Job Details

Cook Position at Elephants Milwaukie Kitchen

Salary: $20 - $21/hour

FLSA Status: Hourly Non-Exempt

Schedule: Full Time | Sunday to Thursday, from 6:00 am to 2:30 pm

Flexibility required, including early mornings, weekends, holidays, and peak-season hours.

Required: Current Oregon Food Handler's Card

Location & Transportation: Elephants Milwaukie Kitchen is located at 2600 SE Mailwell Dr. Reliable transportation is required. Due to our location, dependable transportation to and from our store is essential.

About Elephants: A locally owned company since 1979, Elephants Delicatessen pioneered the gourmet food industry in the Pacific Northwest and now operates seven Portland-metro retail locations and a thriving catering company. As a certified B Corporation, we are committed to sustainability, transparency, and using business as a force for good — while serving exceptional, scratch-made food rooted in our local community.

Elephants Delicatessen is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion.

What We Offer:

• Employer contributed vacation and sick time
• Kaiser Medical coverage, with alternative care as a bonus (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, etc.)
• Mental Health Services
• Dental, FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts), and 401(k) with 4% company match
• Training that will fast-track your culinary/hospitality career
• Free counseling and financial services
• Opportunities for advancement
• Discounts on our delicious made-from-scratch food
• Pet insurance
• Chance to win employee raffles
• Discounts at Sketchers, Shoes for Crews, Verizon, Sprint, select B Corporations, and many more
• A commitment to inclusion, diversity, community involvement, employee well-being, and environmental protection

Elephants Delicatessen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Elephants Delicatessen participates in the E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Please see the following notices for more information:

E-Verify Participation Poster (English/Spanish) Right to Work Poster (English/Spanish)

About the Role: We are seeking a skilled and reliable Cook for our Milwaukie Kitchen. The Cook is responsible for preparing and producing high-quality food items in a high-volume production kitchen operating under a USDA Grant of Inspection, following standardized recipes, food safety standards, USDA regulations, and production schedules. This role may rotate between work areas — including Soup, Hot Production Kitchen, and Prep — based on business needs, staffing requirements, and production priorities. This position supports daily production operations by ensuring consistency, efficiency, and product quality while maintaining Elephants Delicatessen's standards of excellence, unity, and sustainability, as well as Grant of Inspection facility compliance requirements.

This position is a great fit for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced production environment, takes pride in producing exceptional food, and thrives as part of a team committed to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

What You'll Do:

• Prepare and produce food items according to standardized recipes, production schedules, and quality standards
• Complete assigned production tasks accurately and efficiently to meet daily production goals
• Prepare large-batch recipes and scale ingredients to meet production requirements
• Complete required production records, including time and temperature logs, accurately and on time
• Maintain consistent standards for food quality, taste, appearance, portioning, labeling, and packaging
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, allergen control, and personal hygiene procedures
• Operate kitchen equipment safely and effectively, reporting equipment concerns or maintenance needs promptly
• Maintain clean, organized, and sanitary work areas throughout the shift
• Communicate production priorities, inventory needs, and operational issues to supervisors and team members
• Support inventory management through proper product rotation, stocking, and waste reduction practices
• Adhere to all USDA Grant of Inspection regulations, GMP requirements, and facility compliance standards
• Participate in required meetings, training programs, certifications, and continuing education opportunities

What We're Looking For:

• Minimum 2 years of experience in a commercial kitchen required
• Experience preparing large-batch soups, sauces, stocks, or similar products
• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent preferred
• Culinary degree, certificate, or formal culinary training a plus
• Experience in a commissary, catering, manufacturing, or large-scale food production environment a plus
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to quality and consistency
• Ability to work independently and in a team while maintaining productivity and quality
• Reliability, accountability, and a collaborative mindset
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, and safely lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is a plus

If you take pride in your craft, thrive in a fast-paced kitchen, and want to be part of a team that holds high standards, we'd love to meet you!