Community Kitchen Liaison

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 53,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is seeking a full-time Community Kitchen Liaison. Under the Public Health Administrator’s supervision, the Liaison provides onboarding, training, and day-to-day assistance to partners; coordinates scheduling and safe use of the kitchen; and fosters an inclusive environment where all feel welcomed and respected.

The role also supports staff and volunteers, emphasizes relational and facilitative work, and requires flexible scheduling to meet community needs.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with food service experience.
• Culinary school degree or college in nutrition or hospitality preferred.
• Bachelor in public health, nutrition, or related field is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Onboard and train partners for kitchen use and events.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations including meal planning, service, and cleanup.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health regulations and MSDS handling.
• Manage inventory, food donations, online ordering, and safe storage.
• Coordinate scheduling for shared kitchen use and partnerships.
• Assist with grant writing and program documentation.
• Provide welcoming, inclusive engagement with diverse community members.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Event planning

Community engagement

Spanish/French bilingual

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Culinary school degree

Bachelor's in related field

Job description

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Community Kitchen Liaison

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is seeking a full-time (40-hour week) Community Kitchen Liaison. Under the direct supervision of the Public Health Administrator, the Community Kitchen Liaison provides thoughtful onboarding, training, and day-to-day assistance to partners; coordinates scheduling and safe use of the kitchen; and fosters an inclusive environment where all feel welcomed and respected. The role is primarily relational and facilitative, ensuring that partners have the guidance, resources, and hospitality needed to prepare and serve nutritious meals or conduct programming in the space. This role also supports staff, interns, and volunteers whose work contributes to successful community use of the kitchen. The Liaison embodies the district's mission and values, demonstrating compassion, humility, teamwork, and a collaborative mindset. A flexible work schedule is essential to meet the diverse needs and schedules of community users.

Kitchen Operations and Maintenance

• Works closely with community partners, community members, and other groups as they become hosts of the kitchen, providing guidance and coordination throughout the onboarding and hosting process.
• Oversees daily operations of the Community Kitchen, including meal planning, food preparation, service, and cleanup.
• Ensures compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and health regulations, including coordination of equipment maintenance.
• Manages inventory, food donations, online ordering, proper food storage, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
• Maintains a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen environment and educational space.

Program Coordination

• Oversees and coordinates the efficient transfer of surplus food donations between partner organizations, ensuring adherence to food safety procedures.
• Facilitates connections among hosts to encourage collaboration, shared learning, and community-building.
• Collaborates with the District's staff, programs, and partners to meet program needs.
• Manages data tracking, record-keeping, reporting, and program documentation as needed.
• Available for receiving shipments and deliveries as needed.
• Develops, coordinates, and maintains scheduling system for shared kitchen use.
• Develops and implements procedures, checklists, and trainings; includes implementation of procedures for non-compliant kitchen use by community partners.
• Assists with grant writing and management.

Relational & Community Engagement

• Creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere for guests, volunteers, and community partners.
• Interacts respectfully with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Handles challenges or conflicts calmly, professionally, and with compassion.
• Solicits feedback from patrons and community partners with a lens towards continuous quality improvement.
• Collaborates with designated District staff regarding environmental health and community feeding initiatives to safely meet community needs.
• Connects community kitchen partners and patrons with District services, programs, and other partner organizations, positioning the kitchen as a hub for building community and fostering meaningful connections.

Public Health Responsibilities

• Pursue professional development opportunities as appropriate and approved by direct supervisor.
• Stay up-to-date on food safety, sanitation, and health regulations.
• Public Health Emergency Response Responsibilities: All District employees must be able to respond to public health emergencies when needed and appropriate. During an emergency response, employee may be assigned to a role in either operations, logistics, or administration by the appointed Incident Commander and/or Section Chief in addition to regular duties.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements and Qualifications

• High school diploma and 7 years of relevant food service experience
• OR Graduate from an accredited culinary school and 5 years of relevant food service experience
• OR Graduate of an accredited college or university with a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition, dietetics, hospitality management, public health or a closely related field and 2 years of relevant food service experience
• AND Food safety manager certification (or willingness to obtain within 1 month of employment). District will assist with coordinating the certification training.
• Previous experience in event planning, operations, and logistics; restaurant, food service, and/or kitchen management experience preferred.
• Strong community organizing background working with diverse populations
• Fluency in Spanish and/or French preferred.

All new hires for Community Kitchen Liaison begin at the established starting salary of $52,556 (40-hour week), with a full salary range of $52,556 - $70,950 for this job classification.

Men, Women, Veterans, and individuals of all abilities are encouraged to apply. CUPHD also strongly encourages people of color, gay, lesbian, transgender, and non-binary people to apply. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you need accommodations to apply, please contact LaTasha Aragon at [e-mail]. CUPHD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to join its team.

All employees must be fully vaccinated with the most-up to date (September 2026 and beyond) influenza (seasonally). All other vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory. Vaccinationstaken prior to September 2026 will not be accepted. Proof of vaccinationsmust be on file with Human Resources prior to start date.

The recruitment will remain open until filled with an expected hire date between November 1 and November 15, 2026.

Posted September 24, 2026