Prepared Foods Associate @ Sugar Beet Co-Op - Oak Park, IL

Sugar Beet CO-OP is located at 812 Madison in Oak Park, IL.

Purpose:

• A Prepared Foods Associate is responsible to prepare quality food according to prepared foods recipes in a timely, efficient manner.
• This position is a part-time position.  Afternoon availability is required. The position is also responsible to help the department meet goals for sales, margin, and labor.
• A Prepared Foods Associate completes these responsibilities in a manner that upholds the of Sugar Beet Food Co-op and the cooperative identity.

Status:

• Reports To: Prepared Foods Manager
• FLSA Status: Non-exempt
• Pay Level: $13.50-$14.50

 
Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Uphold all Co-op policies, procedures, and expectations.
• Customer Experience o Exceed our customers’ expectations for service and provide a welcoming environment for all people and all diverse backgrounds and in accordance with the Co-op’s customer service standards.
• Model, provide, and ensure customers receive prompt, friendly and courteous services in a professional manner that demonstrates our cooperative advantage.
• Maintain a calm and friendly demeanor with all customers and in all situations.
• Offer suggestions for purchases and ways to prepare products.
• Help customers place and fill special orders.

Department Operations

• Preparation of prepared food items, including soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches, spreads, dressings, and dips according to a production schedule.
• Assemble, wrap, and price sandwiches and other deli food as needed.
• Repackage deli items purchased from outside sources for resale as needed.
• Maintain kitchen in sanitary and orderly condition, following health department standards. o Research and recommend new recipes to Prepared Foods Manager.
• Ensure product is stocked, rotated, fronted, and faced according to established procedures. o Pull low quality or out of date items, recording and properly disposing of them following established procedures.
• Place orders for deli items as assigned by Prepared Foods Manager.
• Maintain back stock areas in clean, orderly condition, meeting health department standards.
• Assist with receiving and stocking product for Prepared Foods department.
• Wear proper clothing in accordance with the Co-op dress code during shift, including nametag.  Perform other tasks assigned by the Prepared Foods Manager.

Safety and Security

• Use equipment and materials properly in a safe manner that will not lead to injury of self or others.
• Protect the safety of self, co-workers, and Co-op customers at all times.
• Report any potentially harmful equipment or situations to immediate supervisor without delay.
• Report safety-related accidents and incidents immediately to a manager.
• Follow all safety policies and procedures.
• Follow all safe food handling guidelines as required by local, state, and federal laws.
• Other duties as assigned by management including:
• Assist in inventory counts, storewide cleaning, and other projects as needed.
• Attend meetings and events as requested.
• Ensure equipment repair and maintenance is communicated to appropriate personnel and make adjustments until equipment has been improved.
• Demonstrate support for the cooperative values and principles daily.
• Perform other duties and work in other departments as assigned.
• Know and uphold the Employee Handbook consistently.

Physical Job Requirements:

• The physical requirements described here are those that an employee must meet, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds frequently.
• Ability to be present and working in assigned area for up to 3 hours without rest.
• Ability to bend, stoop, squat, kneel, climb stairs or ladder.
• Ability to reach above shoulder height occasionally.
• Ability to talk and hear to communicate with customers.
• Finger and hand dexterity with ability to grasp and hold items of different sizes.
• Vision ability – close, distance, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
• Ability to read register screen and product and shelf labels.

 
Working Conditions:
The work environment described here is representative of the conditions an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Frequent exposure to cold, hot, wet, or humid conditions.
• Exposure to fumes, airborne particles, hazardous materials ranging from natural to chemical (store products, cleaning products, scents from working in a public setting).
• Exposure to and potential handling of fresh foods including meats and seafood.
• Handling objects that have been handled by the public.
• May work occasionally in temperature extremes (walk-in freezer, outside warehouse, hot kitchen, etc.).
• Noise level in the store is usually moderate to loud. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

 
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

• 1 year of cooking experience
• Manual dexterity with kitchen equipment.
• Experience working in a commercial kitchen.
• Good kitchen and knife skills.
• Have or be able to obtain, within 14 days of start date, a valid Food Handler’s Certificate or Food Management Certificate.
• Language ability - comprehend complex instructions, correspondence, and memos. Communicate effectively and respectfully in oral or written form to staff and customers of diverse backgrounds. Effectively present information in one-to-one and small group situations to employees and customers.
• Math ability – Add and subtract two-digit numbers. Perform calculation using units of US currency, weight, volume, and distance measurements.
• Reasoning ability – apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions. Deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. Prioritize work tasks, multi-task and maintain focus.
• Computer skills – use email, website, time clock and other work-related programs proficiently. • Problem solving skills
• Customer service skills – ability to manage difficult or emotional customer situations. Communicate responsibly at all times. Respond promptly to requests for customer assistance
• Attendance and punctuality – consistently report to work on time to work scheduled shifts.
• Dependability – respond appropriately to management direction. Commit to department goals and expectations. Complete tasks on time.
• Quality of work – demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness. Look for ways to improve and promote quality. Apply feedback to improve performance. Monitor own work to ensure quality.
• Quantity – Work quickly and accurately with a sense of urgency. Meet productivity standards. Strive to increase efficiency and productivity.
• Familiarity with or an interest in learning about natural foods.​

How to Apply:
To apply, email resume to [email protected].