Culinary Worker III - Cook (0544) [ MULTIPLE POSITIONS]

Position Information

Posting Detail Information

Working Position Title Culinary Worker III - Cook (0544) [ MULTIPLE POSITIONS] Classification Culinary Worker III Position Number 00000544 Open Date 08/06/2026 Close Date 08/27/2026 Priority Review Date Employee Class Staff Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time FTE 1.00 Position Status Regular FLSA Non-Exempt Job code 3868 Union Representation Union Union Code AFS - AFSCME, Local #963 Unit/Department Residential Dining Service College/Unit Campus Dining Service Division Student Affairs Location RW DIN Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://www.niu.edu/dining/

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

The department of Campus Dining handles all things dining on campus. From residential meal plans to event catering, we provide nutritional food for students, faculty, staff and guests. We manage over a dozen eating establishments at NIU including residence hall dining, restaurants and coffee shops at the student center, and the cafe in Barsema Hall. We employ the students and professionals who work in our restaurants and cafes.

Position Summary

9-month position (Aug 16-May 15); actual start and end dates may vary based on academic calendar.

This position is responsible for assisting with the assignment of work activities of kitchen helpers and student employees working in the food production area and is responsible for daily preparation of food items for Dining Services. Individual in this position works under the supervision of Food Service Manager and Assistant Food Service Managers.

Condition of employment: Illinois Department of Public Health, Food Handler Training Certification (from an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited trainer) must be obtained prior to start date.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Food Production

• Organize daily production of menu items.
• Review Service Summary Reports and Production Recipes printouts.
• Pre-prep and prepare designated food items practicing established methods of preparation, food batching, food safety, and time utilization.
• Responsible for food presentation, garnishing, and quality of food items being served.
• Instruct kitchen helpers, student employees, and other personnel assigned to the area on clean-up of production area, service area, and equipment.

Operational

• Tally portion counts, after each meal, on Service Summary Reports of food items prepared and not served.
• Responsible for recording and storage of unused items, practicing correct cooling down procedures as needed.
• Working in conjunction with management, utilize unused food items into upcoming meals/menus.
• Monitor the service areas, during service periods, to ensure product remains full and area remains clean and sanitary.
• Refill product and change service utensils as needed.

Sanitation

• Maintain sanitation standards of production area, equipment, and food preparation according to State and Departmental rules and regulations.
• Responsible for daily clean-up of production area, service area, and equipment used.
• Responsible for weekly clean-up of assigned areas to ensure sanitary conditions of production areas.
• Instruct kitchen helpers, student employees, and other personnel assigned to area on clean-up of production area, service area, and equipment.

Other Related Duties

• Maintain open lines of communication with management.
• Reporting production problems, equipment in need of repairs, etc.
• Perform other job-related duties as requested by management.

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One (1) year (12 months) of work experience that is comparable to that described in the lower level of this series (Culinary Worker II).
• As required by the position to be filled, possession of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Food Handler Training Certification (from an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited trainer).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

• Knowledge of materials and methods used to prepare food on a large scale, use and care of relevant utensils and equipment and food values and nutrition.
• Knowledge of sanitary procedures and directives; how to use simple cleaning solutions and equipment.
• Knowledge of basic arithmetic operations and their applications.
• Knowledge of quality control analysis, such as conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Skill in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made.
• Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
• Skill in developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Ability to read and interpret relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Ability to plan meals on a large scale.
• Ability to work with and supervise other kitchen employees.

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

None

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

• One (1) year (12 months) of experience in food service cooking in a commercial setting.

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Additional Requirements (SPS)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Physical demands/requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to taste or smell.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, and crouch.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and depth perception.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts.
• The employee is frequently exposed to wet/or humid conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date 09/16/2026 Anticipated Appointment End Date Percent of Staff Year 1.00 Standard Hours Per Week 37.50 Working Hours Varies based on department needs, may include nights and weekends. Salary $27,056.25/annually (based on 9-month appointment); NIU offers a robust benefits package. Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range $18.50/hourly Earn Type Hourly

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedures:

• Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.

• If eligible for Veteran's Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.

• After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.

• Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu. Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.

• Applicants must be a current citizen or resident of the State of Illinois to move forward in the hiring process.

Credentials Assessment Examination:

• The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant's/employee's education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
• Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver's license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
• After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.

Additional Details:

• Click on Culinary Worker III for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.

• Applicants who may assume they do not meet the exact minimum qualifications are still invited to apply. Within the application documents, applicants should be sure to explain how their credentials and related qualifications address the requested minimum requirements.

• Please click on Human Resource Services - Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University's benefits package.

• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Special Instructions Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/94758 Is Background Check Required? Yes EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator

Health Services Building Room 230

TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu

815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• List of at least 3 Professional References

Optional Documents

• Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
• Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
• Other

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • Are you currently a citizen or resident of the State of Illinois?

• Yes

• No

• • What is the highest level of education attained?

• GED

• High School Diploma

• Associates Degree

• Bachelors Degree

• Masters Degree

• PHD

• Have you attached all transcripts to support the degrees you are submitting for consideration?

• Yes

• No

• • How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?

• 0-1

• 1-3

• 3-5

• 5-7

• 7+

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response.)

(Open Ended Question)

• • If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.

• Yes

• No

• Not Applicable

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience following safety regulations, perform food service cooking in a commercial setting i.e. cleaning, cutting and cooking meat, fish and poultry by grilling, baking, braising, frying, and deep-frying; from scratch or mix, baking bread, rolls, cakes, and other pastries; preparing and cooking cereal, soup, fruits, gravies, vegetables, starches, soups, sauces, gravies, vegetarian, and vegan items; preparing other foods such as salads and desserts.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response.)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience following safety regulations and standardized and portion-sized recipes, cycle menus, special dietary manuals, and nutritional restrictions to prepare modified diets and to plan the disposal of left-over food.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response.)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience performing recipe construction, recipe sizing for meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, starches, soups, sauces, gravies, vegetarian, and vegan items and/or cook quantity food items based on the number of portions to be served.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience cleaning, inspecting, and making minor adjustments to equipment; cleaning and inspecting kitchen appliances and work areas to ensure cleanliness, sanitation, and functional operation.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience exhibiting effective communication skills, i.e., overseeing and directing activities of workers who assist in preparing and serving meals, kitchen cleanup procedures training employees and/or students; providing information to supervisors, coworkers, customers, etc.; notifying staff of problems, shortages, equipment failures, etc.; dealing with angry unpleasant or angry people; checking ID cards.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience accurately compiling and maintaining records of food use and expenditures, inventory of supplies and equipment, and preparing simple reports.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)