Prep Cook

Position Summary

The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce, and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions. Our mission is to meet our participants' needs through an individualized and non-judgmental approach.

The Prep Cook is responsible for preparing ingredients, chopping vegetables, and assisting in meal preparation. They ensure a clean and organized workstation and kitchen, manage inventory, and may handle basic cooking tasks. Attention to detail and adherence to hygiene and safety standards are crucial in this role. Most of the work will be high volume production. This position is a part of our kitchen staff working with Line Cooks, Lead Cooks and reports to the Chef de Cuisine.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

● Ingredient Preparation: Wash, peel, and chop vegetables, fruits, and other food items. Measure and portion ingredients according to recipes

● Knife Skills: Possess proficient knife skills to ensure accurate and efficient food preparation ● Organization: Maintain a well-organized and clean workspace, including proper storage of ingredients and labeling

● Assisting Chefs: Support chefs and kitchen staff in various cooking tasks, ensuring timely and smooth meal preparation

● Inventory Management: Monitor and manage inventory levels, alerting the chef-in-charge when supplies are running low

● Food Safety: Adhere to strict hygiene and safety standards, including proper food handling, storage, and sanitation practices

● Equipment Handling: Operate kitchen equipment such as slicers, food processors and blenders safely and efficiently

● Recipe Adherence: Follow recipes and guidelines to maintain consistency in food quality, taste, and presentation

● Communication: Coordinate with other kitchen staff to ensure seamless workflow and timely completion of tasks

● Clean-Up Duties: Assist in post-meal service clean-up, including dishwashing when necessary ● Flexibility: Adapt to changes in menu or kitchen priorities and assist in various kitchen duties as needed ● Team Collaboration: Work collaboratively with the kitchen team to achieve overall kitchen goals and maintain a positive working environment

● Time Management: Efficiently manage time to meet food preparation deadlines and maintain a smooth kitchen operation

● Quality Control: Monitor the quality of ingredients and finished dishes, reporting any issues to the chef-in-charge

● Create sauces, marinades and mixes in accordance with company recipes, techniques and standards ● Decorating assistance: preparing icing, glazes, toppings and decorate on cakes, muffins and baked goods ● Able to operate, maintain and clean kitchen equipment including scales, ovens & stove tops ● Maintain kitchen equipment, tools and utensils ensuring they are clean and in good working condition ● Ability to read and follow recipes

● Be a team player and have a great positive attitude

● Able to effectively collaborate with team members, supervisors and other staff.

● Have excellent organizational skills and time management skills; be able to function under time constraints and deadlines with attention to detail

● Must be able to multitask and prioritize daily tasks list

● Maintain a clean and sanitary workstation

● Organize and clean all kitchen areas including dry storage, refrigeration and freezer storage ● Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons

● To ensure a functional and hygienic environment, inspect and clean all equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas

● Must be able to work in a standing position for extended periods of time

● Must be able to carry, lift, push, and pull up to 50lbs

● Must be able to regularly bend and stoop

● Must be able to work weekends and holidays

● Must follow strict requirements about food safety

Other Requirements:

● Assist with other teams as needed

● Assist with inventory management: restock ingredient bins and notify supervisors of any low stock items

● Assist with staff meal and special events as needed

● Assist with cooking food according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served

● Work with volunteers and workers who help in meal preparation and service.

● Follow strict food safety regulations to maintain a safe environment for all.

● Perform any other tasks assigned with a positive attitude and a willingness to help.

Additional Qualifications and Experience:

● Experience: 2+ years of culinary experience; high volume production preferred

● Commitment to serving the needs of homeless families and individuals

● Food handler certification

● High school diploma or GED preferred

● FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

● Drug and TB testing required. Background check required

● Job Type: Full-time

Physical, Demands, Environmental Conditions, Equipment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employee is required to: Routinely required to sit; walk; climb stairs; engage in verbal, written, and email communication; hear; use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch. Occasionally required to move around the Administration office. Can observe and respond to people and situations and interact with others encountered in the course of work.

Handle, fingers, grasp and feel objects and equipment; Reach with hands and arms; Communicate, receive and exchange ideas, information by means of the spoken and written word; Be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; Repeat various motions with the wrists, hands, and fingers; Be able to have visual activity for (including, but not limited to) administrative and clerical tasks; Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Drive vehicle in and around Los Angeles County, as needed; be able to enter buildings that may require climbing stairs. Be periodically subjected to outside environmental conditions. Use a desktop and/or laptop computer, copy, postage, and fax machines. Complete all required forms in personal writing. Employee may work in proximity to service animals and emotional support animals.

◊ EEO: HOTV (Hope of the Valley) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HOTV complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, placement, promotion, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.