Kitchen Lead Worker - Shelter

Porchlight•Madison, WI

About The Position

The Shelter Kitchen Worker Lead is a full-time, high-performing kitchen worker who serves as a role model for lower-level kitchen staff during meal production, execution, and service. The role is responsible for proper food handling and storage, kitchen and dining-room cleanliness, and monitoring staff compliance with sanitation and personal hygiene practices. The Lead works closely with the Kitchen Manager to organize the delivery, storage, and use of supplies, and assists with training, onboarding, and supervising kitchen employees. The position acts as a key holder with opening and closing responsibilities and may cover staff absences or shifts when the Shelter Kitchen Manager is unavailable. When assigned or required, the Lead serves as acting Kitchen Manager. The role collaborates with program and agency staff to foster a team environment and builds respectful relationships with clients, employees, visitors, and service providers. It follows Porchlight policies, procedures, confidentiality requirements, professional boundaries, and standards for use of agency property and technology. The work takes place in indoor settings such as kitchens, offices, shelter dormitories, and facilities, as well as outdoor areas including parking lots, grounds, and an on-site trailer. Physical demands include standing, kneeling, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, climbing stairs, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, and repetitive fine-motor movements. The role may involve exposure to weather, extreme temperatures, loud noises, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, electrical-shock risk, and vibration.

Requirements

Must possess or be able to obtain a ServSafe Manager certification.
Interest in food and cooking.
Ability to stand for two hours at a time.
Manual dexterity for knife handling and other repetitive fine hand, finger, and foot movements.
Ability to work cooperatively with others, take direction, and follow verbal and written instructions.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds; the description also states ability to lift 50+ pounds.
Written communication skills to name and organize files, complete timesheets, and communicate with a supervisor.
Basic English comprehension and written and oral communication skills.
Sincere respect for disadvantaged individuals.
Team orientation and respect for others.
High ethical standards.
Ability to perform duties involving standing, kneeling, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and climbing stairs.
Ability to perform typing or data entry and interact with coworkers, vendors, and participants.
Ability to read, write, talk, hear, and speak, and to meet close-vision, distance-vision, field-of-vision, and color/depth-perception demands.

Responsibilities

Prepare menu items under the direction of the Kitchen Manager.
Serve meals to residents and/or guests.
Properly handle and store food.
Ensure proper sanitation and hygiene, including monitoring staff practices.
Wash dishes used in meal preparation and set up dishes for meals.
Clean the kitchen and dining room.
Accurately maintain records related to food safety.
Alert management to problems and inform the Kitchen Manager when food or supplies are needed.
Assist the Shelter Kitchen Manager with training, onboarding, and supervision of kitchen employees.
Work with the Kitchen Manager to organize delivery, storage, and use of supplies.
Act as a key holder and handle opening and closing responsibilities.
Cover shift absences or shifts when the Shelter Kitchen Manager is unavailable, as needed.
Serve as the acting Kitchen Manager when assigned or required.
Collaborate with program and agency staff to facilitate a team environment.
Model effective communication and build relationships with clients and employees.
Build good working relationships with other service providers.
Treat clients, employees, and visitors with care, kindness, respect, and dignity, and help create an environment that values diversity.
Adhere to Porchlight policies, procedures, code of conduct, attendance rules, confidentiality requirements, and appropriate professional boundaries.
Use Porchlight property, computer technology, and telecommunications devices in accordance with agency policies.
Work with clients to eliminate barriers.
Perform other department-related duties as assigned.