Culinary Worker III-Cook (1751)
DeKalb, IL 
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Job Description
Position Information

Working Position Title Culinary Worker III-Cook (1751)
Classification Culinary Worker III
Position Number 00001751
Open Date 04/12/2024
Close Date 05/02/2024
Priority Review Date
Employee Class Staff
Full-Time/Part Time Part-Time
FTE 0.8
Position Status Regular
FLSA Non-Exempt
Job code 3868
Union Representation Union
Union Code AFS - AFSCME, Local #963
Unit/Department Lorado Taft Operations
College/Unit OERD Facilities
Division Outreach Engagemt Regl Dev Dv
Location LT
Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://www.niu.edu/taft/index.shtml
Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview
THIS POSITION IS BASED IN OREGON, IL AT THE LORADO TAFT FIELD CAMPUS. IT IS A 9-MONTH POSITION (FROM MARCH THROUGH NOVEMBER) FOR 30 HOURS PER WEEK.

The Lorado Taft Field Campus is Northern Illinois University's outdoor education and conference center and is located in Oregon, Illinois. Taft Campus' outdoor education program is generally multidisciplinary, place-based, and experiential, and planned in close partnership with the visiting schools with the goal of providing excellent programming and customer service to the visiting students and staff. The Taft Campus is known for providing excellent food service to groups of all ages. The Culinary Worker III position is an integral part of the food service team.

For additional information about Lorado Taft Field Campus, please visit https://www.niu.edu/taft/.

Position Summary
The Culinary Worker III (Cook) is responsible for the preparation of foods in accordance with the campus standards of quality food service including accurately following recipes and preparation guidelines, maintaining cleanliness of food preparation areas, ensuring meals are served on time and at proper serving temperature, and ensuring that safe, adequate substitutions are provided to guests and staff who have special dietary requirements. This position's contributions help to support the Taft Campus' emphasis on providing excellent customer service and encouraging return customers. This position receives direction from the Taft Campus Food Service Administrator. This is an 80% FTE, 75% staff year position, with a staff year of March 1 to November 30, with additional hours during the winter months as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Planning and Preparation
  • Perform food preparation tasks including measuring, mixing, and cutting ingredients based on established recipes and preparing without a recipe when one is not useful.
  • Prepare baked goods from scratch.
  • Prepare and cook appetizers, salads, vegetables, soups, sauces, entrees and desserts.
  • Maintain ready supply of coffee.
  • Check menu and special diets for upcoming needs and complete necessary food prep to ensure all needs are met.
  • Requisition supplies from local grocery in lieu of shortage.
  • When necessary, communicate with dining hall liaison to maintain proper table counts and settings.
  • Adhere to food preparation sanitation practices.


Food Service and Storage
  • Serve food in both family-style and buffet service modes.
  • Utilize reusable foods in desirable manner.
  • Date, rotate and store food in correct storage areas.
  • Assist in keeping food storage areas neat and orderly and ensure that all food items are put away in their proper place after use.
  • Be cognizant of efficient techniques for delivery and service of food items and adhere to food service sanitation practices.

Kitchen Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Wash pots and pans and put away.
  • Clean up working areas when food prep is completed.
  • Clean equipment, shelves, counters, and carts.
  • Clean sinks.
  • Assist Food Service Sanitation Laborer in putting dishes away, as needed.

Campus Maintenance
  • Assist the Building and Grounds department staff in facility and grounds maintenance during times when there are no food service needs, including (but not limited to):
    • Cleaning
    • Painting
    • Mulching
    • Snow removal
    • Brush hauling

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)
  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • One (1) year (12 months) of work experience that is comparable to that described in the lower level of this series.
  • Successful completion of the Food Service Manager training and acquiring the Illinois Department of Public Health, Food Service Manager Certification (from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited trainer) within two months of hire date.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)
  • Knowledge of materials and methods used to prepare food on a large scale, use and care of relevant utensils and equipment and food values and nutrition.
  • Knowledge of sanitary procedures and directives; how to use simple cleaning solutions and equipment.
  • Knowledge of basic arithmetic operations and their applications.
  • Knowledge of quality control analysis, such as conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Skill in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made.
  • Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
  • Skill in developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Ability to read and interpret relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Ability to plan meals on a large scale.
  • Ability to work with and supervise other kitchen employees.

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)
None

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)
  • Possession of an Illinois Allergens Course Certificate.
  • Experience serving banquet/catering style food service to groups of 100 people or more.
  • Experience in a leadership/supervisor role of two employees or more.
  • Experience in a position preparing and serving food to high-risk individuals such as children or the elderly.
  • Experience in a customer service capacity, directly and actively listening to the dietary needs of guests.
  • Experience reading labels and understanding ingredients to determine safety for special dietary needs.
  • Able to independently plan and prioritize work with quality, productivity and serving time in mind.
  • Experience in quality control which required adjusting or replacing products when needed for safety or quality.
  • Experience determining and fulfilling needs for the next day/shift.
  • Experience closing a facility nightly with attention to safely shutting down equipment.

