Prep Cook

About us:

From innovative menus and striking design to impeccable service and critical attention to detail, at Great Performances, we weave our mission into all we do. Serving New York City for over four decades has evolved from a waitress staffing agency to the leading catering, events, and hospitality companies in the greater New York area. We provide food services in an array of celebrated New York City cultural institutions, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Wave Hill, and The Apollo Theater. We are known for full-service catering and events, corporate workplace dining and amenity programs, and large-scale event and festival production. Great Performances is the nation’s first caterer to own and operate an organic farm, Katchkie Farm located in Kinderhook, NY. Progressive from the start, we consistently set the pace for industry best practices.

We are seeking highly motivated and talented individuals to join our team and to support our vision, mission, and values through everything they do. If you share our passion and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply. 

Our Vision: Building Community to Better Our World

Our Mission: Unleash Joy through Genuine Hospitality

Our Core Values:

Craftsmanship: developing new menus, designs, and moments to deliver engaging experiences to our clients and guests.

People: creating fair access, opportunity, and advancement for everyone. Our employees are our greatest asset.

Sustainability: upholding and elevating standards for sustainable behaviors that support our planet.

Collaboration: aligning with our clients’, colleagues’, and community’s visions to execute a successful experience.

Doing Good through Food: engaging in action around food access, health and wellness, education, and philanthropy.

We are seeking an energetic, dependable, and hardworking Prep Cook to join our Catering Production Kitchen at the Bruckner Building! This seasonal position is a great opportunity to work in a fast-paced, high-volume culinary environment, preparing fresh ingredients and supporting food production for catered events throughout New York City. If you thrive in a busy kitchen, take pride in quality and consistency, and bring a positive, can-do attitude to every shift, we invite you to apply and join our team!

Key Responsibilities

Food Preparation & Production

• Prepare, cut, chop, portion, and organize ingredients according to recipes, production needs, and Chef direction.
• Execute assigned prep and menu items according to established standards for preparation, seasoning, quality, presentation, and portioning.
• Follow prep lists and production schedules to ensure ingredients and food items are ready for catering production and upcoming events.
• Work efficiently and accurately in a fast-paced, high-volume catering production kitchen.
• Properly label, date, store, and rotate prepared ingredients and food products.
• Maintain consistency and accuracy while completing high-volume food preparation.

Food Safety & Sanitation

• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and proper food-handling procedures in accordance with NYC Department of Health guidelines.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient workstation throughout the shift.
• Maintain impeccable standards of personal hygiene and kitchen cleanliness.
• Properly clean and sanitize knives, tools, equipment, and work surfaces.

Teamwork & Kitchen Support

• Maintain a positive, team-oriented approach and a willingness to support fellow cooks and culinary team members as needed.
• Communicate effectively with Chefs and other kitchen team members to ensure production needs and deadlines are met.
• Demonstrate a strong sense of urgency while maintaining quality, consistency, and attention to detail.
• Assist with additional kitchen preparation and production responsibilities based on operational and catering needs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of culinary, catering, restaurant, or high-volume kitchen experience.
• Strong food preparation and knife skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen environment while managing multiple tasks and priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to food quality, accuracy, and consistency.
• Experience with dishwashing, sanitation, and proper food-handling practices.
• Strong work ethic, excellent organization and time-management skills.
• Positive, dependable, punctual, and team-oriented.
• Must own a complete knife and culinary tool kit.
• New York City Food Protection Certificate preferred.
• Ability to stand for at least 8 hours, lift and carry a minimum of 50 lbs., and frequently bend, reach, push, pull, and perform repetitive kitchen-related tasks.

Why Join Our Team?

Join a dynamic, fast-paced culinary team where quality, teamwork, and hospitality come together. You’ll gain hands-on experience in a high-volume catering production kitchen, work alongside experienced culinary professionals, and help prepare exceptional food for exciting events throughout New York City. We value hard work, dependability, a positive attitude, and team members who take pride in what they do.

Location: Bronx, New York 

Schedule: Seasonal, On-Site

Base salary: $18.00/hour

Benefits: Paid and unpaid safe and sick hours

Must be able to provide valid documentation that you are legally eligible to work in the United States.

Great Performances is an equal opportunity employer. At Great Performances, we employ qualified individuals based solely on ability, training, and experience. Great Performances does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment or promotion based on race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.