Head Cook

Los Angeles, CA, United States

Job Details

Job Location

APCH Main Building - Los Angeles, CA

Position Type

Full Time

Education Level

High School

Salary Range

$24.00 - $26.00 Hourly

Job Shift

Day

Job Category

Nonprofit - Social Services

Description

A PLACE CALLED HOME (APCH)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Head Cook

Department: Nutrition & Urban Agriculture

Reports to: Nutrition & Food Service Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/40 Hours/week

Summary

The Head Cook at A Place Called Home (APCH) is responsible for preparing nutritious, kid-friendly meals, managing kitchen operations, and maintaining food safety standards. This role includes menu planning, and training kitchen staff. The ideal candidate will have strong culinary skills, excellent organizational and communication abilities, and a passion for serving teens and kids in a collaborative environment. They will also be committed to continuous improvement and professional development, contributing to the overall mission and success of APCH.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Daily Meal Service & Kitchen Operations

Meal Preparation and Quality Control: Prepare and cook nutritious, kid-friendly meals and snacks, ensuring they meet dietary guidelines and taste expectations, and Health Department standards

Plan food production to coordinate with meal serving hours, ensuring all meals are prepared and served on time, maintaining high quality and consistency.

Menu Planning and Development: Collaborate with the Nutrition & Food Service Manager to create and update weekly menus that are balanced, appealing, and nutritious, that are aligned with Federal food standards.

Kitchen Supervision and Team Management: Supervise and delegate tasks to kitchen staff, volunteers, and interns to ensure efficient workflow.

Foster a positive, collaborative, and inclusive working environment in the kitchen.

Food Safety and Sanitation: Maintain a clean and organized kitchen environment, ensuring all health and safety regulations are followed.

Implement and enforce food safety protocols to prevent contamination and ensure the health of all members & staff

Training and Safety: Oversees routine protocols for daily cleaning, upkeep and periodic deep cleaning of the kitchen

Train new kitchen staff, interns, and volunteers on food preparation, kitchen safety, and sanitation protocols. Ensure all kitchen personnel adhere to safety and hygiene standards.

Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with the Nutrition & Food Service Manager to address and resolve any kitchen-related issues promptly.

Communicate effectively with staff, volunteers, and other departments to coordinate kitchen activities and support

Event Support: Assist with the planning and execution of special events, ensuring that all food-related aspects are handled efficiently.

Prepare meals and snacks for special events, meetings, and other occasions as needed.

Continuous Improvement: Stay informed about culinary trends and techniques, incorporating new ideas to enhance meal offerings.

Participate in ongoing professional development to improve skills and knowledge related to food service and nutrition.

Youth Engagement: Interact positively with youth members, creating an inviting and supportive dining environment.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Perform other tasks as assigned by their supervisor or department head

Qualifications for Head Cook Position

To perform this job successfully, the Head Cook must be able to perform each essential duty to the highest standard, be courteous, respectful, creative, and capable of working in a high-energy, collaborative environment with open communication. The ideal candidate will have a strong work ethic, required technical skills, and a passion for serving teens and kids. They will embrace the APCH culture of a learning organization and strive to constantly improve systems and services for the benefit of employees and our constituents.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

1. Culinary Knowledge:

- Proficiency in cooking techniques suitable for preparing simple, nutritious meals.

- Understanding of food safety and sanitation standards.

2. Organizational Skills:

- Excellent time management skills to ensure timely meal preparation and service.

3. Leadership and Team Management:

- Experience in supervising and leading kitchen staff, volunteers, and interns.

- Ability to foster a positive, collaborative working environment.

4. Communication Skills:

- Strong verbal communication skills for interacting with staff, students, and parents.

- Ability to clearly convey instructions and expectations.

Cultural Fit:

- Enjoyment in working with and serving teens and kids.

- Commitment to the APCH culture of continuous learning and improvement.

- Willingness to contribute to ongoing growth and improvement in the kitchen and across departments.

- Proactive in identifying deficiencies and needs, offering solutions, and making suggestions for improvements.

- Consideration of the big picture and overall mission of APCH, with a collaborative approach to problem-solving and innovation.

Education and Experience 2 years managing team of 2+ employees, volunteers and/or interns

3 years of food preparation and service

Proven history of successful food service management with professional training and certificate or degree program (Certificate or Degree preferred but not required)

Knowledge of ingredients and cooking methods

ServSafe Managers Food Handling Certificate

Physical and Mental Demands Able to work in dynamic, high noise level environment typical of a youth center

Constant walking and standing throughout the day

Lift up to 50 pounds regularly

Ability to clean kitchen space and equipment, utilize sharp utensils for chopping/preparing foods

Ability to drive for pick-ups and deliveries

Ability to communicate and convey accurate information

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and committed to fulfilling obligations

Additional Information CA Driver's License to enroll in APCH Driver's program is helpful but not required

Able to develop health and wellness oriented recipes and to supervise in a teaching environment with youth ages 8 to 21

A Place Called Home provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including but not limited to pregnancy), gender expression, gender identity or sexual orientation, military and veteran status, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, citizenship national origin, age, physical and/or mental disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, A Place Called Home complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Please let us know if you are an APCH Alumni/ae

Background screening required

A Place Called Home participates in E-Verify