Prep Cook - Mississippi State University

Proof of the Pudding is an award-winning catering company throughout the Southeast with a commitment to creating quality culinary concepts from scratch. This standard was upheld through the expansion into Sports and Entertainment Hospitality Services by providing elevated concessions and premium offerings to collegiate stadiums, PGA golf tournaments, International Boat Shows, Professional Sports Teams, & more.

We are currently seeking Prep Cooks with experience in meat smoking to join the concessions team at Mississippi State University. This position will support our game day operations by preparing smoked meats and assisting with other culinary prep duties as needed. Ideal candidates will have a strong working knowledge of smoker equipment, meat prep and handling, and internal temperature gauging.

Key Responsibilities:

• Setting up and sanitizing workstations.
• Following prep lists created by lead culinary.
• Measuring ingredients, and seasonings.
• Preparing cooking ingredients such as soup stock to be used in the cooking process.
• Preparing simple dishes as directed by the Executive Chef.
• Ensuring all food items are properly stored and easily accessible.
• Assisting chefs in preparing food and attending to any culinary tasks that arise.
• Supervising food and cooling room temperatures.
• Accepting or rejecting ingredients from suppliers.
• Maintaining a clean, orderly, and sanitized kitchen.
• Maintaining the highest level of food quality with your culinary team.
• Ensure proper safety and sanitation of all kitchen/food service areas.
• Operate commercial smokers to cook large cuts of meat (e.g., brisket, pork shoulder, ribs) to proper doneness and flavor.
• Monitor and manage internal meat temperatures and smoker temperature throughout the cooking process.
• Prepare and maintain meat rubs, marinades, and sauces used in smoked dishes.
• Ensure proper timing and execution of smoked meats for high-volume service during game days.

Responsibilities not limited to this list.

Education and/or Experience Qualifications:

• 1+ year of experience working in a kitchen; experience in meat smoking or grilling required.
• High School diploma or equivalent preferred.
• ServSafe certified or is available to receive training.

Specialized Qualifications:

• Capable of producing a consistent product in a timely manner.
• Excellent listening and communication skills
• Must understand food safety practices including, but not limited to, TCS, temperature logs, and cleaning/sanitizing.
• Planning and multi-tasking
• Self-motivated with a high energy level and strong verbal communication.

Work Environment: 

The work environment for this position will be event operations and working out of the Football Stadium or similar venues. This position will often move throughout campus and stadium grounds on different terrains. This role will also be in and out of freezers and coolers and utilizing typical kitchen equipment.

Uniform Requirements:

Adherence to Company Uniform Requirements outlined in the Associate Handbook, uniform requiremen