Meal Prep Chef Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Our Mission

Our mission is to leverage the power of food to end hunger and build healthier communities.

Our Vision

We believe that the fight against hunger and the fight against poverty are one and the same. We envision a future in which food is recognized as a human right and every person is able to feed themselves and their families in dignity. Together, we work to create a more nourished, prosperous region.

The Foodlink Way

Act With Compassion

Take Responsibility

Be a Team Player

Listen, Learn, Adapt

Job Title: Prep Cook- Senior Meals

Department: Community Kitchen- Ops

Reports to: Sous Chef 2

Supervises: n/a

Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt

Job Level: 2– Foundational Roles

Updated: August 2026

SUMMARY

The Foodlink Community Kitchen prepares nutritious scratch-made meals for youth across the city of Rochester and Monroe County. We produce and deliver over 2,000,000 meals and snacks to daycares, charter schools, after school programs, and youth organizations annually. Now, in addition to children, we serve Senior Citizens of Monroe County over 100,000 meals annually.

The Seniors Meal Program Prep Cook is responsible for preparing nutritious and delicious meals for senior citizens. This role involves working closely with the culinary team to ensure that meals are prepared according to dietary guidelines and requirements. The Prep Cook will assist with ingredient preparation, cooking, meal packing, distribution of meals from our site, and other tasks relevant to executing a successful and efficient meal program, while maintaining a clean and organized kitchen environment. This position requires a passion for cooking, attention to detail, and a commitment to providing high-quality meals to enhance the well-being of seniors. The job responsibilities assigned to this position will include various areas and responsibilities within the community kitchen including hot/cold meal prep, snack counting/organizing, and expediting and sanitation. Based on production volumes the Senior Meals team may also assist the Children Meals team. The Prep Cook works in compliance with Foodlink processes and procedures to ensure the highest level of food safety and quality at all times.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists in the daily preparation, assembly and expediting of a variety of foods and meal components
• Follows written recipes and oral instructions with regard to meal preparation
• Stores food and supplies in accordance with instructions and food safety standards
• Keeps all records and logs in accordance with instructions and food safety standards
• Follows company protocol with regard to the operation, maintenance and sanitation of institutional kitchen equipment and utensils.
• Uses personal protective equipment as required for use of kitchen equipment and cleaning chemicals
• Follows daily cleaning and sanitation schedule as instructed.
• Attends mandatory training programs as required
• Cross-trains and assist in various areas of the kitchen as assigned
• Maintains a professional attitude and appearance at all time
• Serves as a point person and acts as role model for Foodlink Career Fellowship participants, demonstrating professional behavior at all times.
• Performs all work-related duties as assigned
• High school diploma or GED or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must be ServSafe Level 2 certified.
• 1+ years experience in food service. Large scale food production experience preferred
• Working knowledge of food safety requirements and health department guidelines
• Experience and knowledge of large-scale food preparation and use of industrial kitchen equipment
• Basic math skills necessary for recipe conversion of quantities needed for food preparation.
• Ability to take oral and written instructions and follow through efficiently
• Must work well in a team environment
• Manual dexterity is necessary to shred, chop, assemble and mix foods.
• Ability to withstand a wide range of temperatures in the kitchen.
• Stamina to stand and walk on hard flooring for long periods of time.
• Ability to work with chemical cleaning agents.
• Strength to lift and carry food items or objects weighing up to 50lbs.
• Ability to properly operate kitchen equipment is required.

We are actively seeing a diverse pool of candidates for this position and strongly encourage applications from candidates of color.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to drive, stand, sit, talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to handle or feel items such as documents. The team member is required to stand; walk and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus. This position regularly requires the individual to lift objects weighing up to 50lbs.

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, year-round position paid on an hourly basis, ranging from $19.50-20.00/hour, depending on experience (DOE). Foodlink covers 100% of individual health and dental insurance with the ability to acquire family coverage with pretax dollars. In addition to generous paid time off (PTO), we observe 14 paid holidays throughout the year. Opportunity to contribute to a 401k retirement savings plan upon hire. Eligible for generous employer match after 1 year of service.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Foodlink is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. At Foodlink we believe that anti-hunger work is only possible with a commitment to removing barriers caused by systems of oppression that perpetuate hunger and poverty. We recognize that systematic injustice and bias disproportionately impact some identities more than others.

Foodlink is actively working to center equity- the fair treatment of all people- in everything that we do so that everyone in our region has access to nourishing food that reflects and values cultural differences.

Foodlink is committed to listening and supporting solutions to hunger that are sourced from people and communities with lived/living experience of hunger and poverty, and to responding where inequities exist.

Foodlink is committed to taking great care to cultivate internal culture and practices that support diversity and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We aim to foster an environment in which everyone feels a sense of belonging and understands their connection to the Foodlink mission.

Foodlink employees have a responsibility to always treat others with dignity and respect. Employees are expected to always exhibit conduct that reflects our values and promotes equity and inclusion during work, and at work functions.