Kitchen Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Kitchen Manager

FLSA Status : Full Time - exempt
Reports to: Operations Director

Schedule: 40 hrs/week, variable days/times
Supervises: FT Lead Cook, PT Cook

Rate of Pay : $58,000-$62,000 USD Annually

Closing Date : 07/29/2026

Benefits : Standard; Full-Time, Exempt employees are eligible for but not limited to the following:

• Health, vision, dental, life as well as voluntary life and disability insurance
• Sick leave benefit – 1 day per month, 12 sick days per year (accrual and availability begins at hire)
• Vacation benefit – 20 vacation days per year, accrued at the rate of .0769 hours for each hour worked (accrual begins at hire but may not be used until the completion of six months of employment)
• One floating day off for use (accrued immediately, and again annually, but may not be used until the completion of the initial three-month introductory period of employment)
• Pension Plan (after one year of continuous service)
• Voluntary Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan (403(b)plan)

Position Summary

The Kitchen Manager oversees and manages the day-to-day operations of the Colorado Kitchen, which serves 200-300 meals daily to the FHC shelter, Red Shield, veterans living on campus, and the public.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Staff and Volunteer Management: Responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating a team of 3 staff members and up to 5 daily volunteers, ensuring compliance with Salvation Army policies, health codes, and food safety regulations.

2. Menu and Meal Planning: Develop menus based on program needs and available resources, ensuring nutritional quality and adherence to approved budget. USDA Food Program for Shelter and Red Shield.

3. Purchasing and Inventory: Manage the purchasing of food and non-food items, oversee negotiating with vendors for the best pricing, and maintaining inventory control.

4. Health and Safety Compliance: Ensure that all health code regulations are strictly followed, including the maintenance of all necessary licenses.

5. Community Engagement: Proactively seeks partnerships within the community to secure food donations and funding opportunities to support kitchen operations.

6. Emergency Response: Play an active role in Emergency Disaster Service (EDS) events in coordination with the EDS director.

7. Facility Maintenance: Ensure that all kitchen equipment is maintained in good working condition, with regular preventative maintenance and emergency repairs as needed.

8. Dining Experience: Oversee the dining room operations, ensuring a positive experience for all guests and coordinating with volunteers to meet their needs.

9. Holiday and Special Events: Coordinate meal planning and execution for holiday meals (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas) across all site locations.

10. Assist with cooking, setup, and cleanup for daily meals.

11. Maintain cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen, dining room, food delivery areas, and canteen.

12. Ensure all kitchen operations comply with local and state laws.

13. Record and maintain all donation records, billing, budgeting, and statistics.

14. Work with the Volunteer Coordinator to ensure volunteers and community service workers complete their hours and necessary paperwork.

15. Assist in menu creation, integrating donations and limited purchased items.

16. Attend all staff meetings as assigned.

17. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience

o High School Diploma or GED required.

o Must hold a valid food card certification to meet Health Department standards for a licensed food service kitchen.

o Experience in institutional cooking, food management, supervisory roles, budgeting, and/or programming.

Skills

o Commitment to the mission of The Salvation Army

o Strong communication and people skills

o Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and manage staff and volunteers.

o Ability to work independently and effectively manage time and resources.

o Proficient in menu planning, budgeting, and fundraising for kitchen programs.

o Capable of working with a diverse population in a professional and compassionate manner.

o Able to handle physical demands, including lifting up to 40 pounds, and perform essential job functions with or without accommodation.

· Supportive of The Salvation Army’s mission

· Able to reflect and model the high standards of our organization

Requirements:

Driving

The position requires driving:

o The employee must be 21 years old at a minimum (for insurance provision) and possess a valid in-state driver’s license

o An MVR will be processed every year in accordance with The Salvation Army’s policies

Background Check

o Continued employment will be contingent upon a biennial (every two years) background check that is processed in accordance with The Salvation Army’s policies

Physical

o Ability to maneuver, to remain in a stationary position, to grasp, push, pull, and reach overhead, to lift 25 pounds, to access and produce information from the computer, to operate a telephone, to understand written information

o Qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation. A request to modify or adjust these requirements may be made to your supervisor and HR. The Salvation Army would attempt to satisfy requests if the accommodation needed is reasonable and presents no undue hardship.