Kitchen Support Staff at Franciscan Outreach – Chicago, Illinois

Position Description
Franciscan Outreach’s mission is to provide healthy meals, safe shelter and critical services that affirm the dignity of people who are marginalized and homeless and empower them to gain the stability they need to transition into permanent housing. The Kitchen Support Staff is responsible for planning and preparing healthy meals for all shelter guests; for the upkeep and maintenance of the shelter kitchen, appliances, and pantries; and for managing and utilizing donated and purchased food items utilized by shelter guests.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
-Prepare healthy meals for all shelter guests
-Assists with the preparation of menus that take into consideration the varying health and cultural needs of shelter guests
-Prepares menus and clear written instructions for the preparation and serving of meals on days/times when not on duty, when applicable
-Works in collaboration and communicates effectively with other kitchen support staff
-Utilizes donated foods in an efficient manner
-Maintains a clean and orderly shelter kitchen and pantry area, including regular and thorough cleaning of appliances, walls, cabinets, shelves, etc.
-Organizes donated shelter food stock, regularly rotating food items for storage in to shelter pantry, and ensuring that food items in freezers and refrigerators are covered and labeled appropriately
-Assist with clean-up as needed
-Oversee community volunteer groups and individuals
-Monitors shelter guests as they serve meals to ensure all guidelines are met as required by the Greater Chicago Food Depository and codes
-Maintains all necessary written documentation as required by the health department, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, USDA, and other governing bodies and/or funders
-Follows all Franciscan House service philosophies, policies, and procedures
-Performs all duties as assigned, including other duties as required

Skills:
-Demonstrates an understanding and commitment to the organization’s mission, vision, and core values
-Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries in working with guests
-Ability to work effectively in a constantly changing and sometimes demanding, high-paced and stressful environment
-Ability to work with a diverse population, with sensitivity to differences in culture, religion, sexual orientation, race, age, and physical and mental illness
-Ability to manage multiple projects with demanding and competing deadlines, superior organizational skills, and the ability to maintain quality work
-Ability to work independently or in a team
-Demonstrates a positive attitude, self-motivation, organization, and resourcefulness while maintaining a reputation through proven action of being team and guest oriented and willing to assist where/when needed
-Ability to negotiate with different personalities and work under competing priorities
-Ability to assess emergencies and respond effectively.
-Ability to operate commercial kitchen equipment such as ovens, stovetops, commercial dish washers, steam tables, etc.
-Ability to follow proper procedures for the healthy and sanitary preparation and serving of meals
-Ability to sort, stack, and arrange items in an organized manner
-Ability to work with individuals who are experiencing homelessness
-Ability to remain alert and on duty throughout shifts
-Ability to effectively use conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques
-Ability to communicate well both orally and in written form, and follow detailed instructions
-Ability to apply policies fairly and consistently
-Physical ability to stand for extended periods, lift 50 pounds routinely and 75 pounds occasionally, tolerate exposure to noise and heat, sit, bend, reach, and perform cleaning duties

Qualifications:
-18 years of age or older
-High school diploma or GED
-Current food handler’s license or ability to participate in the Department of Health Food Protection 15-hour course, pass the exam, and become a certified Food Handler within 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks) of employment
-Current State of Illinois Driver’s License
-Previous experience cooking in either a residential or commercial setting
-Basic computer skills including use of Windows Office Suite programs
-May be required to become First Aid/CPR certified
-May be required to become certified in overdose prevention and administer Naloxone
-General knowledge of substance uses and mental health disorders
-Knowledge of Housing First, Trauma Informed Care, and Harm Reduction principles
-Pass a criminal background check

Health and Safety Requirements:
- COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all employees. Accommodation requests will be considered in compliance with applicable laws

Additional Requirements:
All staff are expected to abide by the policies of Franciscan Outreach including, but not limited to rules governing ethics, confidentiality, dual relationships, honesty, and integrity. All staff are expected to always act in good faith and in keeping with the mission and values of Franciscan Outreach. Staff must have a commitment to serving the guests of Franciscan Outreach and to contributing to a positive, respectful, and accepting environment.

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This description provides a summary of the major duties and responsibilities and is not an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities. The employee holding this position may be required to perform additional duties to meet the needs of the organization.

Franciscan Outreach provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, military service and/or marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.