Lead Cook - Helpings Café and Catering

UMOM New Day Centers•Phoenix, AZ

18h•Onsite

About The Position

UMOM New Day Centers serves over 300,000 meals each year to clients experiencing homelessness who are temporarily living in our emergency shelters. The Lead Cook position contributes to UMOM's mission to restore hope, rebuild lives, and end homelessness by cooking and creating meals in the areas of Residential Dining or Helpings Café and Catering. The Lead Cook is an advanced-level position requiring supportive leadership in a fast-paced kitchen setting, trade tests/certifications and/or varied work experience with advanced cooking methods and the ability to lead and help develop the skills of the kitchen team. The Lead Cook has demonstrated experience in inventory, purchasing, training, and staff supervision, as well as, a working knowledge of catering, baking, pastry cooking, and simple butchering tasks. This position will create a sanitary and organized environment and will practice and abide by Maricopa County Health codes to ensure food is safe for our clients and customers. The Lead Cook understands a positive, team-focused approach is the best way to keep a fast-paced kitchen running smoothly and is excited to take a leadership role in contributing to ensuring this type of work environment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent preferred
Minimum 3 years of experience in kitchen preparation and cooking in a fast-paced food service environment required
Catering and café or barista experience preferred
Experience in kitchen training and/or instructing preferred
Working knowledge of hospitality operations specifically product and equipment procurement and budget management preferred
Proficiency with applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
Current Maricopa Food Handler's card or the ability to obtain one
Valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card or the ability to obtain one
Ability to clear the Central Registry Screening from the Department of Child Safety & Adult Protective Services.
Ability to comply with and pass all required background check and drug screening requirements, including but not limited to pre-employment and random drug screening as required/requested.
This position is classified as a safety sensitive position.

Nice To Haves

Catering and café or barista experience preferred
Experience in kitchen training and/or instructing preferred
Working knowledge of hospitality operations specifically product and equipment procurement and budget management preferred

Responsibilities

Performs culinary skills at an advanced level, including all cooking methods, baking, pastry cooking, and leading of catering meal cooking.
Ensures food production at UMOM kitchens maintains food quality, accurate portion control, consistency of recipes, and timely delivery in accordance with established meal schedules/menus.
Provides training for kitchen staff.
In collaboration with the kitchen managers, updates and organizes all training materials, policies and procedures related to kitchen functions.
Leads the back-of-house training portion of the Homegrown student program, in collaboration with the Culinary Training Manager.
Manages inventory of all program supplies and works with Culinary Enterprise & Residential Dining Managers to manage all related expenses.
Learn different cooking styles from specialized chefs in the kitchen.
Articulately represents UMOM to the trainees, community, businesses, and social service organizations.
Maintains well-organized kitchens reflective of the safety standards established by UMOM and in accordance with all safety and sanitation standards per Maricopa County Health codes/the health department.
Operates with speed, efficiency and consistent mindfulness towards kitchen organization and sanitation in a fast-paced production-kitchen environment.
Communicates daily with kitchen staff to gain continuous feedback.
Understands the importance of data, reporting, and outcomes to running an impactful program.
Assumes 100% responsibility for quality of products served.
Attends all scheduled employee meetings and brings suggestions for improvement.
Other duties as assigned by leadership and/or executives.