Kitchen Assistant

Part-Time Kitchen Assistant

About St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin (SVdP): Hunger, poverty, and homelessness hurt everyone. As a charitable social services organization, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County's mission is to work daily to help individuals and families with food, housing, and crisis assistance to restore dignity and a chance for a better life. We are affiliated with one of the oldest and most effective charitable organizations in the world, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization of nearly 700,000 people headquartered in Paris, France that helps people living in poverty in 142 countries on five continents. In the US, membership totals 172,000 in 4,600 local communities. However, we are an independent, nonprofit organization that is governed by its own Board of Directors and is solely responsible for its own fundraising and program operations. All of the donations we receive serve the people of Marin. We believe that everyone needs food, housing, dignity and a chance for a better life – no one can do it alone. Our goal is to provide compassionate care and critical services to residents of Marin County who are struggling to make ends meet, but are not receiving the help they need. Here in Marin, since 1946, our key crisis assistance programs support over 8,000 people annually and have grown to include a free dining room, a homeless outreach team, and housing and crisis assistance.

If you seek work that is more than just a job but the opportunity to give back to your community, then SVdP may be the place for you. We are looking for staff who are ready for a career with a mission-driven organization, hold diverse experience and skills, and want to join a committed and excited community. If this sounds like you, we would love to have you join our team!

Position Overview

We are seeking a part-time Kitchen Assistant to join our team. This role works Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7am-1:30pm, approximately 26 hours weekly. The Kitchen Assistant supports daily kitchen operations by performing dishwashing, food preparation, cleaning, organizing, and maintaining equipment. This role ensures a safe, sanitary, and efficient environment while assisting with meal service, basic cooking support, and volunteer coordination. This role joins a great Kitchen and Guest Services team and is suitable for entry-level candidates with a willingness to learn.

Primary Responsibilities

• Utility / Dish / Basic Cleaning
• Dishwashing: wash, sanitize, and store dishes, utensils, pots, pans, and smallware.
• Operate dishwasher and conduct weekly chlorine checks.
• Sweep, mop, clean mats, sinks, appliances, and the employee bathroom.
• Maintain floors, trash, recycling, and back-of-house cleanliness.
• Use "wet floor" signs and follow safety procedures.
• Prep / Volunteer Support
• Prep vegetables, salads, sauces, and bulk ingredients; scale recipes.
• Label/date all items following FIFO standards.
• Receive, check, rotate, and stock deliveries in the pantry, walk-in, freezer, and refrigerators.
• Train and support volunteers in safe food handling and utensil use.
• Assist cooks during service rushes and restock stations.
• Inventory / Advanced Operations
• Maintain pantry, walk-in, and storage organization systems.
• Monitor and log counts of dishes, flatware, and prepared meals.
• Perform routine cleaning/maintenance of kitchen equipment, serving line, and hood.
• Support equipment upkeep and BOH operational systems.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

Prepare kitchen for opening; restock towels, soap, aprons, and supplies.

Wash and sanitize dishes per SOP; ensure correct storage and organization.

Assist with food prep as directed by cooks or kitchen leadership.

Maintain a clean, safe workspace free of hazards at all times.

Remove garbage/recycling and break down cardboard.

Attend relevant team or department meetings.

Support the cook and relieve other staff as necessary.

Comply fully with all sanitary food handling regulations.

Benefits Package

SVdP is committed to providing a robust benefits package to complement compensation.

Generally our benefit eligibility begins at 30 hours weekly. Thus, this role is not benefit eligible.

However, we do offer:

• Very competitive compensation package commensurate with equivalent positions in Marin County and the Bay Area. This role starts at $21.00 per hour. All of our roles meet or exceed the 50th percentile of comparable positions in the Bay Area. Annual cost of living adjustments (COLA's) are provided annually if financially feasible and end of year holiday bonuses also offered if feasible. These are not guaranteed.
• 14 annual full day and 3 annual half day paid holidays for part-time roles if scheduled to work on the holiday you receive 7 hours of holiday pay on top of regular pay
• Paid Sick leave accrual at the rate of one hour per 30 worked
• 100% employer-paid Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• A 403B retirement savings account with annual employer contribution
• Paid parking and paid lunches.

Qualifications & Required Skills

Entry-level candidates are welcomed; prior kitchen, janitorial, or food service experience is useful but not required.

Food Handler Card or ServSafe certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days).

Ability to stand, bend, lift up to 50 lbs., and perform physical labor in a busy kitchen.

Ability to work independently and during non-traditional hours (weekends/holidays).

Demonstrated reliability, teamwork, and communication skills.

Commitment to St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin's mission.

SVdP of Marin County is a proud equal opportunity employer supporting workforce diversity; candidates representing a variety of backgrounds are encouraged to apply.