Pneuma | Westwood, New Jersey
Full-Time & Part-Time Positions Available
Pneuma is an all-day café, restaurant, and market opening in Westwood, New Jersey. Our food program includes fresh pasta, Roman and New York-style pizza, seasonal salads, sandwiches, hot entrées, soups, braises, prepared foods, pastries, and more.
We are looking for dependable, hardworking Prep Cooks to join our opening kitchen team.
This is an important role in our kitchen. We are looking for people who take pride in preparation, organization, consistency, and cleanliness and understand that great service starts with great prep.
THE ROLE
Prep Cooks will work closely with our chefs and line cooks to prepare ingredients and components for both restaurant service and our prepared food program.
The position will involve a wide range of production, including vegetables, sauces, stocks, soups, braises, proteins, dressings, pasta components, pizza ingredients, and other daily kitchen preparation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Complete daily prep and production lists accurately and efficiently.
• Wash, cut, portion, and prepare vegetables, proteins, and other ingredients.
• Prepare sauces, dressings, stocks, soups, braises, and other menu components.
• Follow recipes, measurements, yields, and portioning standards.
• Assist with larger-batch production for our prepared food and market program.
• Properly label, date, cool, store, and rotate all food.
• Maintain a clean and highly organized workspace.
• Follow all food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Receive and properly store deliveries when needed.
• Minimize waste and properly utilize ingredients.
• Clean and care for kitchen equipment and work areas.
• Communicate with chefs regarding prep levels, shortages, and production needs.
• Assist the line and other kitchen stations when necessary.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Professional kitchen or food preparation experience is preferred, but we are willing to train motivated candidates who have a strong work ethic and want to learn.
Experience with Italian cooking, fresh pasta, sauces, soups, braises, butchery, or high-volume food production is a plus.
Most importantly, we're looking for people who:
• Enjoy cooking and working with food.
• Are dependable and punctual.
• Work cleanly and stay organized.
• Can follow recipes and instructions accurately.
• Have strong attention to detail.
• Work efficiently without sacrificing quality.
• Are comfortable with repetitive and high-volume production.
• Communicate well and work as part of a team.
• Take food safety and cleanliness seriously.
• Want to learn and develop their kitchen skills.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Pneuma is being built around a serious food program with a modern, well-equipped kitchen and a strong focus on quality.
Prep cooks will have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of ingredients and techniques rather than simply performing one repetitive task. For someone interested in developing as a cook, there will be opportunities to learn additional stations and grow into line cook and other kitchen positions over time.
We believe in high standards without creating a negative kitchen culture. We expect professionalism, accountability, hard work, and respect from everyone on the team.
COMPENSATION & SCHEDULE
Compensation: Competitive hourly pay based on experience
Schedule: Full-time and part-time positions available. Morning and daytime availability is especially valuable.
Location: Westwood, NJ
Work Location: In person
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.