Entry Cook
Trade Lecture Halls for a Professional Resort Kitchen in Utah’s Red Rock Country
Imagine starting your shift with the sun rising over crimson lava fields and finishing your day with a hike through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the United States. As an Entry Cook at HS Services – Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah, you’ll spend your Work & Travel USA summer inside a high-energy resort kitchen, learning real culinary skills from experienced American chefs while earning $17.00 per hour.
This is more than a summer job – it’s a chance to build your CV with international hospitality experience at one of Utah’s most talked-about luxury resort destinations.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Preparing ingredients and assembling dishes according to resort recipes and presentation standards
- Working the line during breakfast, lunch, or dinner service alongside a supportive kitchen team
- Grilling, sautéing, frying, and plating menu items for resort restaurants and events
- Keeping your station clean, organized, and fully stocked throughout your shift
- Following food safety, sanitation, and HACCP-style hygiene procedures
- Receiving and storing deliveries, labeling and rotating products correctly
- Supporting banquet and catering prep during busy resort weekends
Position Snapshot
- Employer: HS Services – Black Desert Resort
- Position: Entry Cook
- Location: Ivins, Utah
- Industry: Hospitality / Resort Food & Beverage
- Pay: $17.00 per hour
- Hours: Approximately 36 hours per week
- Season: Summer through Fall
- Tips: Not applicable for this position
Why Ivins, Utah Is a Work & Travel Dream
Ivins sits in the heart of southern Utah’s red rock desert, just minutes from St. George and Snow Canyon State Park, where black lava flows meet orange sandstone cliffs. On your days off you can:
- Road-trip to Zion National Park (about an hour away) and hike Angels Landing or The Narrows
- Explore Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon North Rim, and the Mojave Desert
- Take a weekend trip to Las Vegas – only ~2 hours by car
- Mountain bike, climb, paddleboard at Sand Hollow, or catch the world-famous Utah sunsets
- Meet international students from all over the world working across the resort
Benefits of This Placement
- Competitive $17/hour wage in a low-cost, student-friendly region
- Stable 36-hour schedule with a long summer-to-fall season – more weeks, more earnings
- Hands-on culinary training and a reference from a premium U.S. resort
- Daily English practice in a fast-paced professional environment
- Career growth potential for students studying tourism, hospitality, or culinary arts
- A tight-knit international team and a genuine American resort experience
What We’re Looking For
- University students aged 18–25 eligible for the Work & Travel USA / J-1 program
- Conversational English – enough to follow kitchen instructions and communicate with your team
- Willingness to stand for long shifts, lift moderate weight, and work in a warm kitchen
- Reliability, punctuality, and a strong team-player attitude
- Flexibility to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Previous kitchen experience is a plus but not required – full training is provided
- Availability for the full summer-to-fall season
Ready to Cook, Explore and Grow?
Spots at Black Desert Resort fill quickly – this is one of the most attractive Work & Travel USA placements in Utah. Apply today and turn your summer into a story you’ll tell for years.
About Utah
Utah is a paradise of national parks, red-rock canyons and mountains like those around Zion and Bryce. Students work in park lodges, resorts and tour operations surrounded by epic scenery.
