Culinary Associate II

Job Description

Job Description

Are you a culinary artist who loves your craft— but not the industry’s demanding hours?

Unlike many culinary roles, our Culinary Associate II position offers  predictable daytime hours, minimal evening shifts, and closures on most holidays. If you’re looking for a creative, supportive kitchen environment with real work-life balance, this may be the opportunity for you! 

About The Role
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center (Sheboygan, WI) is seeking a  Culinary Associate II to provide patrons with a positive, memorable experience while viewing galleries, learning about artists, shopping, and enjoying food and beverages. 

The Culinary Associate II works directly in the Café kitchen, prepping and preparing lunch for patrons and staff members. The successful candidate will have broad knowledge and kitchen experience and will work within the Café and Culinary Art Car. At times, oversees the management of Café when working alone.

The John Michael Kohler Arts Center offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement savings with an employer match, FSA/HSA's, generous paid time off and holidays, disability and life insurance. Employees also enjoy an Arts Center family membership, discounts on Café, Shop, events, classes and preschool, volunteer opportunities, and a variety of additional leave benefits and voluntary insurance options.

Work Hours: 

• Full-time daytime hours Monday – Friday and occasionally Saturday and Sunday to meet staffing and/or event needs.
• The position works at various locations depending on the schedule. This position must be able to commute between locations if needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

1. Assist with operations and food preparation within the Café, Café Catering, and Culinary Art Car for daily service and various events.
2. Maintain the highest standards of sanitation and kitchen safety while ensuring all equipment is in proper working order.
3. Ensure all food served in the Café meets quality standards by inspecting its taste, temperature, and visual appeal.
4. Assist with menu planning and recipe development of all outlets, including catering and the Culinary Art Car.
5. Place weekly orders through food and beverage purveyors.
6. Develop innovative menu items with consideration to cost and inventory control.
7. Conduct monthly inventory checks to ensure proper storage and rotation of stock.
8. Provide clear direction to the staff responsible for food production by creating prep lists.
9. Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Creative, energetic, and innovative
• Strong commitment to teamwork
• Strong customer service
• Knowledge of dietary restrictions
• Proactive self-starter
• Maintain confidentiality
• Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED
• Two years’ experience in the culinary field, preferred
• Two years’ experience in customer service
• Valid Driver’s License required 
• Obtain/maintain a WI bartender’s license
• Obtain/maintain ServSafe Certification

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally sit; continuously use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects; and talk or hear. The employee will also continuously stand, walk, climb, or balance, and smell to complete this job. The employee should be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities when performing this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

Able to read and interpret documents, write routine correspondence, and speak effectively with others. Able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers. Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions. Able to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standard situations. 

Work Environments:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The position is café/retail/art gallery-based, and the noise level is usually moderate. May occasionally work outside at events where the noise level could be moderate to loud.

Equal Opportunity Employer