Cook | Part-Time | Jungle Island

Oak View Group

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet.

Position Summary

The part-time Cook is responsible for preparing a variety of foods to be served to guests across the venue, including Banquet, Buffet, and Concessions service styles. This role often involves direct interaction with guests while working in dynamic environments such as Action Stations, Buffets, Grab ‘N Go Concessions, or preparing made-to-order dishes in a restaurant-style setting. Key responsibilities include maintaining portion control, minimizing food waste, and ensuring strict adherence to sanitation and safety standards within the kitchen. The Cook must be flexible to work on weekdays and weekends, with availability for morning, midday, and evening shifts depending on the needs of an event-driven schedule.

 

This role pays an hourly rate of $17.00-$20.00

 

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).  This position will remain open until November 7, 2025.

About the Venue

Jungle Island, Miami’s premier entertainment destination, combines the beauty of Miami’s tropical landscape with a jungle full of extraordinary animals from around the globe. Building upon its rich 80-year history, today’s Jungle Island is a contemporary theme park, featuring numerous wildlife such as lemurs, wallabies, capybaras and much more!

 

Jungle Island began its history in 1936 as Parrot Jungle. Created by Franz Scherr with the idea of an attraction where birds could “fly free,” Parrot Jungle was originally located in south Miami and was known primarily its wide array of exotic birds including Pinky, the high-wire bicycle riding cockatoo, and our world-famous pink flamingos who have been prominently featured in the opening credits of television’s Miami Vice. The park has evolved over the years under the direction of its current owners who purchased the park in 1988. After Hurricane Andrew, the owners set their sights on continuing to develop the park on Watson Island. After construction was completed in 2003, the Watson Island location opened for business as Parrot Jungle Island. The evolution of the Jungle has led to the renaming of the park as Jungle Island to better encompass the wide variety of animals, plants and activities available.

 

Jungle Island lives up to its name with unusual flora, from the extraordinary African sausage tree to a collection of rare cycads. Visitors to Jungle Island can stroll along the 1.35 miles of winding, covered trails while enjoying the many special exhibits, attractions and tours that are available. As Miami’s brightest and most unique destination, Jungle Island continues to delight the thousands of people who visit Miami each year.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates culinary expertise in plating techniques and presentation standards.
• Demonstrates culinary skills and ability to execute, at a higher standard, the tasks required in knife work, preparing, cooking soups, sauces, meats, eggs, dairy products, hot foods, sandwiches, vegetables, salads, salad dressing, fruits, pastries, desserts, and breads.
• Shows continuous growth and initiative by actively seeking to improve culinary skills through learning from senior team members.
• Independently prepare meals and food items according to recipes with minimal to no supervision.
• Is able to perform all opening and closing responsibilities within the kitchen independently.
• Efficiently completes all kitchen opening and closing duties without assistance.
• Proficient in operating, cleaning, and maintaining all kitchen equipment, including dishwashers, stovetops, tilt skillets, grills, rotating ovens, fryers, slicers, and more.
• Maintains cleanliness by washing culinary and service dishes and utensils, cleaning tables, walls, and floors, and properly stocking food and supplies with accurate date labeling.
• Adheres to and enforces food handling, sanitation, storage, and dispensing procedures in compliance with State Food Handler Certification standards (e.g., using designated colored cutting boards, proper handwashing techniques).
• Consistently follows safety and equipment standards regarding clothing and appearance, such as wearing hats or hairnets, cut-resistant gloves, and non-slip footwear while handling food.
• Follows proper food preparation