen employees.  You too can grow with us!
• We have several cooks that have been working at Royal Oaks between 15 to 38 years each
• We have a large Catering Department for onsite private events for our residents and staff members serving over 100+ on-campus events every year!  Some events are very small, some rather large!  Some indoors and some outdoors.
• We are only one of a hand-full of Retirement Communities in AZ that have robots, we have 6 in total, serving hot and cold plates of food to our residents in our dining rooms. 

Royal Oaks Awards:

• 2024 Compass Community Living Account of the Year - West Region
• 2024 Culinary Award = Inspirata Pointe at Royal Oaks has been awarded the Platinum Winner in Environments for Aging’s (EFA) 2nd Annual Dining Competition 
• 2024 Culinary Achievement = The culinary team at Royal Oaks recently participated in a photo session, turning their kitchen creations into works of art. Each member of the team designed unique presentations that were then expertly photographed by one of our staff, Leny Longo. These photos were submitted for a chance to be featured in an exhibit at The Herberger Theater. We are thrilled to announce that one of our entries was selected! Executive Chef Francelle Mata’s exquisite creation, titled "Aladdin's Coffee," has been chosen for display in the gallery show. This summer 2024, Chef Francelle's masterpiece will be featured alongside other works by 37 local artists from Arizona, highlighting the intersection of culinary art and visual presentation. 

Disclaimer: This job posting is intended as a general summary of duties and responsibilities. A comprehensive job description is available upon request.