Prep Cook , (No Nights/Early Hours) Astoria, Queens - Red Rabbit

What Do We Do

Red Rabbit is a Black-owned School Food Management Company that works with hundreds of schools, districts, and food banks to uplift communities of color throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Our professionally trained chefs create menus, source farm-fresh ingredients, and cook delicious, thoughtful, and familiar food. School food matters not only because it's integral to good health, but also because what children eat is an essential part of their cultural identity and sense of self.

About the Role

The Prep Cook is an integral part of a 5 - 10 person team, helping to prepare healthy, made-from-scratch meals for hundreds of children every day. This role offers stable daytime hours, with weekends and holidays off.

The ideal candidate has experience in a high-volume kitchen, is reliable, and has a "can-do" attitude. Key responsibilities include understanding daily production menus, cooking scratch-made dishes, serving food on a tight schedule, and ensuring the kitchen consistently exceeds DOH standards.

Critical Functions

• Read menu production sheets to understand the type and quantity of food to be prepared each day.
• Work with the Head Chef to prioritize daily menu item production.
• Portion and weigh food according to Red Rabbit's recipes and guidelines.
• Cook, cool, and plate food in line with Red Rabbit's recipes and food safety standards.
• Pack and distribute meals to students, adhering to portion guidelines and school timing.
• Quickly and accurately count and track the amount of food produced to ensure compliance and minimize waste.
• Ensure the kitchen exceeds Department of Health standards at all times by cleaning workstations and equipment.
• Represent Red Rabbit's values and culture when interacting with school staff and students by being professional, helpful, and courteous.

Skills & Requirements

• 2+ years of professional culinary experience in a fast-paced role in the service industry (e.g., restaurants), high-volume kitchen production (e.g., commissary kitchen), or a similar cafeteria role (e.g., schools/hospitals).
• Demonstrated knowledge of proper food safety and sanitation practices.
• Familiarity with using and maintaining industrial kitchen equipment.
• Must have a ServeSafe Certificate.
• Self-motivated and highly organized.
• Ability to work well within a team and handle fast-paced environments calmly and efficiently.
• Positive attitude and contribution to a positive working environment.
• Passionate about improving nutrition and health in schools.
• Must be able to read and write in English. Bilingual (English and Spanish) is a plus.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs regularly.
• ServeSafe Certificate required within 90 days of hire (reimbursement available).

Job Details

• Job Type: Full-Time
• Typical Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 5:00 AM to 1:30 PM (hours may vary)
• Location: Astoria, Queens
• Reports to: Head Chef
• Compensation: $17.00 -$21.50/hour
• Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision Insurance, PTO, No Nights, Early Hours. Great work/life balance.

About the Company

Founded in 2005, Red Rabbit is a Black-owned, MWBE Certified, K-12 school food management company that believes choosing to feed children diverse and nutritious food is an act of social justice. Red Rabbit celebrates all cultures in the urban school cafeteria by preparing meals that reflect the heritage of the kids they serve. From our kitchens, Red Rabbit prepares and delivers thousands of heritage-based, scratch-made meals to the Greater New York, washing D.C.,  Philadelphia, and New Jersey regions.

Red Rabbit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, or sexual orientation.