Food Service Manager

Job Description

Primary purpose:
The Food Service Manager oversees the daily operation of the Cooper Center Café, ensuring the preparation and service of nutritious, high-quality meals in a safe, welcoming environment. This role is responsible for planning menus, managing kitchen staff and volunteers, maintaining food safety standards, and supporting the center’s mission to foster community engagement and well-being through food service. This is a part-time (19 hours/week), non-benefitted, hourly position. Hours may shift depending on the needs of the Older Adult Services Department.

Supervision:
Scope and Judgment: Under the direction of the Older Adult Services Deputy Director, this position functions independently, referring problems to supervisor only when clarification or interpretation of policy or procedure is required. Performs varied duties of a routine to semi-complex nature following acceptable standards of quality and performance; requires the frequent exercising of independent judgment and tact when planning nutritious meals at the Cooper Center.

Supervision Received: Position reports to the Deputy Director or their designee. Generally, establishes own work plan and completes work in accordance with established department policies and standards. Performs varied and responsible duties requiring independent judgment. Generally, establishes own work plan and completes work in accordance with established department policies and standards. Performs varied and responsible duties requiring independent judgment.

Supervision Given: Employee oversees kitchen assistant, kitchen volunteers and special event kitchen volunteers, who could number anywhere between two and six at any given meal or event, depending on the circumstances.

Essential Functions:
(The essential functions or duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)
Oversee daily café operations, ensuring high standards of food safety, cleanliness, and customer service. Develop menu and recipes in consultation with management and community needs. Prepare, cook, and present meals, snacks, and beverages.

Adapt food offerings to accommodate special dietary needs (e.g., low sodium, vegetarian, gluten-free) as needed.

Ensure all food items are prepared and served safely, on time, and meet quality and portion standards. Implement and maintain compliance with all local, state, and federal health codes, food handling regulations, and licensing requirements. Conduct regular inspections, food production records, maintain sanitation logs, and ensure proper maintenance and operation of kitchen equipment.

Supervise, schedule and train kitchen staff, café assistants, and volunteers on food safety, customer service, and café procedures.

Manage the café budget with Deputy Director of OAS. Monitor cash handling procedures and maintain accurate financial records.

Foster a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere for community members of all ages and backgrounds.

Interact with guests, respond to customer feedback and special requests, and support special events, meetings, and catering opportunities. Support promotional activities to enhance café visibility and income.

Participate in department staff meetings, trainings, and planning sessions.

Stay current with food service trends, nutrition best practices, and community food initiatives. Conducts occasional cooking classes for the benefit of older adults.

Performs similar or related work as required, or as circumstances and situations dictate to support the overall success of the café and the Cooper Center.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications:
Education, Training, and Experience:
High school education or equivalent; at least one to two years of cooking and food service experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Serve-Safe Manager certification and any other certifications as required by the Health Department, including but not limited to CPR, and Allergy Awareness Certifications or ability to certify within sixty (60) days from start date.
Experience with older adults preferred.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill:
Knowledge. Working knowledge of nutrition and the preparation of meals for predominantly older adults. Thorough knowledge of “serve safe” regulations. General knowledge of the applicable provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws pertinent to the operation of a public kitchen and preparation of meals.

Ability. Ability to interact in a positive and effective manner with employees and the public and to work independently. Ability to operate a variety of kitchen equipment at efficient speed. Ability to organize work and manage multiple tasks in a timely manner. Ability to plan and organize work and manage multiple tasks in a timely manner. Ability to develop nutritious and creative menus. Ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks at one time with frequent interruptions. Ability to identify needs for repairs to kitchen equipment. Ability to follow written or verbal instructions.

Skills. Must have experience in food preparation and kitchen experience. Skill in using basic computer and office equipment. Good judgment and tact necessary to maintain effective staff and customer relations. Efficient skill level in the management of a food nutritional program for the older adults. Excellent organizational skills, interpersonal/collaborative communication, resourcefulness and discretion. Time management and customer service skills.

Job Environment:
Most work is performed in a traditional kitchen setting where there is exposure to potential hazards and discomforts found in a kitchen environment. Operates various kinds of kitchen equipment, a computer, and general office equipment such as a computer, calculator, copier, facsimile machine and telephone. Employee has frequent contact with volunteers, older adults, vendors, and other staff members. Employee has access to confidential information pertaining to the provision of meal services to patrons. Errors could result in delay or loss of service, legal repercussions, financial loss, food
borne illness, lower standards of service to the community and negative public relations to the city.

Physical requirements:
(The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
Work is performed in a kitchen setting, subject to moderate noise and is exposed to hot and cold temperatures frequently found in a kitchen environment. A significant amount of time is spent standing, walking, stooping or reaching. This position is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms to lift food items. Frequently required to lift up to 60 pounds. Normal vision requirements. Required to operate kitchen equipment in a safe manner and in accordance with manufacturer’s operating instructions. Errors in judgment could result in significant delay or loss of services, legal ramifications, adverse public relations, and monetary loss.

Performance Standard:
Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.

Company Description

THE CITY:

The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.

OUR GOVERNMENT:

Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller was sworn in on January 1, 2018 after serving on the City Council. She ran on a platform of providing Newton’s children with a top-notch education in an inclusive environment where empty nesters, seniors, young families, and people of diverse incomes can live together in vibrant villages and neighborhoods. Mayor Fuller is committed to keeping Newton safe, improving the city’s infrastructure, addressing climate change, providing excellent and responsive city services, and fostering art, culture and community life. The first female Mayor of Newton, she is a tireless advocate for all the city’s residents and is committed to making sure the city is welcoming, inclusive and diverse. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.

AS AN EMPLOYER:

The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees. And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing hr@newtonma.gov.

Human Resources Diversity Statement

We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:

• Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
• Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
• Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
• Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
• Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
• Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.

Benefits

This is a non-benefited position