Columbia Kitchen (CK) is a non-profit that supports Columbia County, (NY) children and adults who are experiencing food insecurity by sourcing, preparing, and providing 2500 restaurant-quality, nutritious meals per week via home delivery, community refrigerators, congregate meals, and community-based program settings. CK is a young and energetic organization with a large corps of volunteers, seeking to enhance and structure its operations as it grows and its impact increases.
For more information on our mission please visit columbiakitchen . org
This is a full-time position (40 hours/week). Hours are primarily Monday - Friday, 8AM-4PM.
The Executive Chef will lead the culinary operations of a mission-driven nonprofit working to address food scarcity and improve access to nutritious, culturally appropriate meals. This position combines culinary leadership with community impact, overseeing meal preparation, kitchen operations, food safety, inventory management, and a team of staff and volunteers.
The ideal candidate is an experienced chef who is passionate about using food as a tool for dignity, health, and community connection. The Executive Chef will be expected to create high-quality meals while working creatively within donated, seasonal, and limited-cost ingredients. This role is approximately 30 hours of dedicated Kitchen operation and 10 hours of executive administrative duties. The Executive Chef will report directly to the Executive Director.
Key Responsibilities:
Culinary Leadership
- Develop and prepare nutritious, appealing, and culturally responsive menus for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity as well as for contract programs, including meals for children.
- Plan menus and meals around available donated, rescued, seasonal, and purchased ingredients.
- Maintain consistent standards for food quality, flavor, presentation, nutrition, and portion control.
- Minimize food waste through creative menu planning and efficient use of ingredients.
Kitchen Operations
- Oversee daily kitchen production, including preparation, cooking, packaging, storage, ordering, and distribution.
- Establish efficient systems for receiving, storing, rotating, and utilizing food.
- Maintain accurate inventory and communicate purchasing requests outside of ordinary weekly ordering for meal inventory.
- Ensure the kitchen, equipment, and food-storage areas remain clean, organized, and properly maintained.
- Must know how to create and maintain a budget.
- Ensures maintenance and accurate reporting of all food donations
- Monitor food costs while seeking competitive pricing and work within established program budgets.
- Oversee farm contracts/grants and track donations against the grants.
Food Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all applicable food-safety, sanitation, and health regulations.
- Maintain proper temperature control, labeling, storage, allergen management, and sanitation procedures.
- Train staff and volunteers in safe food-handling practices.
- Maintain required kitchen and food-safety records.
Team & Volunteer Leadership
- Hire, train, schedule, supervise, and mentor kitchen staff, currently 2 staff chefs, as appropriate.
- Coordinate and effectively utilize volunteers in kitchen operations.
- Foster a respectful, inclusive, collaborative kitchen culture.
- Lead by example and promote a workplace centered on dignity, teamwork, and service.
Community Impact
- Work closely with nonprofit leadership and program staff to understand the needs of the communities served.
- Help develop meals and food programs that respect the preferences, cultures, and dignity of program participants.
- Willingness to speak about the work of Columbia Kitchen to donors and volunteers in various public settings.
Qualifications
- 3+ years of professional culinary or commercial kitchen experience; supervisory experience strongly preferred.
- Culinary degree or equivalent professional experience preferred.
- Strong knowledge of food preparation, menu development, nutrition, food safety, and sanitation.
- Experience managing food costs, inventory, and kitchen operations.
- Ability to work creatively with surplus, donated, seasonal, and variable ingredients.
- Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively with employees, volunteers, community partners, and people from diverse backgrounds.
- Current food-safety certification or ability to obtain certification within 30 days.
- Commitment to the organization’s mission of reducing hunger and improving food access.
Requirements
- Ability to stand and work in a commercial kitchen for extended periods.
- Ability to lift and carry food supplies and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and perform repetitive kitchen tasks.
- Ability to work up to 4 community events as required, outside of regular working hours
- Must be comfortable working with technology and software platforms
- Comfort and familiarity with the demands of working in a mission-driven, public-serving, and highly regulated arena
- Strong organizational and management skills
- Ability to establish and manage multiple priorities and their implementation in a fast-paced and changing environment
- Possesses a valid Drivers License
Columbia Kitchen does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, or other non-merit factors.
Accepting applications until the position is filled. Provide a cover letter, resume, and references to:Joan Koweek, Executive Director - jobs @ columbiakitchen.org
Pay: $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
