Position: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Rotating weekend shifts required monthly
Reporting to: Community Kitchen Program Lead
Compensation: $15-17 per hour
Benefits: Full time positions are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package
The Community Kitchen Head Cook is primarily responsible for meal planning and nutrition, safety, and kitchen operations. This role will be Community Action House’s primary food and food safety expert, regularly training staff and volunteers on proper food prep and safety techniques, as well as auditing the various CAH sites for food safety. The Head Cook will also work collaboratively with the Food Club team to support food demonstrations; building partnerships and scheduling guest chefs as well as other food experts in the community. Through close partnership with the Community Kitchen Program Lead, the Head Cook will oversee Kitchen operations, ultimately providing high quality meals seven days a week at the Community Kitchen.
Responsibilities
- Cook for 150-300 people and lead kitchen operations 5 days a week
- Use existing food inventory and donated food to create weekly menus and ensure balanced nutritionally healthy meals are served.
- Oversee, prepare and provide nutritionally balanced daily meals with the help of volunteers and staff
- Understand and communicate safe food handling procedures in support of health code standards.
- Ensure the kitchen is in compliance with Ottawa County Department of Community Health regulations. Perform monthly food safety audits of Food Club, Food Club clean room, Community Kitchen and Demonstration Kitchen.
- Develop and strengthen community partnerships in the areas of food, service, and volunteering
- Maintain proper food inventory and coordinate with Food Club Team and Logistics
- Maintain an organized kitchen and supply space to ensure the team has necessary supplies to run smoothly.
- Ensure FIFO system is followed for onsite and off-site inventory coolers/freezers and warehoused food.
- Train volunteers to ensure proper expectations, safety, food prep, and guest interactions.
- Work collaboratively with the Food Club team to coordinate demo kitchen usage; build community partnerships in order to best utilize the demonstration kitchen.
Qualifications
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to cook for large groups of people (150-300 people/meal)
- Serv Safe certified or willingness to earn certification
- Culinary Degree/Certification preferred
- Food & Nutrition training or past training preferred
- Integrity, positive attitude, and self-directed, with a strong commitment to continuous improvement
- Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
- Knowledge and understanding of the greater Holland’s community, particularly the culture of poverty and ALICE population
