Sports OPT Jobs in Arizona

Position: Performance Cook

Department: Baseball Operations

Reports to: Head Performance Chef

Status: Seasonal hourly

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Position Summary:

The Performance Cook will play a key role in supporting the Head Performance Chef and Executive Performance Sous Chef / Dietitian in providing fresh, local, sustainable, and nutrient dense meals tailored to optimize performance, recovery, and health of our players and staff within the San Francisco Giants Player Development department. This is a part time hourly role based out of the San Francisco Giants state of the art performance complex at Papago Park in Phoenix Arizona.

The Performance Cook will support the Head Performance Chef and Executive Performance Sous Chef / Dietitian in a variety of roles including but not limited to, food preparation, menu development, developing in house made from scratch meals and snacks to optimize performance and health, inventory management, stocking, and dishes and sanitation.

This role combines culinary expertise with nutritional knowledge to enhance athletic performance. The ideal candidate will have experience in sports nutrition, meal timing, and the importance food has in optimizing performance, recovery, and overall health. This role will involve preparing, and delivering high-quality, performance-driven meals that support the specific demands of athletes’ training schedules, competition cycles, and individual dietary needs.

Key Responsibilities:

Meal Preparation with Whole Foods Focus:

- Create and prepare nutrient-dense meals with whole foods tailored to support the performance goals and dietary requirements of athletes.
- Based on dietitian guidance, execute meals that account for the specific needs of each athlete (e.g., macronutrient balance, calorie intake, food allergies, and preferences).
- Ensure all meals are properly portioned and meet performance goals related to performance, muscle recovery, energy levels, and optimal fueling.

Nutritional Guidance & Collaboration:

- Work closely with the executive chef, sous chef, team dietitians, and strength & conditioning coaches to integrate the latest nutritional strategies for performance enhancement.
- Provide athletes with pre- and post-training meals, in-house snacks, and hydration options that maximize recovery and maintain energy.

Continuous Improvement, Education & Empowerment:

- Ensure food safety, sanitation, and proper kitchen operations in compliance with health regulations.
- Develop innovative recipes that enhance flavor, nutrition, and food presentation while maintaining high standards of quality.
- Stay current with emerging trends in sports nutrition, functional foods, and performance-driven ingredients.

Kitchen Operations & Efficiency:

- Manage food inventory, ordering, and preparation to meet the dietary needs of athletes while minimizing waste.
- Organize and the smooth operation of the athlete’s kitchen, help maintain equipment and ensure a clean and safe cooking environment.
- Adjust mealtimes and food offerings according to schedule changes to help optimize the food being served to the players.
- Help satisfy both the nutritional needs as well as the taste preferences of the athletes.
- Assist in washing and maintaining dish pit area to be free of soiled equipment and maintaining dining room facilities in an orderly manner.
- Other duties as directed by Executive Chef and Executive Sous Chef.

Qualifications & Skills:

- Experience working with professional or elite-level athletes.
- Familiarity with the sports nutrition basics.
- Knowledge of food allergies and intolerances, with experience preparing allergen-free meals.
- Minimum of 1 year kitchen experience, preferably in a professional or college team athletic setting.
- Graduate of a culinary institute and nutrition certification a plus.
- Food Handler’s Certificate according to local and state law.
- Knowledgeable in culinary terms, knife skills and safe food handling.
- Understands and complies with food safety and temperature standards.
- Able to work non-traditional hours and remain flexible regarding work schedule.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to work efficiently in high-pressure environments with tight deadlines.
- Possess a growth mindset.
- Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
- Must be able to work quickly in a fast-moving environment.
- Must be able to lift up to 25+ lbs.
- Must be able to take direction from Head Performance Chef and Executive Performance Sous Chef/Dietitian.

At the Giants, we believe we put our best work forward when our employees bring together ideas that are diverse in thought. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, medical condition or disability, genetic condition, marital status, domestic partnership status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status and any other protected class under federal, state or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. In addition, we will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability or special need, we would like to know how we can better accommodate you.