Program Specialist 3- Food Service Lead

Night Ministry•Chicago, IL

2h•$26 - $27

About The Position

The Program Specialist 3 – Food Service Lead is responsible for the day-to-day care of program residents and, when applicable, their children in a low-threshold overnight shelter, interim (120) program, or transitional living program. The role helps maintain a safe and secure environment by modeling positive behaviors, coaching residents in decision-making, and working closely with case management to reinforce case plans. Cross-training and regular rotation among work sites are required. The position promotes The Night Ministry’s mission of serving homeless clients aged 14–24 and their children, if applicable. The Food Service Lead orders food, prepares weekly menus, ensures compliance with City of Chicago food-service requirements, and oversees receiving, rotating, separating, and storing food. The role prepares and puts out breakfast, lunch, and dinner and facilitates resident life-skills instruction. It also provides direct resident support, including intakes, documentation, safety monitoring, household routines, referrals, transportation coordination, and communication with staff and volunteers. This is a first-shift position scheduled Tuesday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The position has no direct reports.

Requirements

1–2 years of experience in client services and/or a residential setting serving at-risk clients.
Knowledge of and familiarity with the needs of adolescents.
Must pass DCFS licensing requirements.
Crisis intervention training.
High school graduate or A.A. degree.
Current driver’s license and proof of insurance, and ability and willingness to drive a 15-passenger van.
First Aid/CPR certification and maintenance of continuous certification.
Food Service Manager Certification, required for the position, or ability to obtain it upon hire; certification must be maintained.
Maintenance of continuous CPI certification.
Maintenance of Mental Health First Aid Certification.
Ability to lift up to 70 pounds.
Positive role model in attitude, behavior, and appearance; able to react quickly and exercise good judgment in emergencies or stressful situations.
Able to interact with residents and their children and work cooperatively with staff and volunteers.
Excellent interpersonal skills and comfort interacting with diverse populations.
Must maintain all requirements and responsibilities of previous job levels.

Responsibilities

Order food and complete weekly menus.
Ensure compliance with City of Chicago food-service requirements and inspections.
Receive, rotate, separate, and properly store food.
Prepare and put out breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the day.
Complete required ETO documentation and enter data accurately and on time.
Wake residents; ensure rooms are presentable, garbage is removed, and morning chores are completed.
Facilitate a life-skills group every Thursday morning for residents who are present.
Complete initial intakes with new residents on their day of arrival and complete required paperwork.
Attend weekly staff meetings and mandatory training.
Record daily activities, resident progress, and significant issues in the shift log; update incoming workers and review the log at the beginning of each shift.
Greet visitors and callers, and refer or assist them professionally as appropriate.
Supervise residents and ensure Night Ministry policies, procedures, and house rules are applied and maintained.
Direct and assist residents with life skills for themselves and their children, when applicable, including hygiene, cleaning, cooking, laundry, and childcare.
Arrange transportation for residents to appointments and activities; drive a company vehicle when prior approval is obtained.
Ensure residents’ safety and well-being, and promptly report unusual incidents, rule infractions, emergencies, and visits by outside agencies to on-call supervisors.
Identify ways to improve facility and agency operations and provide the best possible service to residents.
Maintain consistency, fair play, clear boundaries, tolerance, flexibility, appropriate control, and a professional demeanor.
Coordinate work with volunteers and raise questions or issues with case management or the volunteer coordinator.
Promptly inform case management and the Program Supervisor of resident issues, verbally or in writing.
Obtain and maintain at least two specialized skills, as determined with a supervisor, to benefit the program.
Assist with interviewing potential program specialists and training new hires.
Help facilitate part of the Foundations Training curriculum quarterly for new staff.
Develop and conduct a monthly life-skills instruction course for residents.
Instruct residents in the monthly fire drill and emergency procedure.
Make referrals to other shelters, institutions, or organizations as necessary.
Complete assigned special tasks and projects, which may include field trips.
Check employee mailboxes regularly for notices, updates, and communications.
Attend all staff meetings and required special training.
Perform other duties as assigned.