Job Information
Iowa State University Cook II - Catering in Ames, Iowa
Position Title:Cook II - Catering
Job Group:Merit
Required Minimum Qualifications:• Two years of experience as a Cook I or outside experience in quantity and quality food preparation comparable thereto.
Preferred Qualifications:High-volume food service or production experience in catering, banquet service, institutional dining, or large-scale food preparation
Background in supervising, training, or leading others in a food service operation
Training and certification in ServSafe or similar food safety standards
Job Description:
Ready to take your kitchen skills to the next level in a whole new way?
Iowa State University Dining is hiring a Cook II to support our campus catering operations. This role is a great fit for individuals who enjoy taking on added responsibility in the kitchen, working closely with sous chefs and managers, and contributing to the preparation of food for a wide range of university events.
ISU Dining operates on a large scale, with catering services that support meetings, conferences, receptions, and special events across campus. In this role, Cook II team members focus on catering food production, preparing menu items according to established recipes, specifications, and timelines while maintaining high standards for quality, safety, and consistency.
The work is hands-on and varied, with daily responsibilities shaped by scheduled events and production needs. You’ll collaborate with a team of culinary professionals to ensure food is prepared accurately and ready for service, while adapting to changing priorities in a fast-paced catering environment.
What You’ll Do
Prepare food for campus catering events by following standardized recipes, production sheets, and food safety guidelines.
Support daily catering production through prep, cooking, and finishing of menu items for scheduled events.
Work closely with sous chefs and managers to ensure catering orders are completed accurately and on time.
Adapt to changing production needs based on event schedules, menu adjustments, or ingredient availability.
Monitor food quality, portioning, presentation, and temperatures throughout the preparation process.
Assist with service preparation and execution as needed to support smooth catering operations.
Model safe, efficient, and consistent kitchen practices while supporting newer team members.
Maintain a clean, organized kitchen environment that supports high-volume catering production.
When You'll Work
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Monday - Friday | Rotating Weekends
Benefits & Perks You’ll Get
Medical, dental, and vision insurance beginning on your first day (with timely enrollment)
Competitive retirement options with strong university contributions
Paid vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay, including most Holidays OFF
A consistent daytime schedule that supports work–life balance, with evenings free
Free meal with every scheduled shift worked
What You'll Be a Part Of
Click HERE (http://catering.iastate.edu/) to watch our team in action!
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities
Supervises, instructs, trains, plans and schedules the work of others in the preparation of large-scale meals and diets.
Assists supervisor in the planning of menus as related to production of unit as required.
Maintains maximum standards of sanitation and safety.
Requisitions, receives, stores, freezes, labels, and maintains food supplies and related kitchen products.
Reports deficiencies in quality of quantity of food supplies or kitchen products.
Recommends equipment repairs or improvements.
Tests new or revised recipes and recommends changes.
Tests all prepared foods to maintain standards.
Participates in preparing and serving menu items as required.
Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required or assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Ability to judge final food product for quantity (yield) and quality (color, taste, texture, etc.).
Ability to determine the freshness and quality of raw and cooked food products by sight and taste.
Knowledge of safe temperatures for serving food and storage of refrigerated and frozen storage of raw and cooked foods.
Knowledge of principles of food sanitation, health hazards, and the necessary precautionary measures.
Ability to stand for long periods of time.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to provide on-the-job training in food preparation to lower level employees.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with others.
Knowledge of weights, measures and food measurement techniques.
Ability to perform basic mathematics (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and percentage conversion to decimals and count) as related to calculating or converting units of measure for determining proper amounts of food ingredients for mass food production.
Knowledge of food preparation, food presentation and transportation methods.
Ability to estimate quantity needs and maintain food production records.
Ability to plan, assign, and direct others in work activities.
Knowledge of sources of food contamination and infection.
Knowledge of common safety practices and safe operation of equipment.
Ability to maintain food production records.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
Appointment Type:Regular
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:07
Application Instructions:To Apply For This Position
Please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following :
Resume
Cover Letter
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
Why Choose ISU?
Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans
Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
Life insurance and long-term disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various voluntary benefits and discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date: April 13, 2026
Posting Close Date:April 26, 2026
Job Requisition Number:R18859
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.