Commis I - Employee Cafeteria

Job Summary

We are seeking a motivated and reliable Commis Chef for our team members cafeteria. In this entry-level culinary role, you will assist senior kitchen staff in preparing, cooking, and presenting high-quality, nutritious meals for team members on a daily basis. The focus is on consistent batch cooking, efficient mise en place, strict adherence to food safety standards, and maintaining a clean, organized kitchen environment to support smooth service during breakfast, lunch, and occasional special events.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparing ingredients and cooking a variety of dishes for daily employee menus (including hot meals, salads, sandwiches, soups, international cuisine options, and healthy/grab-and-go items).
• Perform basic food preparation tasks such as washing, peeling, chopping vegetables and fruits; portioning ingredients; marinating meats; measuring and mixing ingredients accurately according to standardized recipes.
• Support batch cooking and pre-preparation (mise en place) to ensure all food items are ready for service during peak employee meal periods.
• Follow portion control guidelines, standardized recipes, and presentation standards to maintain consistency and minimize food waste.
• Receive, inspect, unpack, and correctly store food deliveries, rotating stock (FIFO method) to ensure freshness and quality.
• Monitor inventory levels of ingredients and kitchen supplies, report low stock or any quality issues to the supervisor in a timely manner.
• Maintain exceptional standards of hygiene and sanitation: clean workstations, equipment, and utensils after use; mop spills immediately; follow HACCP and food safety protocols at all times.
• Assist in plating and garnishing meals under supervision, ensuring attractive presentation for the self-service or counter display.
• Help with basic cooking tasks on designated sections (e.g., grill, fryer, vegetable/salad prep, or hot line support) as directed and trained.
• Report any faulty or malfunctioning kitchen equipment to the supervisor immediately.
• Participate in deep cleaning schedules, including end-of-shift kitchen cleaning and periodic deep cleans.
• Support special team members events, buffets, or themed meal days when required.
• Work collaboratively with the kitchen team and other departments to ensure smooth operations and excellent service to team members.
• Previous experience as a Commis Chef, Prep Cook, Kitchen Assistant, or similar role in a commercial kitchen, hotel, restaurant, catering operation, or staff cafeteria.
• Basic knowledge of food preparation techniques, knife skills, and common kitchen equipment.
• Understanding of food hygiene, safety regulations, and HACCP principles (food hygiene certificate preferred or willingness to obtain one).
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while maintaining attention to detail and quality.
• Physically fit – able to stand for long periods, lift heavy items (up to 20-25 kg), and work in a hot kitchen environment.
• Flexible with working rotational shifts, including early starts, evenings, weekends, and public holidays as needed for cafeteria coverage.
• Good team player with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn from senior chefs.
• Basic English communication skills (spoken and written); additional languages are an advantage in a diverse workforce.