Community  Engagement Associate 

(Full Time, In-Person)

 

ABOUT HOT BREAD KITCHEN

Since 2008, Hot Bread Kitchen has empowered New Yorkers who face barriers to economic opportunities through transformative careers in New York City’s food industry. We offer small business development programs, culinary skills training, and job placement, bolstered by individualized, wraparound supportive services. Our small business program, HBK Incubates, supports entrepreneurs as they transform their food businesses into sustainable income sources. Culinary Fundamentals, our award-winning culinary training program, provides access to high-quality jobs for those starting their careers in the food industry. Our upskilling programs enable incumbent workers to gain further skills, leading to higher wages and career advancement.
We work diligently alongside our network of over 200 food employer partners and more than 250 nonprofit and government partners to ensure our graduates are set up for success both at home and in their careers.

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Hot Bread Kitchen seeks a highly motivated and resourceful Community Engagement Associate with strong communication and interpersonal skills. The Community Engagement Associate will collaborate with the Community Engagement Team to build strategic partnerships and effectively connect with prospective members with an eye toward cultivating a robust pipeline of members into our diverse portfolio of programs. This position will support the execution of the outreach and recruitment strategies for Hot Bread Kitchen’s Culinary Fundamentals, Front of House, First Course, and Small Business programs. You will work collaboratively and creatively while advancing Hot Bread Kitchen's mission and vision. This position reports to the Senior Manager of Community Engagement. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Community Engagement Associate will be responsible for: 

 

  • Outreach and Recruitment 

    • In collaboration with the Senior Manager of Community Engagement, execute the community outreach and engagement plan, including raising awareness about Hot Bread Kitchen programs through a robust network of partners. 

    • Collaborate with the Program and Brand teams to develop culturally competent and compelling marketing materials. 

    • Cultivate and maintain relationships with community-based organizations and other stakeholders that will serve as outreach and recruitment partners to Hot Bread Kitchen.

    • Conduct direct outreach to prospective partners in person, via phone, text, and/or email to explain Hot Bread Kitchen’s programs and answer inquiries.

    • Support the creation and distribution of bi-monthly communication materials, including but not limited to email blasts and newsletters.

    • Assist in conducting applicant interviews to determine whether applicants meet basic eligibility requirements for the Culinary Fundamentals and Front of House programs, and actively participate in the deliberation process.

  • Community Building and Organizing 

    • Familiarity with target neighborhoods and prospective members, regularly distributing culturally competent outreach and marketing materials. 

    • Conduct community mapping exercises, including needs and assets assessments in key neighborhoods across New York City.

    • Canvass at community events, commercial corridors, neighborhoods, and community organizations to generate interest from prospective members.

    • Represent Hot Bread Kitchen at community-based events, including tabling at community-based events, job fairs, and resource fairs.

    • Proactively facilitate virtual and in-person information sessions. 

  • Data Tracking and Management 

    • Complete timely data entry to ensure all outreach and recruitment activities are captured in the Hot Bread Kitchen database.  

    • Ensure quality data, including ensuring all community engagement activities are logged in Salesforce and updated on a regular basis.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Driven by a belief in Hot Bread Kitchen’s values and mission.

  • 1-3 years of relevant experience with successful community outreach or recruitment activities, meeting very ambitious goals.

  • Enjoys working with the community and having first-hand interactions with prospective members, and has a working understanding of the immigrant population and their barriers to entry into the workforce.

  • Familiarity with client relationship management (CRM) databases, like Salesforce.

  • Knowledge and/or understanding of Hot Bread Kitchen’s key neighborhoods for outreach, including but not limited to: Sunset Park, East New York, Bushwick, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Flushing, South and Northern Bronx, Harlem, and Washington Heights.

  • Systems and process-oriented; proactive, resourceful, and innovative with an entrepreneurial spirit.

  • Thrives in a fast-paced and energetic team atmosphere with ambitious deadlines; successful team members are self-directed, with effective time management, organizational skills, and the ability to simultaneously manage several priorities.

  • A high level of integrity, accountability, and a growth mindset.

  • A critical thinker who is solutions-oriented and able to manage competing priorities.

  • Availability for some evening, early morning, and weekend in-person and virtual events.

  • Bilingual in Arabic, Bangla, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, or Spanish preferred. 

 

COMPETENCIES

  • Customer service - responds to stakeholders (staff, members, community partners)  and proactively anticipates their needs, welcomes others to spaces and  environments  to promote belonging.

  • Persuasive communication -Displays verbal and written communication that influences and inspires others without demanding their own agenda.

  • Collaboration -A collaborative team player who works with others to achieve common goals and desired results. Connects with people from many different backgrounds. Finds and creates opportunities to deepen connections and build authentic, mutual relationships with stakeholders across lines of difference, such as race or other identities. 

  • Problem-solving - Exhibits resourcefulness and asks for support from peers or their supervisor. Anticipates problems, develops solutions, and course-corrects when needed. Takes advantage of unexpected opportunities and addresses obstacles. Looks for the root of both simple and complex problems in order.

  • Results-driven - Achieves goals in a timely manner and adapts to various solutions when an original solution does not work. Gathers information, seeks input, and drives work forward.

 

OUR VALUES

We are driven by a feeling of commitment to support our members, teammates, and partners as best as we can. Our culture of equity comes from the many cooks in our kitchen and the diversity of perspectives we each bring. We believe that respect goes a long way in making people feel welcome, accepted, and celebrated. We seek out opportunities for connection and become a stronger team by being in community and prioritizing candor over consensus. The pace of our work and velocity of change can be quick; our entrepreneurialism helps us take optimistic risks and pursue inventive solutions.

 

LOCATION AND HOURS

This position requires working in person 5 days a week at our facility in Chelsea Market, our Outpost locations during applicant interviews, and recruitment events throughout New York City. There is flexibility to work a hybrid schedule when events and programming are not active.

 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This is a full-time position. The salary range is $60,000 to $64,000 and is commensurate with experience. Hot Bread Kitchen's comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental insurance (eligible from day one), 401K contributions, paid office closure days  (including holidays and staff appreciation days, and a one-week holiday break at the end of the year), flexible and generous vacation and sick time, paid parental leave, and a sabbatical program (after 5 years of service). Our organizational culture is inclusive, entrepreneurial, flexible, and civically minded (learn more about our culture on hotbreadkitchen.org/careers).

To Apply

  • Please include a cover letter and experience-aligned resume including your pronouns. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

  • Apply here at Hot Bread Kitchen’s Applicant Tracking System.

 

Due to the volume of applications, only complete applications sent via email will be considered. Applications sent via LinkedIn or other third-party sites will not be reviewed.

 

Hot Bread Kitchen is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants based on race, religion, color, disability, medical condition, legally protected genetic information, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), age, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. Any applicant with a mental or physical disability who requires an accommodation during the application process should contact hr@hotbreadkitchen.org to request such an accommodation.

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