Food Services Training Kitchen Manager

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Agate Housing and Services is an innovative and collaborative nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy. We progress toward this goal by providing emergency services, shelter, and housing programs for individuals and families. We meet people experiencing homelessness where they are and accompany them on their journey to safe, stable housing and a healthier life. We believe that housing is a basic human right.

Agate Housing and Services values are:

Integrity: Consistently doing the right thing even if it isn't the popular thing.

Equity: Fighting the status quo by actively examining and changing the way things are done to better represent the people who are most impacted by homelessness and hunger.

Humanity: Understanding how these issues impact us- the community, our staff, and the people we work with- as a collective and developing relationships by establishing trust when we put in work to understand the needs of people experiencing homelessness and hunger.

Creativity: Responding to the needs of the community with innovative and unique solutions.

Agate Housing and Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer/AAE, offering competitive pay and exceptional benefits including; medical insurance, employer paid dental and life insurance, short term disability, 4 weeks of paid time off in the first year of employment, and a 401k retirement savings with an employer match.

Food Services Training KitchenManager

Position Overview:

TheFood Service Training Kitchen Manager functions as a bridge to connect both food service to shelter guests and an employment training opportunity for our Agate Program participants. Agate operates several shelters including The Valiance which is afemale identified shelter in south Minneapolis that provides up to 54 30-day renewable shelter beds and 10 emergency overnight shelter beds. Agate operates a fully equippedcommercial kitchen where the employment training program will be conducted, and meals for shelter guests will be prepared. The primary referral source for employment program trainees will be from Agate Housing Program Participants. Agate Housing Programsserve families and single adults experiencing homelessness and provide case management services to help secure stable housing with a focus of increasing income. Program Managers will work with case managers to identify candidates for the training program, as well as accepting applicants from other Agate programs and community referrals. The Training Program and Kitchen Manager will work closely with both the FRRH Program Manager and Associate Director to support cohorts of trainees.The Kitchen Manager will also work closely with shelter management to ensure that the food needs of the shelter are met and stay on budget.

The Agate SEED Training Program (Skill Building, Employment Training, Empowerment, Dedication) will provide hands-on technical kitchen skills training, experience in food service, and the potential for a paid internship after program completion. This program is in the initial pilot phase, with the intention of collecting data on outcomes to establish a "proof of concept". Program metrics will be monitored to show the meaningful impact of employment training and the reduced cost spent on shelter meals by providing meals in-house.

Position Responsibilities:

Training Program Administration

• Partner with the Program Manager and Associate Director to shape and implement the program. Maintain a working understanding of client eligibility and programmatic requirements for SEED Program and Agate programs.

• Maintain participant files and complete accurate and timely documentation including daily case notes, and data collection.

• Communicate and coordinate services with other program staff. Attend and participate in team meetings as assigned.

Supervision and Training of Program Participants/Trainee Staff

• Manage up to 4 trainees in the kitchen at one time. Trainees will be in the kitchen up to 3 days a week for a total of 15 hours each.

• Provide consultation, assistance, and mentorship to trainees.

• Provide technical training to trainees in the kitchen such as knife skills, food preparation, and food safety.

• Support consistent communicationrelated to program policies and practices. 

• Partner with managementto report on participants' attendance and progress.

• Develop individual goal plans with traineesand provide support necessary to achieve participant-identified goals. 

• After program completion, work closely with program graduates, management and their case manager to connect them with job opportunitiesin the community.

• After program completion, ensure trainees receive certification of completion and are enrolled in Food Handler course.

• Provide letter of recommendation to graduates applying for employment.

• Support and effectively work with participants with diverse identities and experiences including young participants; participants with cultural backgrounds of historical and generational trauma; participants experiencing past or current domestic violence; participants struggling with mental, physical, developmental, and chemical health challenges; and participants with persistent low income. 

Kitchen Management Duties

• Ensure the kitchen is clean by code standards, and food safety/sanitary practices are used at all times.

• Purchase and track paper product supplies such as plates, cutlery, etc. and custodial supplies.

• Purchase and track ordering for breakfast, lunch and dinner from partner food and supply vendors.

• Work with shelter training coordinator to ensure that shelter staff have proper food handler safety training.

• Work with agency volunteer coordinator to administer food donation programs including daily donated lunches.

• Work with shelter and outreach programs to prepare and serve meals to community members during weekly community drop ins.

• Monitor food costs and ensure product usage is maximized to reduce and minimize waste.

• Develop a weekly meal plan that is both nutritious and cost effective.

• Oversee meal preparation and production to ensure dinner will be served to shelter guests nightly.

• Coordinatebreakfast clean up and lunchservice and clean-up.

• Food will be prepared Monday - Friday, to be served seven days a week.

• Performs all other duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications:

• Must have valid Driver's License access to an insured, safe, and reliable vehicle 

• Must pass a DHS NetStudy 2.0 background check. 

• Experience supervising others.

• Direct Food Services experience and knowledge of safe food handling.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Culinary degree

• At least two years' experience working as a Kitchen Manager or Sous Chef

• Lived experience of homelessness, or understanding of social justice and how it related to homelessness

• Fluency in language(s) used by our participants (Spanish, Amharic, Oromo, Somali, ASL) 

• Familiarity with community resources relevant to this role

This position requires use of your own personal vehicle and will require insurance liability coverage of at least one hundred thousand dollars per person and three hundred thousand dollars per occurrence and must have a valid Driver's License and pass a driving record background check.

This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this role. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications required for the position. The organization reserves the right to modify, add, or remove job duties as business needs evolve.

This document does not constitute an employment contract and should not be interpreted as creating contractual obligations of any kind. Employment with Agate Housing and Services is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the employer may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, in accordance with applicable Minnesota state laws.