Line Cook

Position Summary

The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce, and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions. Our mission is to meet our participants' needs through an individualized and non-judgmental approach.

The Line Cook is responsible for preparing food including chopping, mixing, sauteing, frying, grilling, or baking. They have a deep knowledge of various cooking methods, ingredients, and cuisines. Has the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Attention to detail and adherence to hygiene and safety standards are crucial in this role. Most of the work will be high volume production. This position is a part of our kitchen staff working with Prep Cooks, Lead Cooks and reports to the Chef de Cuisine.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

● Advanced Food Preparation: Skilled in preparing a wide range of dishes and ingredients with proficiency. This includes experience in handling different types of meats, seafood, vegetables, and other ingredients, as well as knowledge of various cooking techniques.

● Quality Control: Ensures that every dish meets high standards for quality and taste. Monitors consistency and presentation of food items, making adjustments as necessary.

● Kitchen Efficiency and Organization: Maintains an organized and efficient workflow in the kitchen. Manages the setup and upkeep of workstations, ensuring all necessary ingredients and tools are readily available. ● Training and Supervision: Assists in training new kitchen staff. Provides guidance and mentorship to less experienced cooks and prep cooks, ensuring the team maintains high culinary standards. ● Inventory Management: FiFO procedures, restocks inventory, notifies chef-in-charge of any low stock levels. ● Health and Safety Compliance: Adheres to and enforces strict health and safety standards. Ensures the kitchen meets all regulatory requirements.

● Equipment Maintenance: Responsible for the proper use and maintenance of kitchen equipment, reporting any malfunctions or safety hazards.

● High-Volume Cooking: Efficiently manages high-volume orders while maintaining quality and speed of service, especially during peak restaurant hours.

● Collaboration and Communication: Works closely with other cooks and the Chef de Cuisine to ensure a harmonious kitchen operation. Effective communication skills are essential.

● Able to operate, maintain and clean all kitchen equipment including scales, ovens, stove tops ● Maintain and organize kitchen equipment, tools and utensils ensuring they are clean and in good working condition.

● Ability to read and follow recipes.

● Be a team player and have a great positive attitude.

● Able to effectively collaborate with all team members, supervisors and other Food Service teams. ● Have excellent organizational skills and time management skills; be able to function under time constraints and deadlines with attention to detail

● Must be able to multitask and prioritize daily tasks list

● Maintain a clean and sanitary workstation

● Organize and clean all kitchen areas including dry storage, refrigeration and freezer storage ● Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons

● To ensure a functional and hygienic environment, inspect and clean all equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas

● Must be able to work in a standing position for extended periods of time

● Must be able to carry, lift, push, and pull up to 50lbs

● Must be able to regularly bend and stoop

● Must be able to work weekends and holidays

● Must follow strict requirements about food safety

Other Requirements:

● Assist with bakery team when needed

● Assist with staff meal and special events as needed

● Assist with cooking food according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served

● Work with volunteers and workers who help in meal preparation and service.

● Follow strict food safety regulations to maintain a safe environment for all.

● Perform any other tasks assigned with a positive attitude and a willingness to help

Additional Qualifications and Experience:

● Experience: 3+ years of culinary experience; high volume production preferred. Experience in busy, fast-paced environments is welcome.

● Commitment to serving the needs of homeless families and individuals

● Food handler certification

● Culinary degree preferred

● High school diploma or GED preferred

● FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

● Drug and TB testing required. Background check required

● Job Type: Full-time

Physical, Demands, Environmental Conditions, Equipment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employee is required to: Routinely required to sit; walk; climb stairs; engage in verbal, written, and email communication; hear; use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch. Occasionally required to move around the Administration office. Can observe and respond to people and situations and interact with others encountered in the course of work.

Handle, fingers, grasp and feel objects and equipment; Reach with hands and arms; Communicate, receive and exchange ideas, information by means of the spoken and written word; Be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; Repeat various motions with the wrists, hands, and fingers; Be able to have visual activity for (including, but not limited to) administrative and clerical tasks; Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Drive vehicle in and around Los Angeles County, as needed; be able to enter buildings that may require climbing stairs. Be periodically subjected to outside environmental conditions. Use a desktop and/or laptop computer, copy, postage, and fax machines. Complete all required forms in personal writing. Employee may work in proximity to service animals and emotional support animals.

◊ EEO: HOTV (Hope of the Valley) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HOTV complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, placement, promotion, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

◊ HOTV will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job of er is made to you. After making a conditional of er and running a background check, if HOTV is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide