Constellation Cook

About Constellation

Constellation is an independent research center that brings together people throughout the AI safety ecosystem to accelerate insight, research, and talent through better cooperation. Unlike a conference or summit, Constellation operates continuously, in the form of a physical workspace as well as conference-style talks, workshops, and training bootcamps. Continuous operation allows for relationships and conversations to develop over time, meaningfully fostering trust, collaboration, and shared insight. It also makes Constellation a natural field-building hub by rapidly inspiring, orienting, and connecting people who are newer to the field.

Based in Berkeley, CA, our shared workspace hosts over 100 people per week across dozens of AI safety organizations in nonprofits, academia, industry, and government. Hundreds of other researchers spend time at Constellation for shorter visits each year. We believe this is the strongest and highest-output network of AI safety researchers in the world; dozens of participants in past Constellation programs have gone on to safety-focused roles at companies such as METR, Redwood Research, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, OpenAI, and the US and UK Safety Institutes.

Constellation's sole research focus is on mitigating extreme global safety and security risks from future AI systems, including human extinction. For more information, see our research focus areas and selected publications from Constellation fellows. ‍

About The Role

We are looking for an excited and responsible cook or chef to join our team in a short-term position (up to 3-6 months). Our culinary program provides lunch and dinners to a busy research office, with meals designed and prepared collaboratively each week by the team. 

We aim to deliver high-quality, diverse dishes across a range of cuisines. Our meals prioritize delicious vegetables and ethically sourced proteins, and accommodate a wide variety of dietary needs - from veganism to omnivorous. The shift would be Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:00pm . Ideal candidates are excited to explore foods and cuisines, take responsibility for specific dishes, and also to engage in quotidian but important tasks like vegetable prep and cleaning.

Constellation currently hosts more than 150 people each day from various organizations, and is looking for short term support in the kitchen team, with a good but not certain chance for long term employment for the right person. 

Responsibilities

• The Lunch Cook will assist in all aspects of preparing delicious, varied, healthy meals for an office space in downtown Berkeley, out of a rental kitchen down the street
  
  • Clean, cut, cook or otherwise prepare delicious foods, both from recipes and from culinary knowledge
  • Deliver, arrange and label meals, or aid in the task thereof.   
  • Clean equipment and facilities as needed

Skills & Experience

You might be a good fit for this role if you:

• Solid to excellent knife skills and grasp of the basics of cookery 
• Able to both work without recipes and to precisely follow recipes as needed  
• One or more areas of cooking knowledge (experience with an ethnic or regional cuisines, baking experience, butchery, pickling/charcuterie/ferment work or others that applicant can talk about)
• Solid communication skills (English, verbally and in writing)
• Can act with sense of urgency as needed
• Strong sense of responsibility, will perform to high standards both with and without supervision
• Take food safety and deliciousness seriously. Knows and follows food safety requirements. Maintains sufficient personal hygiene.

Education and Experience:

• At least one year related professional experience required, 2-5+ years preferred (we care about the passion and skills you bring to the task rather than credentialism, but wish to see that you have experience in the kitchen and knowledge that you want to work there)
• Food handlers card required (may be acquired after hiring decision), servsafe or equivalent preferred. 

Physical Requirements:

• Job requires standing and walking for a full day, safely lifting 50+ pounds at a time, dealing with objects that are some permutation of hot, sharp and heavy.
• Proof of vaccination(s) may be required if related to the essential duties of the job and in accordance with applicable laws and health regulations.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation will depend on experience and will likely be in the range of $35 to 42 per hour.

• Good pay (+ potentially full benefits) 
• Creativity and responsibility rewarded 
• Great candidates are likely to receive long term offers
• Help support a growing and important field addressing vital questions about transformative AI

Position is full-time (40 hours/w) at competitive hourly rates, and potential for long-term, salaried and benefited position.

Logistics

We value diversity in all respects and base our hiring decisions on the needs of the organization and individual qualifications.  We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age or disability.

This is a short-term position at our Berkeley office, just steps from the nearest BART (metro) and bus stop. On-site parking is also available.