Cook

Position Overview

The Cook plays a vital role in supporting Shelterhouse residents by preparing and serving safe, nutritious, and high-quality meals in a clean, organized, and efficient environment. This position helps ensure residents receive consistent meal services while maintaining compliance with food safety regulations and Shelterhouse operational standards.

The Cook contributes directly to resident wellbeing by creating a dining experience grounded in dignity, consistency, and care while supporting the overall operations of the shelter.

 This position supports Shelterhouse’s values through:

• Service: Supporting employees so they can serve others
• Compassion: Treating all individuals with dignity and respect
• Results: Executing with accuracy, consistency, and accountability

Essential Job Duties

Safety

• Maintain strict confidentiality of all employee and resident information, ensuring compliance with HIPPA and all applicable privacy and documentation standards
• Prepare and serve meals in compliance with all State of Ohio, federal, and Shelterhouse food safety standards
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, and organized kitchen environment at all times
• Ensure proper food handling, storage, rotation, labeling, and temperature monitoring procedures are followed
• Keep accurate temperature logs, menu tracking logs, and required kitchen documentation
• Monitor kitchen operations to reduce safety risks and ensure compliance with Serve Safe standards
• Support a safe and respectful environment for residents, staff, and volunteers during meal service
• Maintain the kitchen and storage areas (pantries, walk-ins) to health department standards- includes logging equipment temperatures and ensuring all food is labeled and rotated (FIFO)
• Maintain professionalism and composure during difficult or emotionally charged situations
• Demonstrate sound judgment when reviewing sensitive client information (i.e. dietary restrictions, health conditions etc.) and compliance concerns
• Maintaining a clean and orderly kitchen environment by washing dishes, sanitizing surfaces, and disposing of waste

People

• Serve meals to residents with professionalism, respect, and efficiency
• Work collaboratively with Resident Aides and other shelter staff during meal service operations
• Maintain positive working relationships with coworkers and operational teams
• Help create a meal service environment where residents feel welcomed and treated with dignity
• Communicate professionally and respectfully with staff, residents, and volunteers
• Train and direct volunteers in safe food handling, meal prep, and cleanup to ensure a dignified experience for both the volunteers and the guests
• Modifying dishes or preparing separate dishes to address specific resident needs, such as allergies, chewing/swallowing difficulties, or religious preferences
• Providing a sense of community, hope, and comfort through food, which can significantly improve resident outcomes

Productivity

• Prepare and serve all scheduled meals according to established menus and meal schedules
• Restock kitchen supplies and prepare food items for upcoming shifts and meal services
• Collaborate with kitchen staff and leadership on bi-weekly menu planning
• Ensure meal service operations run efficiently and on schedule
• Support daily kitchen operations, prep work, inventory rotation, and operational readiness
• Work independently and effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen environment

Quality

• Ensure meals are prepared consistently and according to Shelterhouse standards
• Maintain accurate food preparation and kitchen documentation records
• Prepare and serve mass meals (often for 100-200 residents) according to a strict schedule, ensuring portion control and accommodating special dietary needs or allergies.
• Act as the intake point for food donations, ensuring they are weighed, recorded, and properly stored
• Monitor food quality, freshness, and presentation standards
• Ensure inventory items are properly labeled, rotated, and stored
• Act as a proctor with resident supporting kitchen operations, i.e. ensure and enforce mandatory hand-washing, before food prep and managing cross-contamination risks, especially when handling raw proteins, FIFO, proper lifting techniques, etc.
• Maintain consistency in meal preparation, sanitation, and operational procedures
• Demonstrate attention to detail and accountability in all kitchen operations

Customer Value

• Help create a shelter environment where residents feel safe, respected, and supported
• Help ensure residents receive reliable, nutritious, and timely meals
• Contribute to a positive shelter experience through quality food service and professionalism
• Support Shelterhouse’s mission by helping meet residents’ daily nutritional needs
• Assist in creating a respectful and organized dining environment

Financial

• Support proper food inventory rotation and storage to minimize waste
• Use food, kitchen supplies, and operational resources responsibly and efficiently
• Design nutritionally balanced menus that prioritize the use of available donated food items to minimize waste and reduce costs- makes authorized substitutions based on what is in stock
• Assist leadership in maintaining cost-conscious kitchen operations
• Support accurate tracking and documentation of kitchen operations and inventory processes
• Utilize reporting and operational data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement

Qualifications & Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Culinary certification and/or Serve Safe Certification required (or obtained within first week of employment)
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in large quantity meal preparation required
• Experience in shelter, nonprofit, healthcare, institutional, or community meal service environment preferred

Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of large-scale meal preparation and food service operations
• Knowledge of State of Ohio and federal food safety and storage regulations
• Strong understanding of sanitation, food handling, and kitchen safety standards
• Ability to function effectively in a high-energy and fast-paced environment
• Ability to work independently and maintain productivity
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to maintain professionalism and attention to detail during high-volume meal service

Physical Requirements (% of time spent performing requirements)

• Frequent standing throughout shift (approximately 75%)
• Frequent lifting, carrying, and moving of kitchen supplies and food items (approximately 60%)
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly
• Frequent walking and movement throughout kitchen and meal service areas
• Occasional computer and documentation work
• Must be available to work 40 hours per week onsite
• Ability to work weekends, evenings, holidays, and flexible schedules as needed

Conclusion

This role is successful when they consistently demonstrate Service, Compassion, and Results through their work:

• Shelterhouse residents receive reliable and quality meal services
• Kitchen operations function safely, efficiently, and consistently
• Staff and residents experience a clean, organized, and respectful dining environment
• Shelterhouse maintains strong food service standards that support overall resident care and operational excellence

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. But, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

EEOC Statement

It is the policy of Shelterhouse to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and candidates for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap or veteran status or status within any other protected group.

Shelterhouse is an AA/EOE/Vets/Disabled