Hospitality Associate

Department: Hospitality 

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt; Full-Time 

Location: Denver, CO  

Supervisor: Hospitality Program Manager 

Position Overview:

The Hospitality Program at The Gathering Place seeks a Hospitality Associate to be part of a dynamic team of staff and volunteers who serve our client members. The Hospitality Program encompasses Prepared Foods, Food Pantry, and Clothing Boutique. Tasks associated with this role may include food preparation, food service and distribution, clothing distribution, and other daily functions of organization, cleaning, food safety, and member engagement. 

You might be a great fit at TGP if you have a passion and commitment for our mission, the services we provide, and for addressing the systemic barriers that our members face through a low barrier, trauma-informed approach.  

Core Accountabilities:

• Engage directly with members accessing Hospitality Program services, including food service, boutique, and pantry. 
• In collaboration with other Hospitality staff, volunteers, and the Hospitality Program Manager, assist in the daily production and serving of high-quality meals.  
• Understanding and consistent practice of proper food safety procedures, including all legal, organizational, and contractually obligated health standards. 
• Support Boutique and Pantry operations as needed. 
• Use cultural humility and trauma-informed care when interacting with members, staff, volunteers, and community partners, including mindfulness and flexibility regarding food preferences, sensitivities, and needs 
• Maintain a physically and psychologically safe environment for members, staff, and volunteers. 
• Complete all program documentation and data entry in a timely manner to meet organizational and legal standards and reporting requirements. 
• Proactively engage in de-escalation, crisis prevention, and crisis mitigation. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Compensation and Benefits:

• 37.5-hour workweek 
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance  
• Life insurance plans  
• 403(b) retirement savings plan 
• Financial advising services 
• Generous paid time off 
• Long- and short-term disability plan  
• Robust training and professional development opportunities 
• Free breakfast and lunch  
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Free CorePower Yoga membership 

About The Gathering Place:

Founded in 1986, The Gathering Place (TGP) supports women, gender-diverse people, and their children in building stable lives through home, health, purpose, and community programs. We are driven by our values of community, safety, inclusivity, empowerment, and hope. We envision a Colorado where all marginalized groups experiencing homelessness and instability have pathways to security.  

As a trauma-informed, low barrier organization, we remove unnecessary or harmful requirements that prevent members of the community from accessing our services when they need them most—from essential services like meals, showers, and laundry to long-term support like housing-focused case management and physical, mental, and sexual health care. Members choose which of our services they want to take advantage of, giving them the autonomy they need to rebuild their lives. 

Requirements:

• Able to bend, lift, push, pull and hold/carry at least 15 lbs. 
• Able to perform job duties in a variety of fluctuating temperatures. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.  
• Current knowledge of and/or willingness to learn about food justice and food and nutritional insecurity. 
• Compassionate and empathetic approach to working with diverse populations.  
• Current knowledge of, or willingness to learn, how to operate a computer and other office machinery, such as a copy machine or printer, and office software, such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and other programs. 
• Preferred: Minimum one year of experience in food service or one year in a food service/culinary training program. 
• Preferred: Knowledge of, or lived experience with, homelessness, poverty, women and trans issues, substance misuse. 

If you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the requirements in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the right candidate for this or other roles within the organization! 

Commitment to Equity and Inclusion:

The Gathering Place is committed to Accessibility, Belonging, Liberation, and Equity (ABLE) work to advance marginalized communities from oppression, exploitation, and discrimination while uplifting and celebrating them. We are taking collective action towards dismantling systemic structures and empowering underrepresented identities.  

TGP is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, gender variance, gender expression, marital status, citizenship, creed, ethnicity, veteran status, ancestry and any other protected classification. Applicants of any and all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Individuals with lived experience of homelessness, extreme poverty and/or experience with a behavioral health condition are also strongly encouraged to apply.