What are the responsibilities and job description for the Book Nook Cook position at ARBOR ACRES UNITED METHODIST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY INC?
Book Nook Cook / Cafe Cook-Server (Full Time)
Arbor Acres Retirement Community | Winston-Salem, NC
Are you passionate about great food and exceptional customer service? Arbor Acres is seeking a friendly, dependable, and versatile Book Nook Cook to join our Dining Arts team. This unique role combines culinary preparation and guest service in our popular café-style dining venue, where team members prepare food, assist customers, and help create an outstanding dining experience for residents, guests, staff, and visitors.
If you enjoy interacting with people, preparing quality food, and working in a fast-paced, hospitality-focused environment, we'd love to meet you. The role and schedule details below are based on hiring manager input from the recruiting intake meeting.
Why Arbor Acres?
At Arbor Acres, our employees are more than team members. We're a community. We believe in supporting one another, celebrating successes, and creating meaningful connections with our residents and coworkers.
Benefits of joining our team include:
- Welcoming, values-based culture
- Opportunities for internal growth and advancement
- Celebration Breakfast for: Employee of the Quarter, Service Awards and Scholarship Applicants
- Celebration Weeks (for each department & the whole company): Food Trucks, DJs, Raffles and Awards
- Meaningful relationships with residents and staff
- A supportive leadership team that works alongside employees to ensure success
- Part and Full-Time Benefits: 403(b) matched at 200% (up to 6% of salary), Employee Assistance Program, Free meal per shift with a great menu and options to purchase other food items on campus, Employee Auction, Wellness Center access while you are on break or just before or after your shift.
- Full-Time Benefits: Excellent Medical Plan - includes Text Medicine, Vision, Dental, Paid Time Off (PTO), Educational Assistance, Supplemental Life Insurance and the company fully pays for Employee Life Insurance (2X salary) and Short and Long-Term Disability
What You'll Do
As a Book Nook Cook, you'll help operate one of Arbor Acres' most popular dining venues by:
- Preparing sandwiches, flatbreads, salads, grilled items, and daily specials
- Taking customer orders and processing transactions through the point-of-sale system
- Providing outstanding customer service to residents, guests, staff, and visitors
- Preparing, plating, and serving food with a focus on quality and presentation
- Assisting guests at the counter and ensuring a welcoming dining experience
- Following proper food safety, sanitation, labeling, and storage procedures
- Maintaining clean, organized, and stocked workstations
- Assisting with light utility duties such as dishwashing, cleaning, sweeping, and mopping
- Supporting daily opening, mid-shift, and closing responsibilities
- Working collaboratively with fellow Dining Arts team members to ensure smooth operations
The Book Nook operates in a fast-casual environment where team members often take orders, prepare meals, and serve customers throughout their shift.
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of one year of food service, restaurant, hospitality, or related experience
- Strong customer service and communication skills
- Ability to multitask while maintaining a positive attitude
- Comfortable using a computer-based point-of-sale system
- Dependable attendance and punctuality
- Ability to obtain ServSafe certification within six months of hire
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in a café, deli, quick-service restaurant, coffee shop, senior living community, or hospitality environment
- Food preparation and short-order cooking experience
- Experience interacting directly with customers in a service-focused role
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Bilingual skills are a plus, but not required
Schedule
This is a full-time position.
Typical shifts include:
- 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Opening Shift)
- 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM (Mid Shift)
- 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Closing Shift)
Candidates should be available to learn all aspects of the operation, including opening, closing, and mid-shift responsibilities. Team members rotate schedules and are expected to work every other weekend.
Arbor Acres operates 365 days a year, and team members are expected to be dependable and committed to supporting resident dining services year-round.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
- Frequent bending, kneeling, stooping, reaching, and lifting
- Ability to lift up to 40 pounds and push carts exceeding 100 pounds
- Ability to work in hot kitchen environments and refrigerated areas
- Exposure to cleaning chemicals and commercial kitchen equipment
Additional Information
Arbor Acres maintains high standards of attendance and reliability due to the critical role dining services play in resident care. We are looking for candidates who value consistency, accountability, and teamwork.
If you're looking for rewarding work where you can make a daily impact in the lives of seniors while being part of a supportive and caring community, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and become part of the Arbor Acres team!
“We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.”