Lead Cook – Mountain Campus

February 23, 2026

Full Time
Fort Collins, CO
Posted 1 week ago

Job Description
Position Summary

The Lead Cook serves as a working leader within a designated area of the foodservice operation, ensuring high standards of food quality, safety, and customer service. This role actively prepares meals according to established menus and guidelines while organizing kitchen operations to keep staff informed, prepared, and operating efficiently. The Lead Cook upholds food safety and cleanliness standards, supports ordering and inventory processes, and assists with menu management systems. Additionally, the position provides indirect supervision, coaching, training, and scheduling support to culinary staff to promote strong performance and teamwork. Note: This is a seasonal position. Staff must reside at the Mountain Campus during the operating season of April -November.

Full Consideration Date

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. (MT) on March 31, 2026.

Work Unit

The Mountain Campus (MTC) of Colorado State University, located 53 miles west of Fort Collins at 9,000 feet, is a remote educational and research site adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park. As part of Housing & Dining Services, the Mountain Campus supports CSU and the broader community through student learning, research programs, and conferences. MTC operates a single dining facility and is open seasonally from May through November. The campus employs 30-35 seasonal staff and serves more than 65,000 meals annually to approximately 6,500 students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Limited Wi-Fi is available; however, there is no cell service, and pets are not permitted.

Essential Job Duties:

Lead daily culinary operations by preparing meals from menus and standardized recipes, ensuring quality, consistency, and timely service.
Serve as work leader: assign tasks, train staff, and support a customer-focused work environment.
Maintain and monitor food safety, sanitation, and HACCP compliance, including temperature logs and hazard identification.
Manage food handling, storage, and documentation, ensuring proper rotation, inventory accuracy, and system usage.
Support procurement and inventory processes by monitoring stock levels and preparing items for future demand.
Oversee kitchen operations including opening/closing, equipment readiness, and production levels.
Participate in required training, certifications, and meetings; other duties as assigned.

Conditions of Employment:

Pre-employment Criminal Background Check
Pre-employment Physical – Successfully complete the WorkSTEPS evaluation.
Valid Driver’s License
Shift Work – This position may be required to work extended shift hours and or a modified swing shift to meet departmental staffing requirements
Essential Services Designation – Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
Special Requirements/Other: Must obtain the ServSafe Food Manager Certification within six months of hire and maintain it throughout employment.

Supervision:

Serves as work leader for culinary staff; assigns tasks, provides training, and ensures adherence to standards. Acts as supervisor in the General Manager’s absence.

Minimum Education Qualifications:

High School Diploma (or GED) preferred

Minimum Experience/Skills Qualifications:

Two (2) years of dining services experience appropriate to the job assignment.
Two (2) years of experience working in a remote culinary environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Two years’ experience working in a remote culinary environment (e.g., ski resort, Mtn Campus, ranch).
Work experience in a high-volume (300+ meals) food production operation and food safety certification such as ServSafe or HACCP.
Strong leadership skills demonstrated through a positive attitude, proactive approach to work, ability to mentor and train others, and delegate tasks by identifying other strengths.
Demonstrated ability to handle multiple activities/tasks with competing priorities.
Demonstrated interpersonal and verbal communication skills necessary for building and maintaining successful work relationships.

Salary Range
$43,896 – $48,200

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Cover Letter, Resume/CV
Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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