Part Time Cook

Position Summary

The Part-Time Cook prepares and serves nutritious meals for Open Door Mission’s guests and residents. This position maintains a clean, safe, and organized kitchen, makes effective use of donated food, and works with staff and volunteers to provide dependable meal service. The Cook supports a welcoming environment where every person is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Ministry mindset, mature Christian, able to model servant-leadership
• Prepare, cook, and serve meals according to established menus, schedules, and anticipated guest counts.
• Follow standardized recipes and portion guidelines to maintain meal quality and reduce waste.
• Adapt meal preparation to available ingredients, including donated food, under the manager’s direction.
• Accommodate identified dietary needs and food allergies as directed.
• Follow food safety procedures for handling, cooking, cooling, reheating, and storing food.
• Monitor and document food, refrigerator, and freezer temperatures as required.
• Clean and sanitize kitchen equipment, work surfaces, utensils, and food service areas.
• Assist with receiving, organizing, labeling, dating, and rotating food supplies.
• Monitor inventory and communicate food, supply, and equipment needs to the manager.
• Provide guidance to kitchen volunteers and communicate preparation, serving, and cleanup assignments.
• Work cooperatively with staff to ensure meals are ready and served on time.
• Maintain respectful interactions with guests and protect confidential information.
• Participate in required meetings and training.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirement:

The Open Door is a privately funded 501(c)3 Christian ministry outreach of Servants of the Word, Inc. It is the policy of The Open Door to grant equal opportunities for employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, race, color, national origin, military, gender, genetic characteristic, marital status, unemployment, domestic violence, or any other applicable grounds prohibited by law. Our designated purpose is religious. We consider every position essential in the fulfillment of our ministry and Mission Statement. As such, each employee must have a relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous cooking experience in a commercial kitchen, food service program, or similar setting preferred.
• Knowledge of basic cooking techniques, sanitation, and safe food handling.
• Food safety certification preferred, or willingness to obtain required training.
• Ability to prepare meals for groups and manage several tasks during busy service periods.
• Ability to follow instructions, adjust to changing needs, and work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills.
• Dependability and a commitment to serving people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and other challenges.
• Support for Open Door Mission’s Christian mission, values, and standards of conduct.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Ability to perform essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Work involves prolonged standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting or moving food supplies and kitchen equipment.
• Regular exposure to heat, steam, cold storage areas, cleaning products, and sharp kitchen tools.

Schedule

Part-time hours as scheduled based on meal service and program needs. Availability may include

Pay: From $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20.0 – 25.0 per week

Work Location: In person