Meals Program Chef and Catering and Classes Manager

Meals Program Chef and Catering and Classes Manager

DEPARTMENT: Programs

REPORTS TO: Director of Operations

LOCATION: Santa Cruz, CA, Soquel, CA

STATUS: Regular, Full-Time, Hourly

$30 per hour plus benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision paid at 90%, dependents paid at 50%)

POSITION SUMMARY

Meals Program Chef is responsible for the smooth running of the Teen Kitchen Project Kitchen, and the preparation of beautiful, delicious, and nourishing organic meals for Teen Kitchen Project's clients in a safe, professional and loving way.

Catering and Classes Manager is responsible for preparing menu items to support catering events. This position is also responsible for coordinating all cooking classes, including responding to inquiries, setting fees based upon budget goals, creating menus, communicating with attendees, executing the class and managing follow up surveys. Responsibilities

Work with the Kitchen Manager and Director of Operations to:

-Provide consistency in food safety and sanitation practices, and in cooking practices and food quality;

-Facilitate coordination from one day to the next;

-Ensure that all meals leaving the kitchen are beautiful, delicious and nutritious

-Support a culture of youth ownership and leadership

-Back-up to kitchen manager, including procurement, kitchen leadership, and inventory

-Supervise chef assistants, teen leaders, and volunteers

-Co-lead new hire and new volunteer orientations with Kitchen Manager

-Supervise and train volunteer adult Mentors to be full partners in accomplishing program goals.

-Ensure Mentors are well set-up for each shift and have the information and authority they need to operate effectively

-Provide regular acknowledgement and feedback as needed to develop Mentors and support them in upholding the Teen Kitchen Project culture and youth development goals

-Manage all catering jobs with support of Director of Operations

-Respond to all catering inquiries and communication within 24 hours

-Ensure all aspects of catering are appropriately staffed

-Integrate (schedule, train and support) TKP youth to maximize the potential of this program area for youth leadership development and job training

-Food purchasing

-Coordinate any rentals

-Create catering projections, proposals, and invoices, and track all costs

-Oversee and execute all confirmed catering jobs

-Creative menu planning as possible and budgeted for

-Help develop necessary forms, sample menus and content for web pages as needed to support the program

-Manage all classes with support of Director of Operations

-Procure and create all class materials in a timely manner

-Communicate with class participants regarding time, place, dress code, and any other specifics

-Teach classes or ensure that appropriate instructor is assigned to teach

QUALIFICATIONS

Specific skills and training needed:

-Manager level Food Handler Certification

-A commitment to Teen Kitchen Project’s Mission and Operating Principles

-At least 3 years of professional cooking experience, preferably in the whole foods and catering arena

-At least 3 years of experience directly managing other staff and/or teams

-Strong capacity for leadership, mentoring and teaching

-Creative and excited about healthy foods

-Experience in youth development

-Excellent organizational and management skills

-Excellent computer skills including proficiency using: Microsoft Office, menu planning and scaling database (we currently use Plan to Eat but are in the process of transitioning to Galley Solutions), OneDrive, general email correspondence.

-Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written

-Ability to stay calm and keep your sense of humor in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment

-Preference for community organizing experience, especially with youth

-Familiarity with recipe scaling databases.

-Ability to work well in a team.

-Has a good awareness of self.

-Ability and desire to be in a work environment that values working as a team, relationships and giving and receiving honest feedback.

-Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and written.

Physical requirements:

-Ability to stand, bend, stoop, sit, walk, twist and turn.

-Ability to use a computer keyboard and calculator.

-Ability to lift 25-50 pounds. Work environment is primarily indoors with the majority of time spent in a busy production kitchen or sitting at a desk.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

-While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand in a kitchen; use hands and fingers to operate various kitchen utensils and equipment; talk and hear to effectively communicate with coworkers.

-The job requires regular chopping, lifting, cooking, and sorting.

-Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements to ensure food safety standards.

-Moderate lifting of up to 50 pounds, bending, stooping, and climbing a ladder is occasionally required.

-The work environment is primarily indoors with occasional loud noise in kitchen area. (ie. pots/pans banging, water running, multiple people talking at once, some music).

-Occasionally the employee is required to work out-of-doors representing Teen Kitchen Project at events.

Teen Kitchen Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions at Teen Kitchen Project are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital & veteran status or any other status protected by laws or regulations.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person