SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF POSITION
In accordance with the Agency’s mission statement, policies and procedures, professional Code of Ethics, contracts, funding, and COA standards; the Kitchen Manager is responsible for food service operations for Vista Maria’s Transitional Housing program and ensuring kitchen management and dining services are safe, predictable, and welcoming. This position will lead menu design, cooking, nutrition planning, inventory control, and promote a supportive environment for residents and kitchen volunteers.
TASKS OF THE POSITION
• Design and execute food menu for Vista Maria’s Transitional Housing Program.
• Prepare meals, ensuring balanced nutrition & special dietary needs of the residents served are met.
• Demonstrate ability to show menu flexibility dependent on unpredictable food donations.
• Conduct inventory, purchasing, budgeting, and bartering with other agencies/sources to receive donations for kitchen.
• Supervise, train, and educate kitchen volunteers, including residents, while providing life skills support, and demonstrating safe and professional boundaries.
• Provide supportive, educational cooking classes for residents with varying skill levels.
• Adhere to all safety and kitchen compliance as required by regulatory bodies including local Health Department, including ServSafe, MiOSHA, accreditation, licensing, and Veteran Affairs. Including but not limited to food allergy procedures, temperature logs, sanitation schedules, receiving of good, proper storage, emergency meals, and recall procedures.
• Participate in auditing, inspections, and monitoring compliance of kitchen and all relevant products.
• Demonstrate a cultural awareness of service population, including working with those experiencing homelessness and those from various spiritual or religious backgrounds.
• Ensure all kitchen services are conducted in a supportive, trauma informed manner.
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
• Must be able to regularly lift or carry goods and produce weighing minimally 25 to 35 pounds.
• Works cooperatively and in collaboration with Vista Maria staff and representatives of other agencies.
• Completes all other duties as required or requested, keeping within the scope of this position.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES
• Exhibit strong culinary skillset including ability to create culturally diverse meals.
• Demonstrate understanding of proper food storage, sanitation protocols, and understanding health codes.
• Demonstration of sound budget management.
• Demonstrate computer literacy skills as required.
• Excellent verbal communications skills.
• Ability to interact positively in a culturally diverse environment.
• Knowledge of social services/social work as a professional practice in general.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
None
QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION / TRAINING)
Required:
• Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management or equivalent experience.
• Two (2) years’ experience with running a kitchen, menu planning, nutrition adherence, including budgeting and bartering.
• ServSafe Food Handler’s Certification required.
• Valid driver’s license.
Preferred:
• Certified Culinarian (CC) certification or Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) certification.
• Three (3) years’ experience working with homeless population, transitional living/housing, community kitchen, or residential care in some capacity.