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)
N/A

Additional Requirements (SPS)
N/A

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)
N/A

Physical demands/requirements
  • Standing and walking for the entire shift, except for scheduled break times.
  • Frequently lifting and moving items weighing up to 25 lbs.
  • Occasionally lifting and moving items weighing up to 50 lbs.
  • Occasionally using a ladder to heights up to 6 feet.
  • Occasionally working outdoors in inclement weather conditions.
Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date 06/01/2024
Anticipated Appointment End Date
Percent of Staff Year 0.75
Standard Hours Per Week 30
Working Hours Tuesday - Saturday shifts, 11:00a-7:00p or 2:00p-7:00p, depending on operational needs
Salary As outlined in collective bargaining agreement, currently under negotiation
Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range
Earn Type Hourly
Application Procedure

Application Procedure
Application Procedures:

  • Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.
  • If eligible for Veteran's Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.
  • After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.
  • Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu. Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.
  • Applicants must be a current citizen or resident of the State of Illinois to move forward in the hiring process.


Credentials Assessment Examination:

  • The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant's/employee's education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.

Additional Details:

  • Click on Culinary Worker III for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.
    • Applicants who may assume they do not meet the exact minimum qualifications are still invited to apply. Within the application documents, applicants should be sure to explain how their credentials and related qualifications address the requested minimum requirements.
  • Please click on Human Resource Services - Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University's benefits package.
  • Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Special Instructions
Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/77177
Is Background Check Required? Yes
EEO Statement Summary
In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:


Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services Building Room 230
TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu
815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.


ADA Accommodation
NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.

Safety Information
NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.
Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Cover Letter
  2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
  3. List of at least 3 Professional References
Optional Documents
  1. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
  2. Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * Select the answer that best describes your work experience following safety regulations, perform food service cooking in a commercial setting i.e. cleaning, cutting and cooking meat, fish and poultry by grilling, baking, braising, frying, and deep-frying; from scratch or mix, baking bread, rolls, cakes, and other pastries; preparing and cooking cereal, soup, fruits, gravies, vegetables, starches, soups, sauces, gravies, vegetarian, and vegan items; preparing other foods such as salads and desserts.
    • No work experience directly related to the job function described.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.
  2. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume. ("See Resume" is not an acceptable response.)

    (Open Ended Question)

  3. * Select the answer that best describes your work experience following safety regulations and standardized and portion-sized recipes, cycle menus, special dietary manuals, and nutritional restrictions to prepare modified diets and to plan the disposal of left-over food.
    • No work experience directly related to the job function described.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.
  4. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume. ("See Resume" is not an acceptable response.)

    (Open Ended Question)

  5. * Select the answer that best describes your work experience performing recipe construction, recipe sizing for meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, starches, soups, sauces, gravies, vegetarian, and vegan items and/or cook quantity food items based on the number of portions to be served.
    • No work experience directly related to the job function described.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.
  6. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume. ("See Resume" is not an acceptable response.)

    (Open Ended Question)

  7. * Select the answer that best describes your work experience cleaning, inspecting, and making minor adjustments to equipment; cleaning and inspecting kitchen appliances and work areas to ensure cleanliness, sanitation, and functional operation.
    • No work experience directly related to the job function described.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.
  8. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume. ("See Resume" is not an acceptable response)

    (Open Ended Question)

  9. * Select the answer that best describes your work experience exhibiting effective communication skills, i.e., overseeing and directing activities of workers who assist in preparing and serving meals, kitchen cleanup procedures training employees and/or students; providing information to supervisors, coworkers, customers, etc.; notifying staff of problems, shortages, equipment failures, etc.; dealing with angry unpleasant or angry people; checking ID cards.
    • No work experience directly related to the job function described.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.
  10. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume. ("See Resume" is not an acceptable response)

    (Open Ended Question)

  11. * Select the answer that best describes your work experience accurately compiling and maintaining records of food use and expenditures, inventory of supplies and equipment, and preparing simple reports.
    • No work experience directly related to the job function described.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.
    • My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.
  12. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume. ("See Resume" is not an acceptable response)

    (Open Ended Question)

  13. * Are you currently a citizen or resident of the State of Illinois?
    • Yes
    • No
  14. * How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?
    • 0-1
    • 1-3
    • 3-5
    • 5-7
    • 7+
  15. * Have you attached all transcripts to support the degrees you are submitting for consideration?
    • Yes
    • No
  16. * If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.
    • Yes
    • No
    • Not Applicable

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

 

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Job Summary
Company
Northern Illinois University
Start Date
As soon as possible
Employment Term and Type
Regular, Full Time
Required Education
High School or Equivalent
Required Experience
1 year
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