Lead Cook

Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, TX

University Overview
Founded in 1893, Southwestern Adventist University is a 501(c)(3) faith-based institution located
in Johnson County, Texas. As the only four-year degree-granting university in the county,
Southwestern Adventist University is an important community stakeholder that links education
with action by building knowledge, increasing faith, and providing service.

University Vision
Southwestern Adventist University seeks to be a community that supports academic, spiritual,
physical, and emotional wholeness encouraging all members to find their purpose and lead lives
of service.

University Mission

The University’s Mission statement is “Inspiring knowledge, faith, and service through Christ-centered education.”

Position:

Lead Cook supports daily culinary operations by preparing high-quality meals and providing hands-on leadership to cooks and student employees. This position helps coordinate production, maintain food-safety and sanitation standards, control waste, and ensure that meals are ready on time and consistent with approved menus, recipes, and the service values of Southwestern Adventist University.

This position works under the direction of the Director of Food Services and carries out established departmental procedures, menus, standards, and operational priorities.

Responsibilities:

Culinary Operations

• Lead assigned meal-period production and coordinate workflow among kitchen and student staff.
• Prepare and present menu items according to approved recipes, portion standards, and service schedules.
• Assign daily tasks, communicate priorities, monitor work, and provide on-the-job guidance.
• Monitor food quality, appearance, temperature, and portioning throughout production and service.
• Follow and reinforce food safety, sanitation, allergen, storage, labeling, and cross-contamination procedures.
• Completes required production, temperature, cooling, and waste documentation.
• Support food preparation and service for regular dining, catering, and University events.
• Monitor supplies and assist with receiving, inventory, rotation, and proper food storage.
• Assist with maintaining an organized, safe, sanitary, and efficient kitchen environment.
• Support food and labor cost control through proper portions, batch cooking, responsible ingredient use, and waste reduction.
• Maintain clean, sanitized, organized, and secure work areas, equipment, and storage spaces.
• Respond professionally to operational changes, dietary needs, and service concerns, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Assist with training and onboarding kitchen and student staff while modeling teamwork and professionalism.
• Complete assigned opening, closing, and end-of-shift responsibilities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Must have strongly expressed a commitment to Jesus Christ, the teachings and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, be a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church in good and regular standing, and have a desire to serve in a cooperative, spiritually redemptive, and soul-winning atmosphere.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent, or an acceptable combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of two years of commercial, institutional, or high-volume food-service experience.
• Ability to prepare food using standardized recipes and coordinate multiple items within established service times.
• Current Food Handler certification or ability to obtain certification within the required timeframe.
• Ability to communicate effectively, follow written and verbal instructions, perform basic food-production calculations, and maintain required records.
• Reliable attendance and flexibility to meet Dining Services scheduling needs.

Preferred…