Chef

About the role

The Chef will manage daily operations of the Kitchen/Café and Catering program, including but not limited to, overseeing kitchen staff and ensuring the quality of food items. Duties will include hiring and training staff and/or participants to cook their dishes, expediting orders to maintain a steady flow of dishes and creating dishes to add to the menu. Supervision of the Cook and participants.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Communicate and coordinate daily with the Cook and Lead DSP of Culinary to ensure all participants are receiving the highest quality of services and supports at Pine Castle, Inc. (PCI); as outlined in each participant’s service plan.
• Develop a schedule for the kitchen staff to ensure coverage and maximize operational efficiencies.
• Ensure the kitchen is clean and meets all regulations.
• Responsible for leadership and business results of the Kitchen/Cafe and staff.
• Development of a positive work culture ensuring essential business information and expectations are clearly communicated and understood by staff and participants.
• Manage all Cafe and catering activities to ensure kitchen goals are met.
• Plan and manage kitchen tasks to improve processing time.
• Review kitchen plans to identify and report potential risks.
• Place food and supply orders and establish relationship with vendors.
• Maintain appropriate documentation for all areas of Kitchen/Cafe operations, maintain data and schedules with summary reports to support business objectives.
• Conduct training on kitchen procedures and expectations.
• Ensure food is prepared to order and in a timely manner.
• Oversight of general maintenance of the resources required to be in good working order.
• Set up, operate, tend all kitchen equipment including but not limited to stove, ovens, griddle, fryers, microwave, hot food station, refrigerator/reach in, and all other kitchen equipment.
• Maintain a safe and orderly environment.
• Monitor and document all safety trainings.
• Monitor safety of all kitchen equipment daily by completing visual inspections, listening for unusual sounds, detection of unusual vibrations, visual inspections of electrical cords/plugs, visual inspection of all safety equipment and guards.
• Responsible for safety and compliance in regards to local, state and federal standards.
• Order and maintain required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and enforce utilization of PPE.
• Efficient utilization of kitchen resources, materials, machines, workforce, etc.
• Ensure all products meet industry standards and project specifications.
• Review and maintain inventory to avoid shortages and excesses.
• Communicate kitchen updates to Director of Employment Services and customers on a weekly basis.
• Lead and monitor quality assessments to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Aid in product research, development, marketing and sales strategies.
• Community relations including maintaining a strong community image, promoting community education, community awareness and community integration for person receiving PCI services.
• Comply with company policies and legal guidelines.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory duties and responsibilities

• Responsible for leadership and business results of the Kitchen/Cafe and staff.
• Development of a positive work culture ensuring essential business information and expectations are clearly communicated and understood by Kitchen staff and participants.

Qualification requirements

• Demonstrates a positive attitude, energy and professionalism.
• Trustworthy, respectful, and demonstrates a sound work ethic.
• Demonstrates leadership skills and the ability to motivate others to meet deadlines.
• Ability to problem solve using innovative and creative thinking.
• Ability to complete and meet objective deadlines.
• Willingness to work hands on when needed.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in both verbal and written communication in the primary language.

Education and/or experience

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• Experience working with people who have developmental, intellectual or physical differences.
• Experience in management or supervision.
• Experience in working in a kitchen, restaurant and/or cafe setting.
• Experience working on kitchen equipment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office.
• Food safety certification or ability to obtain certification upon hire.
• Completion of required new hire orientation training upon hire.

Language skills

• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in both verbal and written communication in the primary language.
• Ability to write reports and related correspondence.
• Ability to talk to program participants, listen to their needs and present ideas and solutions to their requirements.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from participants, families, external vendors, and other professionals.

Mathematical skills

• Ability to collect data and to understand information related to data obtained.

Reasoning ability

• Ability to recognize and define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Other skills and abilities

• Ability to understand capabilities and needs of persons with disabilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain mature, team oriented approach to participant services.
• Ability to maintain high level, quality work.
• Ability to remain flexible in the acceptance of the constant flow and interruption of program updates.
• Knowledge of professional ethics related to participant confidentiality.

Physical demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate to very loud.

Work environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate to very loud.