Culinary Assistant

The Akron RubberDucks are seeking a team oriented Culinary Assistant to join our team. This role supports the Akron RubberDucks' Food & Beverage team in preparing, producing, and presenting high-quality food for fans, suites, and hospitality spaces at 7 17 Credit Union Park. This role assists kitchen leadership with daily prep, line service during games and events, and maintaining a clean, organized, and safe kitchen environment. The Culinary Assistant is a hands-on role well suited to someone early in a culinary career who wants fast-paced, high-volume experience in a live sports and entertainment environment.

Responsibilities
• Assist with the culinary operations in all areas of the ballpark: suites, group hospitality areas, and concessions.
• Prepare food items according to standardized recipes, portioning guides, and presentation standards for concession stands, suites, club spaces, and catered events.
• Serve as primary point of contact and lead cook for special events and non-game day events.
• Assist with scheduling and managing employees' time to effectively meet the needs of the non-gameday and special event schedule.
• Set up and break down kitchen stations before, during, and after games and events, including stocking, portioning, and organizing ingredients.
• Operate kitchen equipment safely, including grills, fryers, ovens, steamers, and slicers, following all manufacturer and safety guidelines.
• Monitor food quality, freshness, and temperature logs throughout each shift, flagging any issues to kitchen leadership immediately.
• Assist with receiving, rotating, and storing inventory (FIFO) and communicating low-stock items.
• Support high-volume, fast-paced service during games, promotions, and special events while maintaining food quality and presentation.
• Follow all uniform, grooming, and personal hygiene standards required in food service.
• Assist with reinforcing standard operating procedures that focus on safety & sanitation for all culinary operations to ensure product quality and presentation.
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of all food prep and storage areas in compliance with Summit County and Ohio state requirements enforced by the health department.
• Perform other kitchen and event-day duties as assigned by the Assistant F&B Director/Executive Chef or leadership team.

Requirements
• Proven experience in menu execution and food preparation that drive positive results and align with business goals.
• At least two years of experience working in a high-volume kitchen is a plus.
• High school diploma or equivalent; culinary school coursework or enrollment is a plus but not required.
• Prior kitchen, concessions, or food service experience preferred; candidates with strong willingness to learn will also be considered.
• Valid Food Handler certification (or ability to obtain one within the first two weeks of employment).
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, high-volume, team-based kitchen environment.
• Strong attention to detail, cleanliness, and food safety practices.
• Ability to stand for extended periods, lift up to 50 lbs, and work in a hot kitchen environment.
• Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays based on the RubberDucks home game and event calendar.
• Positive, team-first attitude and reliability under time pressure.

NOTE: All of the essential functions of this position are not necessarily described in this description.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.