Porter II

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Porter II is an essential part of our team of dedicated culinary professionals producing meals with love every day for seniors and vulnerable neighbors in the Bay Area. The Porter II shares knowledge with junior Porter staff and works as a team to ensure that quality standards are met according to a master cleaning schedule. All Porters are part of the team that ensures dishes, utensils, equipment, tools and other kitchen appliances remain sanitized and ready to use. Porters thoroughly clean kitchen floors and surrounding areas, take out the trash, recycling and compost in a well-maintained kitchen. Porters also participate in the packaging of meals, and complete specific food preparation and cooking tasks as assigned. This position is ideal for a patient, detail-oriented team player looking to lead others in support of large-scale meal production in a professional and mission-driven kitchen environment. To perform successfully, our employees must not only have the qualifications and abilities to perform each of the essential functions of this position, but also must continually strive to meet or surpass The Project Open Hand objectives and exacting standards

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• A commitment to Project Open Hand’s mission and operating principles
• 1+ years of professional commercial, industrial or production kitchen experience, including experience with high volume meal production
• Desire to be a part of a cohesive team and demonstrated ability to share knowledge, answer question and clarify processes while working alongside junior staff and volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to and share information about kitchen department rules, policies and procedures
• Ability to take direction, give feedback, lead by example and take responsibility for actions
• Ability to speak, read and write in English to facilitate communications with volunteers, peers and leadership in a fast paced kitchen environment
• Demonstrated ability to safely handle, clean, and share best practices regarding the proper handling and cleaning of knives and other large commercial kitchen food preparation equipment requiring heat, cleaning agents, sharp edges, and other potentially hazardous materials
• Ability to maintain CA food handling certification
• Must be flexible to work early mornings, afternoons, weekends or holidays to meet demands
  

QUALIFICATIONS DESIRED:

• Bilingual in Spanish or Tagalog

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• While working alongside junior staff and volunteers, leads by example, shares knowledge, answers questions and clarifies processes for all aspects of porter duties and kitchen sanitation
• Adheres to kitchen department rules, policies and procedures
• Sets up, breaks down, maintains and fully cleans the dish machine, sinks and other porter machinery
• Takes temperature and monitors sanitizer levels on the machines and sinks
• Removes trash, cardboard, compost and recycled material from the kitchen
• Cleans, sanitizes, maintains and replaces all assigned equipment
• Performs laundry services
• Follows the posted master cleaning list and does side jobs as assigned
• Follows product inventory organization and supervision
• Sets up, maintains and breaks down staff and volunteer dining areas and all utensils used
• Properly fills out all food service and inventory logs with required information and signatures per HACCP guidelines
• Maintains a clean work area and follows all local, state and federal health standard guidelines
• Assists with simple kitchen tasks, production and/or packing line as needed
• Executes, after training, food preparation and cooking tasks as assigned
• Facilitates a harmonious and positive work experience while interacting with and working alongside peers and volunteers to complete the goals of the department
• Attends kitchen trainings and agency meetings
• Completes other kitchen tasks as assigned

POH COMPETENCIES:

• Team player: Demonstrates cooperative spirit, respects professional boundaries and is successful at sharing responsibilities with others
• Self-led: Knows and completes responsibilities in assigned timelines, asks for clarifications when needed
• Sensitive to the circumstances and needs of the critically ill and seniors, as well as people with mental health and substance abuse issues
• Customer oriented: Works well with all customers (internal staff and external contacts), promotes a positive image of the agency and works diligently to resolve customer issues
• Poised: able to maintain a calm, positive and constructive attitude during interactions with diverse populations, sometimes in challenging situations
• Ethical: Honest, accountable, maintains confidentiality
• Decisive: Thoughtful when considering options, seeks input from others, makes difficult decisions when necessary
• Knowledgeable: Understands facets of job, keeps job knowledge current
• Well Organized: Information organized and accessible, maintains efficient work space, manages time well
• Takes Initiative: Takes action, seeks new opportunities, strives to see projects to completion

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Physical demands: While performing duties of job, incumbent is required to stand for long periods of time and move; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Employee must bend, stoop and lift and/or move up to 50 pounds unassisted on a regular basis. Employee must be able to move fully loaded carts from floor to floor for storage on a regular basis. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus

Work environment: The noise level in the work environment will consistently vary from moderate to loud. The work environment will be ever changing with volunteers and staff members all sharing limited space and working together in the Kitchen. The work environment will consistently have wet floors, temperature extremes, moving objects and loud noises

Project Open Hand offers a generous employee benefit and wellness package. Eligibility for different programs is determined by the role and employment statuses but may include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, and Flexible Spending Account
• Long Term Disability, Life/AD&D, and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan 403(b), Commuter Check Subsidy
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Financial Counseling, Cell Phone Discounts, and additional discounts
• Holidays (13 per year), generous vacation and sick leave, and complimentary lunch