Lead Cook

POSITION TITLE:           Lead Cook – El Centro Day Center

DEPARTMENT:               Homeless Services

REPORTS TO:                Program Manager, Imperial Valley

FLSA STATUS:               Non-Exempt

SALARY:                         $18-20 per hour DOE

TIME COMMITMENT:     Full-time (40+ hours/ week) 

To apply for this position you need to complete this Application

BENEFITS:  Catholic Charities offers a full line of benefits to select from medical, dental, and vision. Prescription drugs, life insurance, cash-balance pension plan, 403(b), vacation, 15 holidays, and sick leave.

ORGANIZATION PROFILE:  Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego was founded in 1919 to provide service to those in need, to be a witness to the scriptural values of mercy, to advocate for justice, and to call all people of goodwill to join in these efforts.  The agency responds to the needs of the poor in two counties of the Roman Catholic Diocese San Diego and Imperial.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:  Responsible for planning, preparing, cooking, and serving nutritious, appetizing, quality meals for people experiencing homelessness.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Plans weekly menus to provide nutritious, well-balanced meals. Coordinates menu planning with Program Manager through weekly meetings. Accommodates special dietary needs


• Develops and maintains recipes and production sheets for daily and weekly production.  Checks production sheet against inventory to assure necessary items are on hand, plans for backup items as needed.


• Orders, receives, stores, and monitors raw food, supplies, and equipment, keeping records as required.  Controls food cost and usage by following proper requisition of products from storage area and overseeing waste and control procedures.


• Acts as a working supervisor for food production. May provide food preparation training for other staff members.


• Prepares meals or provides direction and ingredients for the staff to use on the weekend to feed Day Center participants and residents staying at Catholic Charities shelters in Imperial County


• Maintains consistent high-quality standards; quality-tests finished items for taste, texture, appearance, and temperature. Ensures that food is served in a professional and pleasant manner. Cook meals as planned in the menus and quantity to be served. Serves food in a professional and pleasant manner. Keeps management abreast of any complaints or issues voiced by the residents.


• Familiar with and able to properly operate all kitchen equipment and able instruct co-workers as necessary. Trains teammates on the safe use of all equipment.


• Maintains and cleans kitchen, pantry and dining area ensuring areas meet sanitation standards.


• Ensures full compliance with all required and recommended health, safety and sanitation codes and practices. Ensures proper food holding temperatures and refrigeration and ware washing control points; documents work performed as necessary.


• Maintains maintenance and warranty records for all kitchen appliances.


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  Fosters a trauma-informed, safety-focused culture within CC programs


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  Works collaboratively with coworkers within Catholic Charities and local service providers


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  Completes and submits all required monthly reports and assigned paperwork as needed in a timely and accurate manner. This includes completing time tracker daily and ensuring it is ready to submit on the last day worked in the pay period


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  Promote excellence in customer service for potential participants through the application of knowledge obtained from staff training.


• Responsible for invoices, receipts, and certificates.


• Supervises all activities related to the kitchen and meal preparation.

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

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  Two-year certificate from college or technical school, and at least two-year’ experience in restaurant and/or hotel food service or equivalent training or a combination of education and experience.


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  Knowledge of nutrition and food handling procedures is required. Culinary School Degree preferred


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  Current First Aid, CPR


• Food handler’s certifications/cards (Required)


• A positive, can-do attitude and willingness to learn and grow


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  Well-developed listening skills


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  Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred but not required, must be able to read, write and speak English


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  Successful completion of live scan background check


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  Strong computer skills and ability to become proficient with database software


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  Valid Driver’s License and a clean driving record


• Tuberculin skin test. (Required)


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  Ability to multi-task, organize, and prioritize


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  Ability to read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence, and memos.


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  Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide


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  Ability to follow established policies, procedures and licensing requirements.


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  Ability to work effectively as a team member and independently


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  Candidates with lived experience are encouraged to apply

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.