Kitchen Assistant, On Call (sebastopol)

DEPARTMENT: Culinary Operations REPORTS TO: Kitchen Manager LOCATION: Sebastopol and Santa Rosa Kitchens, primary; Novato Kitchen, secondary FLSA STATUS: On Call, Part-Time, Non-Exempt EXPECTED HOURS: Up to 30 hours a week, based on need and availability. Schedule Varies. Click on link to apply to the job: https://ceresproject.bamboohr.com/careers/122?source=aWQ9NDQ%3D Position Summary The Kitchen Assistant (KA) is responsible for assisting the Lead and Associate Chef (AC) to ensure the smooth operation of culinary production shifts. The KA works under the direction of the Lead Chef with adult and youth volunteers to keep a clean, orderly, well-maintained kitchen by dish washing, cleaning, receiving orders; and may assist with food preparation, cooking, packaging, bagging. Essential Functions and Responsibilities Follows the daily cooking plan as determined by the Lead Chef and Kitchen Manager. Supports the kitchen with cleaning duties such as dish washing and putting away, maintaining sanitizer levels, and organizing supplies and products. Supports in all aspects of adult production and youth shifts: helps to set up and close shifts thoroughly. Helps to maintain the highest standards of food safety during production, with guidance from the Lead Chef and Kitchen Manager. Maintains consistency across all shifts in food safety and sanitation practices, cooking techniques, and food quality. Helps keep the kitchen neat and orderly during shifts. Facilitates hand-off between shifts with accuracy and good organization. Receives deliveries; properly labels, rotates, and stores product within an hour of delivery receipt. Stays on top of deep cleaning and organizational tasks, including but not limited to laundry and cleaning floor mats. Supports emergency food provision efforts. Reads and responds to Ceres emails daily. Regular, reliable, predictable attendance is required for all shifts and program meetings. Other duties as required and requested. Adult and Youth Volunteer Program Responsibilities Develops and maintains positive working relationships with adult and youth volunteers; welcomes, teaches, assists and provides appropriate support, acknowledgement, and gratitude, every day and on every shift. Leads adult volunteer teams on select bagging shifts; ensures that all client bags are packed efficiently and contain the correct meals, including any special dietary restrictions. Collaborates with Associate Chefs when there are youth-related issues to resolve. Upholds standards of positive youth development. Attends monthly Youth Program Staff meetings and other training as required. Qualifications Food handler’s certification required. Past experience in a professional kitchen environment a plus. Experience and/or desire to be working with youth strongly preferred. Ability to stay calm and keep a sense of humor in a fast-paced environment. Ability to perform basic computer functions using Microsoft Office. Ability to communicate warmly and clearly. Demonstrates a good awareness of self and an ability to self-assess. Ability and desire to be in a work environment that values working as a team, relationships and giving and receiving honest feedback. Commitment to Ceres Community Project mission, values, and operating principles. Operating Principles Heart Centered & Love Guided - We are committed to expressing love, trust, respect and integrity in our lives, work, and organization. Everything Matters - Nothing is left out. We work to have every action and choice lead to the greatest positive impact. Young People are the Future - Young People are intelligent, responsible, capable, creative, and caring, and must be central participants in shaping our collective future. Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive - We commit to championing policies and practices of social equity that build a diverse, inclusive, and healthy workplace and food system. Ceres Organization Founded in 2007, Ceres Community Project works to build healthy communities by restoring whole, organic and locally grown food to its place as the foundation of health, empowering youth, and connecting people in heart-centered ways to others and the earth. Ceres Community Project's main program, Healing Meals for Healthy Communities, provides free and low-cost nourishing organic meals, nutrition education and caring support to people facing serious illness. All of the meals are prepared by teens that learn about growing, cooking and eating healthy whole foods and the connection between diet and health, develop life and work-ready skills, and discover their power to make a difference. The Healing Meals Program improves healthy eating behaviors among clients, teens and adult volunteers and educates the whole community about the link between healthy eating and the health of both people and planet. It also strengthens the social fabric of the community, another factor that is at the root of health. In times of disaster, Ceres is an emergency nutrition provider for our community. In addition to operating three program sites in Marin and Sonoma counties, Ceres has trained 13 communities nationally to replicate our model. We are also active at the state and national level in advocating for policies that support equitable access to healthy food and health care, including reimbursement for medically tailored meals by insurers. For more information, please visit www.ceresproject.org. Ceres Community Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions at Ceres are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital & veteran status or any other status protected by laws or regulations.