Santa Teresa, NM: Cook - Travelodge and Penny's Diner - Avantic Lodging Enterprises

Available Shifts: Full-time/Part-time: Available Weekends and Nights

Job Summary

A Cook is responsible for preparing all food items, based on standardized recipes, for the Cafe, Room Service, Employee Cafeteria, and Banquets, while maintaining the highest standards to produce an appealing and appetizing product. He/she is also responsible for ensuring the cleanliness, sanitation, and safety in the kitchen and work areas while minimizing waste and maximizing cost/production ratio.

Education & Experience

• High School diploma or equivalent and/or experience in a hotel or a related field preferred.
• Food Handlers Certification (must comply with State requirements)
• Must be able to convey information and ideas clearly.
• Must be able to evaluate and select among alternative courses of action quickly and accurately.
• Must work well in stressful, high-pressure situations.
• Must maintain composure and objectivity under pressure.

Job Duties & Functions

• Approach all encounters with guests and associates in a friendly, service-oriented manner.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Avantic Lodging Enterprises standards, as required by scheduling which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing the proper uniform and name tag when working (per brand standards).
• Comply at all times with Avantic Lodging Enterprises standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient operations.
• Comply with certification requirements as applicable to position to include Food Handlers, Safety, etc.
• Maintain a friendly and warm demeanor at all times.
• Have thorough knowledge of menus and the preparation required according to hotel standards.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of all storage areas.
• Complete necessary food and station preparations prior to opening of the Cafe in order to ensure that guests are served promptly and efficiently during the Caf and Room Service operating hours.
• Prepare and display buffet food items according to Avantic Lodging Enterprises standards.
• Maintain post on kitchen line as required during the Caf and Room Service operating hours in order to prepare food to order, maintaining the highest standards of efficiency, productivity and quality.
• Prepare food for Banquets, as required, following specifications of Banquet Event Orders.
• Prepare and service food for Associate Cafeteria as specified by the Food Production Manager.
• Prepare all foods following Avantic Lodging Enterprises standard recipes. Preparation of specials will be under the direction of the Food Production Manager or Assistant Food Production Manager.
• Breakdown buffets and kitchen line, storing food and equipment properly at the end of each meal period.
• Work banquet food station as scheduled by Food Production Manager.
• Know the location and operation of all fire extinguishing equipment.
• Practice safe work habits at all times to avoid possible injury to self or other associates.
• Be familiar with all hotel policies and house rules.
• Be familiar with hotel's emergency procedures.
• Use Production Charts as specified by Avantic Lodging Enterprises standards.
• Associates must at all times be attentive, friendly, helpful and courteous to guests, managers and other associates.
• Be able to operate and maintain cleanliness of all kitchen equipment.
• Maintain the "Clean As You Go" policy.
• Assist in storage and rotation of food items according to hotel procedures.
• Sign keys out and back in under supervision as needed.
• Attend meetings as required by management.
• Perform any other duties as requested by management.

Working Conditions/Environment

The following outlines the work environment employees will encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Frequency Grid

N = Not Anticipated: 0%

O = Occasionally: 1-33% (per shift)

F = Frequently: 34-66% (per shift)

C = Constantly: 67-100% (per shift)

Work Environment of Job

Associate is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

Frequency: C

Associate is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from weather.

Frequency: N

Associate is subject to extreme heat or cold (temperatures below 32 degrees or above 100 degrees) for periods of more than one hour.

Frequency: C

Associate is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause the employee to shout in order to be heard above ambient noise level.

Frequency: C

Associate is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.

Frequency: O

Associate is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.

Frequency: O

Associate is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system or the skin: Fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gasses, or poor ventilation.

Frequency: F

Associate is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.

Frequency: F

Associate is required to function in narrow aisles or passageways.

Frequency: O

Associate is exposed to infectious diseases.

Frequency: N

None: Associate is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (as typical office or administrative work).

Frequency: O

Physical Requirements of Job

Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.

Frequency: N

Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.

Frequency: O

Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at waist. Requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Frequency: O

Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to rest on one or both knees.

Frequency: O

Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg(s) and spine.

Frequency: O

Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

Frequency: N

Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction, particularly for sustained periods of time (typing/using a mouse).

Frequency : F

Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.

Frequency : C

Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

Frequency : C

Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

Frequency : F

Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

Frequency : F

Finger Dexterity/Grasping: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Frequency : F

Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Frequency: C

Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers or guests accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Frequency: C

Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive information through oral communication.

Frequency: C

Repetitive Motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

Frequency: F

Vision: Employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; determine accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurements devices; and/or assembly or fabrication of parts at distances close to the eyes.

Frequency: C

Lifting

Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to positions.

Frequency: O

Amount: 50+ lbs.

General Notes

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, additional details will be specified by the supervisor. The associate will also perform other reasonable business duties assigned by the supervisor.

Management reserves the right to change this job description, job responsibilities, duties, and working hours as needs prevail.

If requested in accordance with applicable law, the Company provides reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified associate with a disability to allow him/her to perform essential functions of the job unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the Company.

Avantic Lodging Enterprises is an at-will employer. This job description is a guideline and does not constitute a written or implied employment contract.