Residential Cook

Casa Serena•Santa Barbara, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Casa Serena, a nonprofit serving women in Santa Barbara, is hiring a Residential Cook to prepare lunch and dinner for residents in its residential treatment program. The role cooks for roughly 10 to 15 residents and uses an established recipe bank rather than designing menus from scratch. Weekly meal choices are based on available ingredients, client response, and current documented dietary needs. Meals are home-style institutional cooking, prepared consistently and at volume. The position is full-time, onsite, five days a week, for 35–40 hours per week, approximately 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m. The cook does not set kitchen direction or supervise kitchen staff, and the program does not prepare separate meals to order or accommodate food preferences. Casa Serena provides residential and outpatient treatment for substance use disorder and mental health conditions. It is licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services and accredited by The Joint Commission. Meals and steady nutrition are described as part of supporting women in early recovery.

Requirements

Comfortable cooking for 10 to 20 people and scaling recipes up or down.
Proficient at accommodating common dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and vegan diets, and preparing vegan proteins such as tofu.
Food Handler Card, or ability to obtain one upon hire.
Reliable attendance and ability to meet meal times consistently.
Willingness to follow a recipe bank and daily structure.
Organized, clean, a team player, and receptive to feedback.
Able to pass a background check.
Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and insurability by the employer’s insurance carrier.

Nice To Haves

Basic computer skills; experience with MS Office or Google Suite is preferred.
ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification.
Experience cooking for dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets.
Experience in a treatment, healthcare, or social services setting.
Current CPR and First Aid certification.
TB/Health Screen within 60 days of employment, or willingness to obtain it within 7 days of hire.

Responsibilities

Cook lunch and dinner daily for approximately 10 to 15 residents, including a fresh green salad at every meal.
Plan weekly meals from the recipe bank based on ingredients on hand, client response, and current dietary needs.
Prepare a simple afternoon snack and set up breakfast items for overnight staff.
Batch-prepare items weekly, such as dressings, dips, make-ahead hot breakfast, vegetable sticks, and other snacks.
Prepare additional meals for program staff to reheat and serve on days the cook is not working or available.
Maintain freezer stock of backup entrees, including gluten-free and vegan options.
Accommodate documented dietary restrictions within the planned meal.
Maintain inventory of kitchen staples and fresh and frozen foods.
Complete weekly grocery shopping based on inventory and the weekly menu.
Clean dishes and prep equipment; keep the kitchen clean and organized; maintain proper food labeling and storage.
Complete rotating weekly kitchen-related projects, such as organizing the refrigerator, freezers, or pantry.
Meet weekly with the Residential Manager.