Food Coordinator

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

As a Food Coordinator for a homeless shelter, you will play a critical role in ensuring that shelter residents receive nutritious meals and essential food services. Your responsibilities will involve overseeing all aspects of food preparation, distribution, and inventory management. Collaborating with staff, volunteers, and external partners, you will work to maintain a safe and efficient kitchen environment while meeting the dietary needs of the shelter's clients. Your dedication to providing nourishing meals will contribute significantly to the well-being and support of individuals experiencing homelessness, creating a positive impact in their lives during their stay at the shelter.

• Develop menus, order and purchase food and supplies, and coordinate with partner agencies.
• Supervise food preparation and presentation, and ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
• Plan, organized,d and executed all aspects of food service operation.
• Coordinate and organize food groups that provide meals for the shelter.
• Manage and maintain the kitchen area, ensuring all inventory is fully stocked.
• Plan and purchase weekly meal items, utilizing Foodbank, Costco, Smart and Final, and other resources to reduce costs.
• Prepare healthy and balanced meals for all shelter clients.
• Reach out to community groups to increase the number of food groups serving the shelter.
• Maintain cleanliness of the kitchen area, ensuring that it is kept in a sanitary and organized condition at all times.
• Participate in meetings as directed, representing the agency.
• Ensure compliance with organization policies and relevant laws.
• Conduct observed drug testing as needed.
• Utilizing a company vehicle to pick up essential supplies, such as food from the food bank, donations, or other required items for the shelter's operations.
• Responsible for promptly notifying the manager of any work orders that need to be submitted or supplies that need to be ordered.
• Responsible for attending staff meetings, ensuring timely completion of training, and accurately completing timecards.
• Perform related duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

This section outlines the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the daily tasks and job duties bulleted above. Some examples are:

• High School Diploma or equivalent: A minimum educational requirement to demonstrate basic literacy and communication skills.
• Associate degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• Minimum one year of food service and cooking experience
• Previous experience in social services or community outreach: Experience working in a related field such as social work, counseling, case management, or community services is highly beneficial.
• Experience in a homeless services setting: Prior experience working directly with individuals experiencing homelessness or substance abuse can provide valuable insight and knowledge.
• Excellent communication skills: Ability to effectively communicate with shelter residents, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
• Crisis intervention skills: Capacity to handle crisis situations and de-escalate conflicts.
• Empathy and compassion: Demonstrating genuine care and understanding for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Ability to work in a team: Collaboration and cooperation with other shelter staff, volunteers, and external agencies.
• Excellent computer proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel, and Google)

Required Qualifications:

Employment Eligibility Verification:

• Must provide documentation to establish identity and employment eligibility in compliance with legal requirements. This may include a U.S. passport, Permanent Resident Card, or other acceptable forms of identification.

Negative Tuberculosis Test:

• Must provide documentation of a recent negative tuberculosis (TB) test result to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

Background Screening:

• Successful completion of a comprehensive background screening, which may include criminal record checks, employment history verification, and reference checks.

Pre-Employment Drug Screening:

• Must pass a pre-employment drug screening to ensure a drug-free workplace. A negative drug test result is required.

Driving Skills:

• Must meet the requirements set by our auto insurance carrier.

Insurance Coverage:

• Must be able to qualify for Good Samaritan Shelter insurance coverage, which may include meeting specific criteria related to driving record, insurance claims history, and other factors.

Personal Insurance Coverage:

• Must have personal insurance coverage that meets the requirements set by the employer.
• This may include liability insurance, automobile insurance, or any other type of insurance deemed necessary for the position.
• The coverage must be valid and maintained throughout the employment period.

Benefits:

Full-Time Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 401k Matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays and Floater Day
• Employee Assistance Program
• Gym Membership Discount
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Working Advantage

Part-Time Benefits:

• 401k Matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Gym Membership Discount
• Working Advantage

Please note that these benefits are subject to specific eligibility criteria and may be subject to change based on company policies and guidelines.

Work Environment:

The work environment in a homeless shelter is a dynamic and fast-paced setting. Operating within the shelter's kitchen facilities, the Food Coordinator collaborates closely with kitchen staff, volunteers, and shelter personnel to ensure the preparation and distribution of nutritious meals for residents. They manage inventory, adhere to strict safety and sanitation standards, and accommodate residents' dietary preferences and restrictions. Interacting with shelter residents during meal service, the Food Coordinator contributes to a supportive and welcoming atmosphere. The role demands physical stamina, resourcefulness, and a commitment to maintaining a clean and organized kitchen. Despite its challenges, the work environment offers the rewarding opportunity to make a positive impact on the well-being and dignity of individuals experiencing homelessness.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those 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 essential functions.

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions like chopping, stirring, or operating kitchen equipment.
• Being able to move around the kitchen and shelter facility comfortably is essential to coordinating food-related activities effectively.
• The kitchen environment can be subject to temperature fluctuations, including exposure to heat from cooking appliances and cold storage areas.
• Proficiency in using hands and fingers to perform tasks such as typing, writing, handling paperwork, operating equipment, and assisting residents with daily needs.
• Sufficient vision and hearing capabilities to observe and respond to the environment, communicate with residents and colleagues, and maintain a safe working environment.

Mental Requirements:

The mental demands outlined above are illustrative of the requirements necessary for an employee to effectively fulfill the fundamental duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations can be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill these essential functions.

• Emotional resilience to cope with challenging situations and provide support to individuals facing difficult circumstances.
• The nature of working with individuals experiencing homelessness can be emotionally draining. Staff must be aware of the signs of compassion fatigue and have strategies in place to manage their own self-care and prevent burnout.
• Establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries is crucial when working with vulnerable populations. Staff should be able to prioritize self-care, set limits on their emotional involvement, and practice self-reflection to prevent personal emotional strain.
• Serving a diverse population with various cultural backgrounds and identities. Staff should have a strong commitment to cultural sensitivity, respect for diversity, and the ability to communicate effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

The Good Samaritan Shelter is a non-profit, community-based organization that relies on all members of staff to work together to serve the community and clients. At times, you may be asked to take on additional tasks outside of your usual responsibilities as needed.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $23.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off

Experience:

• Cooking: 1 year (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Santa Maria, CA 93454: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $23 - $26