Weekend Cook 10a-6p (51184)

OUR MISSION

The Family Place empowers survivors of family violence by providing safe housing, counseling, and skills that create independence while building community engagement and advocating for social change to stop family violence.

Position Summary:

In this position as Weekend Cook, you will provide essential weekend food service for transitional housing residents by preparing nutritious, well-balanced meals in a safe and sanitary environment. This hands-on culinary role combines meal preparation expertise with compassionate service. You'll develop weekly menus, manage kitchen inventory and ordering, maintain rigorous food safety and sanitation standards, and operate commercial kitchen equipment to produce quality meals for residents and special events. Ensure proper food temperatures throughout preparation and service, stock and organize kitchen supplies, and maintain spotless kitchen and cafeteria spaces. Working independently on weekends, you'll make real-time decisions about meal execution, inventory needs, and kitchen operations while creating a welcoming dining environment that demonstrates care and respect for residents rebuilding their lives.

Key Responsibilities:

Meal Preparation & Service

• Prepare well-balanced meals, desserts, and snacks in accordance with USDA guidelines and weekly menus.
• Execute all food preparation tasks, including washing, trimming, cutting, seasoning, and cooking, using standardized recipes.
• Operate kitchen equipment, including blenders, mixers, grinders, slicers, and other commercial tools.
• Utilize various cooking methods: baking, roasting, broiling, steaming, and sautéing.
• Monitor and maintain proper hot and cold food temperatures throughout preparation and service.
• Prepare meals for special events as needed.

Kitchen Operations & Management

• Assist in developing weekly menus and ensure adherence to planned meals.
• Order food and supplies to maintain adequate inventory for scheduled meal service.
• Conduct inventory management and stock shelves efficiently.
• Comply with all sanitation regulations for food handling, storage, preparation, and service.
• Wash dishes, pots, and pans; clean kitchen and cafeteria areas; restock supplies as needed.

Other Duties: 

•  Attends department and agency staff meetings. 
• Attends training sessions when required.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

• High School diploma or GED 
• One to two years’ experience working in a commercial kitchen setting or hospital, school, nursing home environment, or a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Food Handler’s License
• Valid Texas Driver’s License and a clear driving record.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of food ordering and processing deliveries.
• Knowledge of USDA guidelines.
• knowledge of the methods and procedures relating to food preparation in large quantities, 
• Ability to read and understand written food service material (e.g., food labels, standardized recipes, computerized) 
• Knowledge of food and nutrition.
• Knowledge of proper techniques in food preparation.
• Ability to multitask.
• Possesses a high degree of cleanliness
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service to both internal and external customers.

Mental and Physical Duties:
Work requires continual standing and walking, and frequent stooping, reaching, pushing and pulling, and bending. They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted, and occasionally lift or move objects weighing over 40 pounds with the assistance of lifting devices or other workers.

Working Conditions:

The work is performed in kitchen areas, which are well-lit but are often hot and noisy. The cooks are exposed to steam, fumes, and odors from cooking and to extreme temperature changes when entering walk-in refrigeration or freezing units. There is a danger of slipping on wet floors that have been recently mopped or where food has been spilled. They are subject to possible cuts from knives and burns from steam, hot foods, stoves, and hot grease and water.

Essential Personnel Designation: Essential

Essential employees are required to report for all scheduled hours regardless of inclement weather, holidays, or facility closures unless explicitly notified otherwise by leadership. This includes all employees assigned to shelter locations or designated as residential staff. Essential employees who work when other operations are closed due to inclement weather will receive time-and-a-half pay. Refer to The Family Place Inclement Weather Policy for complete details.

More About US:

At The Family Place, we embrace and live our values: TEAM

• Together: We believe that collaboration is key to our success. Foster a supportive environment, build trust, act with integrity, and expect transparent communication.
• Excellence: We are known for our compassion and commitment to excellence, acting with urgency, and advocating for our clients and community.
• Accountable: Responsible for our actions and decisions. We accept responsibility rather than blame others. Builds relationships to drive results.
• Mission-Focused: Clients come first. Service is our passion, experienced with empathy and compassion.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability 
• Multiple Life, AD&D, and Hospitalization in life insurance options
• Retirement options through: 403b, agency matching, and HSA accounts
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Benefits referenced above for Full-Time employees

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The Family Place reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Employment at will