Chef

ABOUT US

Rethink Food is a chef-led nonprofit partnering with restaurants to better feed communities.
Through strong partnerships with local restaurants and community-based organizations, we work with a responsive, hyperlocal network that provides culturally celebrated, nutritious meals. Since 2017, we've served over 30 million meals
and reinvested more than $142 million
into local economies.

Our work falls into three core areas:

• Building the Network: We connect restaurants, community-based organizations, and food donors to deliver meals where they’re needed most.
   


• Setting the Example: Through our Sustainable Community Kitchen, we demonstrate what dignified, community-centered food access can look like.
   


• Advocating for Change: We champion policy and systems change to create a more sustainable, equitable food future for all.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Chef leads and oversees the work of the Sustainable Community Kitchen by managing and overseeing staff tasked with meal production of all meal operations, and overall facility. This role is responsible for managing inventory and ordering of goods and supplies, creating production schedules, quality control and the safety and security in the kitchen. The Chef will also be a key ambassador for the organization at both internal and external events, panels, and community events. 

In our agile environment, your role extends beyond core duties – it's an invitation to amplify your influence. You'll be expected to proactively leverage your diverse talents, contributing across a variety of initiatives to directly achieve our shared objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Directs recipe execution and production schedules
  
  
  
  • Monthly menu planning, station rotation and ordering
  
  
  
  


• Serves as an ambassador and representative of Rethink Food:
  
  
  
  • Represents the Sustainable Community Kitchen and the organization's mission at internal meetings, external events, expert panels, and community engagements.
  
  
  • Effectively communicates Rethink Food's culinary philosophy, impact, and operations to diverse audiences.
  
  
  
  


• Maintains kitchen standards of cleanliness, organization and workflow


• Keeps team on track with their production schedule
  
  
  
  • Execution of daily food deliveries to CBOs
  
  
  • Communicates with operations & transportation teams to facilitate and resolve potential operational conflicts for food drop offs and pickups
  
  
  • Organizes receiving and distribution of donations
  
  
  
  


• Leads development and training of the kitchen staff:
  
  
  
  • Manage kitchen staff (scheduling, daily management and performance management)
  
  
  • Creates training plans and standard operating procedures for efficiency in the kitchen
  
  
  • Enforces safety guidelines and food safety standards (responsible for passing regulatory inspections)
  
  
  • Ensures proper setup and breakdown of kitchen, following Rethink protocols and procedures
  
  
  • Maintains proper storage and rotational procedures (FIFO) of house equipment and dry storage
  
  
  
  


• General administrative duties:
  
  
  
  • Reviews and completes detailed logs (food donations, temperatures, meal creation, etc) including, but not limited to, Rethink Food logs for filing, and quarterly managerial reviews of kitchen team
  
  
  • Orders inventory of required materials (packaging, disposables, dry goods) needed on a weekly basis
  
  
  • Manages labor and kitchen costs within specified budget 
  
  
  • Completes monthly inventory of Rethink kitchen equipment and submits to  Senior Director of Operations
  
  
  • Schedules and facilitates kitchen team meetings
  
  
  • Performs other duties as assigned
  
  
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS

• 4+ years in a leadership role ( Executive Chef, Chef, Sous Chef) in a high volume restaurant. Michelin rated preferred.


• Must have NYC Food Handlers Certification or ServSafe certification


• Must be keen to details and have a desire to work with high standards, efficiency and food safety.


• Ability to creatively work with food excess items collected from our donation partners.


• Experience scaling recipes and volume cooking.


• Effective communication and management skills; ability to take direction from supervisors and lead a team constructively.


• Spanish proficiency is preferred.


• Ability to work in a clean, organized, and efficient manner in a high-pressure environment.


• Flexible and have a strong ability to problem solve.


• Must have excellent knife skills and proficiency in all aspects of cooking.


• Ability to work independently, proactively, and resourcefully


• Must embrace the mission and core values of Rethink Food


• Must be able to stand, bend, stretch, lift and carry heavy materials up to 50 lbs

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE: Commitment to embodying our values of -

Inventiveness: At our core, we are relentlessly curious about solving problems. As our name suggests, we’re a team of creative thinkers, but we’re also hands-on doers, challenging norms with humility to find practical solutions that can create lasting change.

Vulnerability: Guided by an “always be better” mindset, we are a team that intentionally reflects on what we are doing well and where we need to improve. We hold ourselves and each other accountable, every day. No blame, no shame — we just want to be sure we’re always doing the right thing.

Thoughtfulness: Our vision for a nourished and thriving world starts with nourished and thriving individuals in each of our communities. Our work is centered on the needs of the people that bring our communities to life. We don’t pretend to have all of the answers. We are committed to listening and learning in order to identify and scale solutions that ensure stable and reliable access to healthy food for all so each and every community can thrive.

Kindness: At Rethink, we show up every day with empathy and compassion and believe everyone should be treated with dignity. Kindness goes a long way — we are all about just being kind

COMPENSATION

The annual salary range for this position is $150k - $200k, depending on experience and education. We also offer a complete benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, PTO, paid holidays, two weeks per year for an organization-wide office closure to recharge, a retirement plan with employer match, a progressive parental leave plan, and free nutritious lunch everyday! 

EEO STATEMENT

Rethink Food is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, ancestry, national origin, alienage or citizenship, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, or other protected status. The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.