Prep Cook & Cafe Assistant

Who We Are: A Bible-based, multiethnic, multi-site church seeking to glorify God by making disciples and multiplying churches among all nations, beginning in greater Washington, D.C.

Job Purpose:

McLean Bible Church (MBC) is seeking a Prep Cook/ Café Assistant to join our Café team. 

The ideal candidate will have experience in food preparation, be skilled at following recipes, and work efficiently to ensure that all ingredients are prepped and ready for the café’s daily operations. 

Additionally, the candidate will be experienced in supporting daily food operations by assisting customers, handling payments, preparing and/or serving orders, maintaining cleanliness, and helping with restocking and general front-of-house tasks

The position plays a key role in providing high-quality customer experience. 

Work Schedule: 

• Sundays - Prep Cook duties - 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Tuesdays - Cafe Assistant duties: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Wednesday to Thursdays - On-Call for various duties: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
• On call, various times, if needed for preparing orders for catering

Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Prep Cook:

Food Preparation:

• Wash, peel, chop, slice, and prepare ingredients for menu items
• Assist in the preparation of sauces, dressings, marinades, and other base ingredients
• Measure and prepare ingredients according to the Café's recipes and standards. 
• Prepare menu items according to recipes, direction and plating instructions.
• Participate in other culinary tasks as required.

Kitchen Organization:

• Ensure all prep items are stored properly, labeled, and dated according to health and safety standards.
• Maintain an organized and clean prep area, keeping tools and utensils properly stored

Sanitation & Safety:

• Comply with all safety and hygiene regulations, including proper food handling, cleaning, and storage.
• Follow all food safety procedures such as regularly washing utensils and work surfaces

Other:

• Communicate effectively with team members to ensure orders are filled in a timely manner, and that operations run smoothly during peak hours
• Follow directions of kitchen staff in work prioritization and food prep.

Cafe Assistant 

• Operate point-of-sale (POS) system and handle cash/card transactions.
• Provide friendly customer service and answer menu inquiries.
• Hand food and beverage orders to customers promptly.
• Maintain clean and organized counter and dining areas.
• Restock front-of-house supplies 
• Assist with opening/closing duties, when needed
• Assist with unloading, inspection and storage of raw ingredients and supplies
• Help with receiving deliveries and unpacking food shipments

Qualifications:

• High school or vocational school coursework in kitchen basics, such as food safety, preferred.
• Previous experience in a Prep Cook or Kitchen Assistant role is preferred
• Knowledge of basic cooking techniques
• Friendly and customer-focused attitude
• Prior cashier experience a plus (but not required)
• Fluency in Spanish or the ability to communicate in conversational Spanish is highly desired
• Ability to change work tasks and follow directions quickly to address changing café volumes and service demands.
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow recipes and instructions.
• Familiarity with food safety standards and proper kitchen hygiene.
• Ability to work well in a team environment and communicate clearly with others
   

Working conditions/Physical requirements:

• Fast-paced and hectic while working with cooking tools such as knives.
• Prolonged periods of standing and working in a kitchen
• Exposure to elevated heat and steam typical of a kitchen environment.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times
• Manual dexterity to cut and chop foods and perform other related tasks.

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.