Catering Chef - with Growth Opportunities

Title: Head Chef – Key Room Kitchen

Regular Full Time: 40 hrs./week: Monday – Friday (occasional weekends)
Salary Range: $85k-$95k DOE
Reports To: Director of Training and Kitchen Operations
Start Date: ASAP

The Opportunity:

Are you a seasoned culinary professional looking for a meaningful career change? Would you thrive in a business with a clear and proven social mission, where you can earn a good salary and feel great about your work every day? At Homeward Bound of Marin, we're transforming lives through purpose-driven food businesses. We offer a 3-day weekend every month, a supportive work culture rooted in wellness and DEI values, and a competitive salary with a healthy work-life balance.

Homeward Bound of Marin is dedicated to ending homelessness in Marin County through affordable housing development, supportive services, job training, and social enterprise. With a rich history and strong partnerships, we're poised for impactful growth. Our work environment prioritizes Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) values, fostering resourcefulness, flexibility, kindness, compassion, and understanding.

Through our Fresh Starts Culinary Academy (FSCA), we provide culinary training to individuals facing barriers to employment. FSCA graduates join our culinary "social enterprise" businesses, including events and catering, celebrity chef dinners, mass meal production, and high-end dog treats.

We're now seeking a Head Chef to lead production for our social enterprises, providing hands-on culinary mentorship and nurturing management in our kitchens. If you have a passion for our mission and culinary training experience, we want to hear from you!

The Ideal Candidate:

We are in search of a committed and creative culinary professional, a true advocate for culinary excellence and human dignity. If you have a background in culinary arts, exceptional communication skills, and an unwavering passion for making a difference, we want to hear from you. The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record in culinary management, with a focus on kitchen operations, menu development, and staff training. Collaborating effectively within diverse teams and navigating the complexities of a nonprofit environment are highly valued skills.

At Homeward Bound, we recognize the power of diversity, and we encourage applications from candidates with a variety of culinary backgrounds and experiences. If you are someone who brings a unique perspective and a genuine commitment to culinary excellence and inclusion, we invite you to join us in our mission.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, Culinary Arts Degree, or an equivalent level of experience.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in Culinary management experience, ideally as an Executive Chef / Head Chef
• 3 years or more of culinary training and education experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Excel, Microsoft Word, and Outlook

Special Qualifications, Qualities & Physical Requirements (skills, abilities, licenses):

• Committed to the mission of Homeward Bound of Marin
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team
• High volume production and catering experience
• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities, with keen attention to detail
• ACF certification would be preferred but is not essential
• Diplomatic, flexible, and approaches work with a sense of service, humility, and humor
• Compassionate, kind, adaptable, solution-oriented, innovative, and willing to experiment with new strategies in a team environment
• Ability to work under pressure and handle challenging situations with professionalism
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time (6 – 8 hours per day)
• Ability to sit, and use a computer mouse, keyboard, and monitor, for moderate periods of time (1 – 3 hours per day)
• Ability to stoop, crouch, kneel, and/or crawl, on occasion
• Ability to lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds

Relationships:

• Establishes and maintains positive, open, mutually supportive, and collaborative relationships with instructors, directors, managers, board members, and all other staff members.
• Greets, communicates, and treats all clients, customers, staff, and students with respect, dignity, and an attitude of service.
• Maintains and models confidentiality related to all client, student, and resident services as well as any personnel-related issues.
• Communicates with supervisor and business services staff regarding relevant administrative needs and issues.
• Communicates with facilities staff regarding relevant issues and needs.

Major Responsibilities

1. Kitchen Management:
   • Manage kitchen staff, in collaboration with the Culinary Management team, including hiring, training, and scheduling, to ensure smooth operations and efficient workflow.
   • Work with the Director of Training and Kitchen Operations to develop and implement standardized recipes and SOP’s.
   • Oversee cleanliness and maintain hygiene standards in the Key Room Kitchen and other shelter kitchens.
   • Ensures kitchen activities comply with licensing, sanitation, and safety regulations.
   • Work with Director of Social Enterprise and Director of Training and Kitchen Operations to manage cost controls for all food operations.
   • In conjunction with Director of Finance and Director of Social Enterprise, establish and maintain appropriate business systems for enterprise accounting including reporting of sales, staff hours, event tracking and customer database, and assists in preparing reports as needed.
   • Manage the inventory and proper ordering of ingredients and supplies.
   • Cultivate and maintain beneficial relationships with suppliers and vendors to source high-quality ingredients and equipment.
2. Event Coordination:
   • Direct and oversee, along with the Culinary Team, all catered events and food production.
   • Design innovative and diverse menus tailored to different events, considering client preferences, dietary restrictions, and seasonal ingredients.
   • Maintain strict quality control measures to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction and food quality standards are met at all times in the preparation of healthful, nutritious meals.
   • Collaborate with in-house event planners and coordinators to execute seamless catering services, including on-site setup, food service, and breakdown.
   • In-lieu of performance reviews, provide guidance to managers on goal-setting and professional development plans for employees.
3. Job Training:
   • Provide hands-on, on-the-job training and culinary instruction to all kitchen employees and create and maintain a classroom atmosphere in the kitchen(s).
   • Serve as a culinary instructor, as needed.

Equal Opportunity Statement
Homeward Bound is an equal opportunity employer. We stand for justice and equity. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training.

Competitive Benefits

• 100 % Employer Paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Discretionary 403 B match
• 3 weeks vacation
• 11 paid holidays
• 6 floating holidays
• 12 Sick days annually
• 5 Covid-19 sick days a year
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free lunch at Admin Site, and more
• Comprehensive list provided at offer

To Apply:

Send resumes to [email protected]

*$85k -$95k annually with a competitive benefits package which includes 100% employer paid medical and dental insurance, 3 weeks accrued vacation, and access to a 403b retirement plan. Under California law, Homeward Bound is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary or hourly rate outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range considers the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decision including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. Salary and hourly rate offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications.