Position Summary
The Food Service Cook is a key member of Ramapo’s year-round Food Service team and is responsible for preparing and serving high-quality meals in accordance with established menus, dietary requirements, food safety standards, and program needs.
This position requires someone who can work independently while also contributing to a collaborative kitchen environment. The Food Service Cook will support daily kitchen operations, maintain high standards of sanitation and food safety, assist with inventory and food storage, and help guide seasonal kitchen and dining hall staff during periods of increased activity.
The ideal candidate brings strong culinary skills, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment serving individuals with a variety of dietary needs.
Essential Responsibilities
Food Preparation and Service
- Prepare, cook, and serve meals according to established menus, recipes, schedules, and portion standards.
- Independently manage assigned meal preparation and service responsibilities.
- Prepare meals that accommodate dietary needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, allergy-sensitive, and other special diets as directed.
- Ensure food is prepared, held, served, cooled, and stored at appropriate temperatures and in accordance with applicable food safety requirements.
- Maintain consistency in food quality, presentation, portioning, and service.
- Assist with meal planning, preparation, and service for special events, retreats, and other campus programs as needed.
- Communicate ingredient shortages, substitutions, dietary concerns, or other issues to the appropriate supervisor in a timely manner.
Kitchen Operations and Inventory
- Assist with maintaining accurate food and supply inventory.
- Update inventory and ordering records as assigned.
- Receive, inspect, unload, and properly store food, supplies, and equipment.
- Rotate food inventory using appropriate food safety and inventory practices.
- Minimize food waste through appropriate preparation, storage, portioning, reuse, and recycling practices.
- Monitor kitchen supplies and communicate purchasing needs to the appropriate supervisor.
Sanitation and Food Safety
- Maintain clean, organized, and sanitary food preparation, service, storage, and dining areas.
- Clean and sanitize kitchen equipment, work surfaces, utensils, and food preparation areas according to established procedures.
- Ensure leftovers and prepared foods are properly labeled, dated, stored, and maintained at safe temperatures.
- Follow all applicable health department regulations, food service sanitation requirements, and Ramapo policies and procedures.
- Identify and promptly report food safety, equipment, maintenance, or workplace safety concerns.
- Support routine and deep cleaning of kitchen, serving, storage, and dining areas.
Team Support and Leadership
- Work collaboratively with year-round and seasonal Food Service staff to ensure efficient meal preparation and service.
- Assist with directing and guiding seasonal kitchen and dining hall staff during assigned shifts.
- Model safe food handling, sanitation, teamwork, and professional workplace practices.
- Provide clear instructions and support to seasonal staff, interns, volunteers, or program participants assigned to Food Service activities.
- Help maintain an organized, respectful, and productive kitchen environment.
- Communicate effectively with Food Service leadership and other campus departments regarding meal schedules, dietary needs, special events, and operational changes.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support Ramapo’s programs and campus operations.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position does not have regular direct reports. The Food Service Cook may provide day-to-day direction, training, and guidance to seasonal kitchen and dining hall staff, interns, volunteers, or program participants as assigned.
Qualifications
- Minimum of three years of progressive culinary, institutional food service, restaurant, catering, or comparable professional kitchen experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of food preparation, cooking techniques, portioning, service, and food storage.
- Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and applicable health and safety practices.
- Experience preparing meals for individuals with special dietary requirements, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets.
- Ability to follow menus, recipes, production schedules, and dietary instructions accurately.
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experience levels.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule based on program needs, including weekends and occasional holidays, evenings, or early mornings.
- Degree or certificate in Culinary Arts, Food Service Management, or a related field. Equivalent professional culinary experience will be considered in place of formal education.
- Experience in institutional, camp, school, residential, retreat, or high-volume food service.
- Current food safety or food handler certification, or willingness to obtain certification as required by Ramapo.
Work Environment and Schedule
This is a full-time, year-round, non-exempt position based on Ramapo for Children’s Rhinebeck campus.
Food Service operations support programs seven days per week. Weekend availability is required, and schedules may include early mornings, evenings, holidays, or adjusted hours based on program and operational needs.
Work is primarily performed in a commercial kitchen, dining hall, food storage areas, and related campus facilities.
Physical & Work Environment
The physical requirements of this position include the ability to:
- Lift and carry up to 50 pounds, including food, supplies, equipment, and deliveries.
- Stand and walk for extended periods throughout a shift.
- Bend, reach, push, pull, lift, and perform repetitive movements associated with commercial food preparation.
- Safely operate commercial kitchen equipment, appliances, utensils, and cleaning equipment.
- Work in environments that may include heat, steam, cold temperatures, wet surfaces, and varying noise levels.
- Safely move throughout the kitchen, dining, storage, loading, and other campus areas.
- Visually and audibly identify and respond to safety hazards and other conditions requiring attention.
Compensation
Non-Exempt | Full-Time
Target Salary Range: $19.00 - $21.00 hourly
Benefits: Ramapo for Children offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Comprehensive medical, vision, & dental coverage with employee contributions capped at 8% of salary.
- Employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) to help reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
- Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick time, and holidays.
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution.
- Life and disability insurance.
- Professional development and training opportunities.
- Access to Ramapo’s 240-acre campus including hiking trails and fitness area.
Ramapo is committed to supporting the well-being and growth of our employees while fostering a collaborative, mission-driven workplace.
About Ramapo For Children Ramapo for Children is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to helping children and young adults with social and emotional challenges and developmental disabilities to experience success and unlock their potential. For more than 100 years, Ramapo has worked from a simple but powerful belief: all young people want to learn, feel valued, and succeed. Through direct service programs and nationally recognized professional development, Ramapo equips children, families, educators, and youth-serving professionals with the tools and support needed to foster growth, resilience, and belonging.
Ramapo’s programs include:
- Camp Ramapo - a residential summer camp in Rhinebeck, NY that serves up to 550 children with social, emotional, or learning challenges, including developmental disabilities such as autism, annually.
- Staff Assistant Experience (SAE) - a transition-to-independence program for young adults navigating learning differences, autism, and/or mental health challenges in which more than 90 participants each year are able to practice vocational and life skills in an inclusive residential community.
- Ramapo Day Camp – an inclusive traditional day camp for 50+ local youth ages five to fifteen, which also includes a travel camp, a Leader-in-Training program and a Counselor-in-Training program.
- Ramapo Retreats - short-term, outdoor teambuilding experiences serving more than 6000 people annually utilizing cooperative games, initiatives, and ropes course activities which help participants strengthen their communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
- Ramapo Training - professional development for 6000+ educators and youth professionals annually focused on increasing student engagement, community, equity, and social-emotional skills
What makes Ramapo special is its unwavering focus on possibility. Every program is designed to help participants discover their strengths, build meaningful relationships, and develop skills needed to thrive at school, at home, in the workplace, and in their communities. For many staff members, Ramapo is a community united by a shared commitment to helping young people reach their full potential.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Ramapo for Children is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religion or creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, age, disability, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, reproductive health decision-making, military or veteran status, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law, including the New York State Human Rights Law.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants with sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law.
Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you available on weekends?
Ability to Commute:
- Rhinebeck, NY 12572 (Required)
Work Location: In person
