Culinary Administrative Assistant (Contract)

Job Title: Culinary Administrative Assistant

Location: Onsite in Bellevue, WA (not remote work/required to be in-office)

Employment Type: Part-Time Contractor – 30 hours/wk (hourly wage)

Modernist Cuisine is seeking a highly organized and food-savvy contract Culinary Administrative Assistant to provide crucial support to our culinary and food science teams. This is a dynamic role combining administrative responsibilities, kitchen support, and logistical coordination. The position entails routine responsibilities as well as handling urgent requests. The ideal candidate is meticulous, flexible, and has a high level of interest in the culinary industry.

This contract position is expected to work 30 hour per week onsite in our research laboratory in Bellevue, Washington.

Requirements:

• Strong organizational and multitasking skills, and ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work as part of a team
• Bachelor’s degree, culinary degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Valid Driver’s License, reliable vehicle, and proof of auto insurance (daily travel required).
• Ability to safely lift and maneuver materials weighing up to 50 pounds, access and retrieve items from lower shelves or confined spaces, and use a step ladder to access and retrieve items from various heights, including overhead
• Proficiency in basic administrative systems and tools including expense tracking and Microsoft suite (Sharepoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Word, Excel)

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Inventory:

• Perform daily shopping as necessary to keep a fully stocked kitchen
• Track and manage kitchen inventory; monitor and maintain stock levels
• Maintain and update warehouse inventory

Administrative Support:

• Develop a thorough knowledge of kitchen systems, and know how to find information when requested
• Maintain kitchen documents related to ingredient sourcing and tracking and coordinate with culinary team to keep information updated. Create and maintain organizational resources as needed

Kitchen & Equipment Maintenance:

• Responsible for maintaining a detailed maintenance schedule for complex kitchen equipment, and organizing any needed repairs
• Maintain organization and cleanliness throughout the kitchen, including daily cleaning duties

Event Support:

• Provide occasional support for events, including logistics, alcohol permits, and rental coordination (chairs, tables, linens, wine glasses)

Team Reminders & Communication:

• Communicate regularly with team to ensure smooth daily operations
• Learn and understand new hardware/software/platform changes as implemented and support culinary team in adapting to new protocols