Kitchen Helper (Alpha Square)

Alpha Project offers a generous benefits package, including 14 paid holidays, paid vacation, sick leave, and 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision premium, and group life insurance.

Salary: $20-22/hour, commensurate with experience.

About the role

The Kitchen Helper supports the daily operations of Alpha Square Kitchen by assisting with meal preparation, processing food donations, and maintaining a clean, safe, and organized work environment. Working under the supervision of the Director of Kitchen Operations and Head Chef, this position helps ensure the timely production of nutritious meals for program participants and community members. The Kitchen Helper follows proper food-handling practices, supports inventory and sanitation procedures, and collaborates effectively with team members to uphold health, safety, and operational standards.

Responsibilities

• Receive, inspect, document, and sort food donations.
• Organize, restock, rotate, and label pantry, refrigerator, and freezer items.
• Assist with inventory and report needs.
• Prepare salads, sides, and assist with main entrées.
• Support meal packing for shelters.
• Maintain a clean workspace and follow safety procedures.
• Operate dish machine and three-compartment sink.
• Perform daily and deep cleaning.
• Complete temperature logs, waste logs.
• Conduct walkthroughs and ensure proper storage.
• Maintain respectful communication.
• Support team and complete additional duties.
• Communicate and adhere to program policies and procedures, including the "Good Neighbor" Policy, Alpha Project's Employee Handbook and Health/Safety Handbooks, and all applicable safety regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here represent those typically encountered by employees performing essential kitchen functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties.

• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 lbs., including food products, supplies, and equipment.
• Ability to stand and walk for most of an 8-hour shift in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Frequent bending, reaching, stooping, twisting, and kneeling when performing cleaning or retrieving items.
• Regular repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movements during food preparation and cleaning tasks.
• Comfortable working in varying temperatures, including hot, humid, or cold areas and around ovens, stoves, steam tables, and walk-in refrigerators/freezers.
• Exposure to moderate to loud noise level.
• Possible contact with onsite animals/pets.
• Potential for exposure to bodily fluids.

Requirements

• One year of kitchen/food service experience.
• Knowledge of sanitation and food handling.
• Organizational skills and communication abilities.
• Ability to follow policies and procedures as established in the Company's Employee Handbook.
• Contribute to a positive work environment by behaving and communicating in a manner that fosters good relationships with all constituent groups, co-workers, and management.

Qualifications

• Prior kitchen or food-handling experience required.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations preferred.
• Food handler certification preferred.

Skills

• Time management
• Teamwork
• Safety awareness
• Ability to organize and prioritize projects and multiple tasks effectively and on time

Equipment & Applications

• Dishwasher machine
• Three-compartment sink
• Working knowledge of all standard kitchen tools