Kitchen Assistant

 

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. 

 

OPPORTUNITY

Hot Bread Kitchen is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to support our Culinary Fundamentals training program, which prepares members for entry-level jobs in the food industry. This position is essential to Hot Bread Kitchen’s work to support immigrant women, women of color, and others who are passionate about entering the food industry as a step in their journey toward economic mobility and a living wage.

 

During training, the Kitchen Assistant is responsible for setting up each training activity or task for members and will be provided the opportunity to co-lead portions of the culinary program and professional readiness training, following HBK’s established curriculum. The Kitchen Assistant will assess members’ performance and deliver constructive feedback. This position also assists the Lead Culinary Instructor and Kitchen Assistant in all aspects of our hands-on culinary training program, including  the setup, execution, and clean-up of the kitchen and other facilities during training. 

 

This position will help facilitate our cohort in our Chelsea Market site and will be responsible for the upkeep of the kitchen space- this role may also assist during other programs. The pace of this multifaceted role is fast-moving and requires the ability to effectively engage with diverse groups of program stakeholders, including our program participants, training partners and employment partners. The ideal candidate for this role is someone who has a background in the culinary arts and has strong kitchen management skills. This position reports directly to the Lead Culinary Instructor.  

 

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Program Support and Education:

    • Oversee kitchen set up and clean up.

    • Order and track inventory, ingredients and supplies for training.

    • Organize food for packing at the end of training.

    • Provide hands-on, in-person kitchen support to the Lead Culinary Instructor during the program.

    • Act as contact for member communications about issues including attendance and training activities.

    • Monitor and enforce kitchen compliance related but not limited to food safety and sanitation, site protocols and dress code.

    • Assess member performance through observation, interaction and hands-on feedback; regularly guide and assess program members.

    • Attend and participate in team meetings to discuss member performance.

    • Collaborate with HBK staff members to assist with job placement for members.

    • Assist with culinary interviews and assessments to determine program eligibility and acceptance decisions.

    • Provide educational and administrative support during training activities and events.

  • Program Administration:

    • Print and/or distribute daily lesson plans, attendance sheets, and other collateral for training activities.

    • Set up and breakdown classroom for Professional Readiness and Food Protection Certificate Trainings.

    • Record member attendance, performance, and other relevant metrics; maintain accurate records and manage reports using online platforms.

    • Support culinary program needs, including efforts related to potential program expansion.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Passion for Hot Bread Kitchen’s mission.

  • Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with people of diverse backgrounds.

  • A minimum of 1 year experience in professional kitchens/food production environments.

  • Some teaching/training experience.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and counsel people.

  • Extremely organized and attentive to detail.

  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and interpersonal skills.

  • General computer proficiency in Google platforms, and productivity software.

COMPETENCIES:

  • Adaptable - Flexible, can change when an original strategy is not working, and applies knowledge to new circumstances. Demonstrates eagerness to learn new knowledge and skills. Exhibits the willingness to think differently to initiate ideas towards improving processes, procedures, quality, and productivity.

  • Multitasking - has the ability to successfully juggle multiple projects and priorities while maintaining the ability to deliver on time, or develop and communicate new timelines.

  • Interpersonal relations - Exhibits respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships. Ensures trust and respect. Recognizes and owns the personal impact of their words and actions.

  • Supportive - Seeks ways to support team efforts while contributing to overall organizational success.

 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

This is a full-time position. The salary range is $60,000 to $65,000 and is commensurate with experience. Hot Bread Kitchen's comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental insurance (available from day one), 401K contributions, flexible vacation time, paid parental leave, and a sabbatical program. Our organizational culture is entrepreneurial, flexible, and civically-minded (learn more about our culture on hotbreadkitchen.org/careers)

 

LOCATION AND HOURS

This position requires regular in-person attendance at our facility in Chelsea Market. During each 5-week training period, the schedule may occasionally include evening hours on certain days.

 

HOW TO APPLY

  • Please include a cover letter and experience-aligned resume, including your pronouns.

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

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

 

Hot Bread Kitchen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It 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.