FWS - Dinner Manager - HomePlate Youth Services (CSWS)

This position is only open to current Pacific University Students

Location: Off Campus at HomePlate Youth Services in Beaverton (12685 SW 4th St, Beaverton 97005)

Wage: $16.80/hr

Length of employment: 2026-27 academic year

Purpose of Position: HomePlate Youth Services is one of the few organizations in Washington County dedicated to supporting youth ages 12-24 experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Twice each week, volunteer groups prepare and serve warm dinners as part of our Drop-In program. These shared meals are at the heart of building community, and for many youth, they may be the only warm, homemade meals they have all week.

As the Kitchen & Dinner Manager, you'll play an essential role in creating a safe, organized, and welcoming dining experience for both youth and volunteers. This position provides meaningful, hands-on experience in kitchen operations, food safety, volunteer coordination, and nonprofit work. Along the way, you'll build valuable leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills that transfer to careers in hospitality, nutrition, public health, social services, and beyond.

If you're looking for a position that combines practical experience with meaningful impact, HomePlate is a place where you'll develop valuable professional skills while making a difference in the lives of young people every day

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The primary objective of the Kitchen & Dinner Manager is to ensure that youth and volunteer groups are supported during dinner service. The Kitchen & Dinner Manager supports HomePlate volunteer dinner groups at our dinners by orienting new groups to the kitchen and reviewing expectations for the evening.

During dinner service, the person in this position will be responsible for:

• answering questions and troubleshooting small concerns regarding kitchen/dinner processes as they arise (major concerns should be escalated and are not expected to be held by this position)

• coordinate volunteers in the clean up process once dinner is over

• facilitate a debrief on how the evening went, and provide feedback around successes and areas for improvement.

• Dinner is typically served at 6PM, and drop-in closes at 8PM, so the kitchen is typically finished cleaning by 8:15PM.

• This position may also support some administrative tasks such as developing and maintaining a kitchen inventory management system, communicating with dinner groups via email/phone call, and entering dinner group hours into our online volunteer database.

• The Kitchen & Dinner Manager will work closely with the Director of Volunteer Programs, Drop-In team, and Operations team, and will be provided consistent supervisory and collaborative support.

Competencies to Practice:

• Active Citizenship & Community Engagement
• Analytical & Critical Thinking
• Applied Problem Solving
• Career Management
• Engaging Diversity
• Oral & Written Communication
• Teamwork and Leadership

Supervisor / Recruiter: Contact Pacific Opportunity Hub (workandservice@pacificu.edu) to be connected with on-site supervisor

Required:

• Ability to safely perform kitchen tasks, including standing for extended periods and lifting up to 40 pounds
• Willingness to obtain (or ability to obtain upon hire) an Oregon FoodHandler Card
• Ability to successfully complete a background check, consistent with organizational policy
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse team and communicate respectfully with staff, volunteers, and youth accessing services
• Commitment to treating all people with dignity, respect, and without judgment
• Demonstrates reliability, punctuality, and the ability to work independently.

Desired:

• Interest in nonprofit work, public health, nutrition, hospitality, or social services
• Experience working with or volunteering alongside diverse communities
• Previous experience in food service, commercial kitchens, catering, or meal preparation
• Experience coordinating or leading volunteers, classmates, or peers
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and safe food handling practices
• Demonstrated ability to stay organized and adapt in a fast-paced environment
• Experience managing inventory, organizing supplies, or maintaining clean workspaces
• Bilingual or multilingual skills are welcomed and valued