YSS is hungry! We’re looking for an energetic, dependable, foodie to join our Nutrition Services staff as a part-time Cook for our Ember campus in Cambridge, IA.
In this role, you’ll be hands-on in the kitchen, supporting every step of meal prep and service for our program participants. From chopping veggies to dishing up hearty meals, you’ll bring flavor, care, and a sprinkle of creativity to our food service.
You’ll help carry out our meal program with everything from menu planning and inventory to organizing workstations, prepping ingredients, and ensuring top-notch cleanliness and safety. Your kitchen will be clean, your meals will be delicious, and your standards will be high.
What You’ll Do:
- Partner with staff and participants to plan nutritious, tasty meals—your creative input is welcome!
- Prepare and cook meals that meet YSS guidelines and participant needs.
- Collaborate with participants, staff, and volunteers to cook and serve meals.
- Garnish and present dishes that look as good as they taste.
- Support meal service and keep an eye on food quality—fresh, fully cooked, and safe.
- Keep the kitchen sparkling and organized—appliances, tools, and surfaces included.
- Help with clean-up in the kitchen, pantry, and dining areas.
- Follow food safety, hygiene, and sanitation protocols to the letter.
- Handle food storage and assist with inventory and supply tracking.
- Pitch in with food donations—sorting, picking up, and organizing as needed.
- Keep accurate records and support data tracking.
- Communicate professionally with staff, participants, and volunteers.
- Help train participants in basic kitchen and cooking skills.
- Participate in trainings, team meetings, and check-ins when needed.
This description is not a complete list of the responsibilities of this position. Duties may change at any time.
What you can expect in return…
We believe in your potential, we meet you where you are, and we invest in your future. Beyond the meaningful work, YSS provides the following benefits:
- $17.00 per hour
- Supportive leadership team and mission-driven culture.
- Flexibility and autonomy in a collaborative environment.
- Generous Paid Time off and Leave
- Four weeks of paid time off (PTO)
- Volunteer time off
- Paid holiday leave
- Birthday holiday
- Wellness Program Opportunities
- Employee Assistance Program for all employees
- Flu shots
- Mental health support
- YSS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer.
What we ask…
We want to create a world where youth are valued and empowered to stand strong. To do this, we ask our staff to embrace YSS core values – Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a “Can Do” Spirit.
Required Qualifications – YOU MUST:
- Be able to read a recipe, follow it like a champ, and maybe even make it better.
- Have spent at least 2 years in a professional kitchen or similar food service role.
- Be a strong communicator—able to clearly share information through conversation, instruction, and written notes.
- Know how to manage resources like a pro—whether it’s time, tools, or ten pounds of potatoes.
- Work well with other and enjoys being part of a team.
Preferred Qualifications – YOU SHOULD HAVE:
- A high school diploma or equivalent.
- Culinary certifications such as Food Handler, Food Manager, Allergen Awareness, ACF Certified Culinarian, etc.
- Professional cooking experience that includes:
- Prepping hot and cold dishes to impress even the toughest critics
- Making plates look as good as they taste
- Using every cooking method under the sun—roasting, sautéing, braising, you name it
- Comfort with all types of kitchen tools—from sauté pans to stand mixers
- An eagerness to learn and grow—and a desire to help others do the same in the kitchen.
- A solid understanding of food safety, sanitation, and hygiene, including safe ingredient storage and proper cooking temperatures.
BONUS POINTS IF YOU:
- Have a degree or diploma in Culinary Arts, Hospitality, Nutrition & Wellness, or a related field.
- Genuinely love to cook—and it shows.
- Arrive excited to work, ready to create something good (and good for others).
- Care about people, believe in equity and fairness, and want your work to actually mean something.
- Show up with humility, respect, and an open heart for all backgrounds and life stories.
- Are dependable and self-motivated—you get things done without someone watching over your shoulder.
- Can speak a second language (especially one spoken in our communities).