Assistant Cook

About the role

The Assistant Cook at HANAC, Inc.'s Ravenswood Senior Center supports the kitchen operations under the supervision of the Head Cook and Director of Senior Services. This role involves preparing, cooking, and serving meals to senior participants and staff, ensuring compliance with health and nutritional guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the preparation and timely service of approximately 30–50 breakfast meals and 100–150 lunch meals daily.
• Maintain high quality, minimize waste, and strictly follow DFTA nutrition guidelines and Department of Health regulations.
• Aid in daily food prep, including checking and preserving fresh fruits and vegetables, and managing leftovers and inventory.
• Monitor, unpack, and track inventory levels for food and kitchen supplies, enforcing FIFO stock rotation.
• Order food and supplies in sufficient quantities for weekly menus and monitor deliveries.
• Collaborate with the Head Cook to provide weekly and monthly inventory updates to the Director.
• Maintain rigorous compliance with DOHMH and DFTA sanitation and safety standards.
• Perform daily kitchen clean-up, following the posted cleaning schedule, and complete required daily logs.
• Ensure safe handling of food provisions and heavy kitchen supplies.
• Assist in determining work schedules and assignments for kitchen helpers and volunteers.
• Guide kitchen volunteers to ensure safety and policy compliance.
• Maintain cooperative, respectful working relationships with all staff, participants, and external partners.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: High School Diploma or GED Equivalency required.
• Certification: Must hold a valid NYC Food Protection Certificate / Food Handlers License.
• Experience: Proven experience in commercial food service or large-quantity food preparation, with experience working with senior citizens preferred.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently.
• Technical Skills: Basic mathematics and computer skills (for inventory, logs, and tracking forms).
• Physical & Interpersonal Attributes: Ability to lift heavy objects and stand for extended periods, in-depth knowledge of diverse cooking techniques, food safety, and hygiene protocols, excellent multitasking skills, strong attention to detail, dependable work ethic, strong team spirit, and excellent interpersonal skills.