HOC Cook

Job Title

This position is responsible for assisting with the operation of the Food Service program at the Catalyst service location.

Catalyst provides interim housing and support services for formerly homeless individuals and couples. This position works as a member of the Kitchen Operations team supporting meal preparation and food service to program residents.

Job Duties/Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each of the essential duties/responsibilities listed below. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties/responsibilities of this job.

1. Ensures that kitchen safety protocols and sanitation requirements are being observed and that all food service areas remain a safe environment for residents, staff, and volunteers. Maintain food safety protocols by monitoring all food preparation and dining areas while in active use.
2. Oversees required food service tasks during shift, including overseeing volunteers as needed and attending the dining room and other food service locations.
3. Assist Kitchen Operations Manager in ensuring that Catalyst food and wellness policies, USDA, and Health Department requirements for food standards are implemented and followed.
4. Plan, prepare and serve meals for the low income and homeless people of the community, utilizing primarily donated goods.
5. Ensure all dishes are cleaned and that the dining room and kitchen are properly cleaned and sanitized.
6. Safely operate and assist in overseeing maintenance of all food service equipment including commercial food preparation equipment, refrigeration and freezer units, dishwashing equipment, beverage service and coffee machines, as well as manually operated food preparation equipment.
7. Record resident meal delivery in HOC database to support tracking and ensure accurate program utilization of meal and food inventory. Support regular refrigeration and freezer temperature checks and recordkeeping. Maintain accurate food inventory lists and support food service purchasing, quality control and delivery check-in procedures, as well as safe disposal of food waste and refuse.
8. Assist with picking up food from donation sites, including driving, loading and unloading items, and organizing donations.
9. Performs other relevant duties assigned by supervisor, including but not limited to enhanced cleaning, mopping and other facility maintenance tasks. Support food service deliveries by clearing snow or ice from kitchen delivery area and receiving food service deliveries to include breaking down pallets, inspecting all deliveries to ensure food safety and safe handling, and storing food items in appropriate food storage areas per food service procedures.
10. Uses appropriate administrative, fiscal, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of CCEW client protected health information (PHI), per regulations outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
11. Will regularly utilize all forms of communication (email, text, phone, etc.) and database practices necessary for this position and as directed by supervisor.
12. As a mandated reporter, follow all procedures outlined in agency policies and procedures to report to the proper agency when there is suspicion and/or confirmation that a person has been a victim of abuse or neglect.
13. Adheres to the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic Doctrine.
14. Performs as a team member to ensure that productivity outcome measures are achieved; regular attendance is particularly important for shelter safety and team dynamics.
15. Performs related functions necessary to support the mission and core values of Catholic Charities.

Job Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must meet the minimum qualifications listed below. These qualifications are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to perform this job.

Education/Experience: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have a High School Diploma or a General Education Degree. Prior cooking or food service experience is required, including the ability to safely prepare, cook, and serve meals while following food safety and sanitation standards. The individual must also be able to interact compassionately and professionally with individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral health challenges, and substance use concerns.

Physical Abilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to:

• Regularly sit, stand, climb, walk, hear/listen, talk
• Frequently lift up to 50 pounds, pull/push, carry, grasp, reach
• Occasionally crawl, stoop, kneel
• Clearly see 20+ feet, with or without corrective lenses, ability to focus

Certificates/Licenses: Successfully pass background check applicable to position.

Mental & Other Skills/Abilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the:

• Adaptability: ability to adapt to changes, delays, or unexpected events in the work environment; ability to manage competing demands and prioritize tasks; ability to change approach or method to best fit the situation.
• Analytical Ability: ability to maintain focus for extended periods of time; ability to complete research projects with resourcefulness and persistence; ability to synthesize complex or diverse information; ability to use intuition and experience to complement existing data.
• Attendance: ability to consistently arrive and be able to work as scheduled. Ability to work night and weekend shifts as needed.
• Computer/Technical Ability: working knowledge of: Word Processing software, Spreadsheet software, Internet software.
• Dependability: ability to follow instructions, both in written and verbal format; ability to respond to management direction; ability to complete tasks on time or notify the appropriate person with an alternate plan when necessary.
• Interpersonal Skills: ability to maintain satisfactory relationships with others, excellent customer service skills and a good overall understanding of appropriate human relations. Awareness of and sensitivity to the service population's culture and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Judgment: ability to make prudent and timely decisions; ability to exhibit sound and accurate judgment; ability to explain reasoning for decisions.
• Language Ability: ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; ability to write routine reports and correspondence; ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Mathematical Ability: ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Motor Coordination: the ability to coordinate eyes, hands, fingers, and feet accurately and handle precise movements.
• Problem Solving Ability: ability to identify and/or prevent problems before they occur; ability to formulate alternative solutions to problems when necessary; ability to transfer learning from past experiences to new experiences of similar nature.
• Quality Management: ability to complete duties, on time and with absolute precision, at least 95% of the time; ability to edit the accuracy and thoroughness of one's work as well as the work of others; ability to constructively apply feedback to improve performance, ability to generate ideas to improve and promote quality in work.
• Reasoning Ability: ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form; ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Supervisory Skills: This job does not have any direct supervisory experience.

Workplace Environmental Conditions

While performing the essential duties/responsibilities of this job, the employee will be:

• Noise Conditions: exposed during a shift to constant or intermittent sounds at moderate to loud levels of sound dependent upon the daily activities.
• Exposure to Trauma: Employees of Catholic Charities Eastern Washington provide direct services to vulnerable community members including those who have behavioral health challenges and those who have been exposed to trauma.
• Heat: subject to high temperatures
• Cold: exposed to low temperatures
• Strong smells: such as urine or body odor.
• Potential for exposure to illicit drugs and air-borne contaminants (proper PPE provided).
• Client Population may include persons involved in gangs, with substance abuse concerns, homelessness and/or tendencies towards violent behavior.