Cook

Housing-Matters; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life insurance

403b Retirement Savings

PTO

Floating holiday

Paid holidays

Job summary

Housing Matters in Santa Cruz, CA, is hiring a full-time Cook to prepare, cook, and serve meals for residential participants. The role requires maintaining a clean kitchen, following food-safety standards, and collaborating with volunteers in a fast-paced institutional kitchen.

Shifts are Sundays-Mondays 6:00 am–2:00 pm and Tue-Fri 12:00 pm–8:00 pm. Starting wages range from $23.00 to $26.66 per hour, with comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, 403b, and PTO.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in a high-volume cooking environment (line cook, prep cook, or institutional settings).
• Experience working within CACFP guidelines.
• High school diploma or GED preferred.

Responsibilities

• Preparing, cooking, and serving meals. Food prepared must meet quality and Serve-safe standards for taste, temperature (doneness), and visual appeal.
• Use all equipment in a safe manner – stove, tilt skillet, kettle, convection ovens, can openers, knives, steam tables, ice wands, trash compactor, carts.
• Wash dishes and kitchen equipment.
• Taking inventory and checking orders that arrive from the warehouse; organizing storage.
• Following opening and closing procedures.
• Maintaining and following cleaning and sanitizing protocols to ensure a safe environment.
• Supporting shelter programs and day services; may occasionally be asked to assist with sanitizing showers in the event of staff shortage.
• Duties as assigned

Skills

High-volume cooking

Food safety practices

De-escalation communication

Basic computer skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Serve Safe certification

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Housing Matters partners with individuals and families to create pathways out of their homelessness into permanent housing. We are a leader in working to end homelessness – and we want you to be part of our team! We are looking for individuals eager to make a difference and willing to enthusiastically commit to join in our vision that homelessness in Santa Cruz County should be rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Working under the supervision of the Kitchen Manager, the Cook is responsible for maintaining a clean kitchen while prepping, cooking, and providing meals for Housing Matters residential participants. The ideal candidate will be able to work alongside volunteers and be immersed in the day-to-day operations of running an institutional kitchen while practicing safe food handling standards and procedures.

Hours and Benefits:

• The Cook is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt position, eligible for medical, dental, vision, 403b, and our generous PTO plan.

Benefits Summary:

• 6 Medical plans - 100% employee coverage (On select plans)
• Dental - 100% employee coverage
• Vision - 100% employee coverage
• Life insurance (UNUM) - 100% employee coverage
• Chiropractic and Acupuncture (for those who elect medical insurance) - 100% employee coverage
• 403b Retirement Savings matched up to 3% dollar-for-dollar with no vesting period
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Travel Assistance
• PTO, 1 paid floating holiday, 9 paid holidays

Regularly scheduled shifts are:

Sunday and Monday from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Occasional holidays may be required.

Starting Wages (Offer is Dependent on Experience):

$23.00 $23.69 $24.40 $25.13 $25.88 $26.66

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of experience in a high-volume cooking environment (such as line cook, prep cook, or institutional settings like shelters, schools, or hospitals). (Candidates must demonstrate the ability to manage large-batch meal production and kitchen safety.)
• Experience working within CACFP guidelines.
• High school diploma or GED preferred

Special Requirements:

• Basic computer skills, including ability to answer emails and utilize basic google suite and Microsoft office platforms.
• Regular standing, walking, sitting, crouching, stooping, and communication are required.
• Requires manual dexterity for regular repetitive finger motion and frequent reaching, pulling, pushing, and lifting objects and operating equipment.
• Requires the ability to lift up to 60 lbs.
• Must be Serve-safe certified.
• De-escalation communication techniques
• In possession of valid California Driver’s License and have a clean driving record to perform duties essential to the position.

Thorough knowledge of:

• Properly operating kitchen equipment
• Kitchen cleaning and safety procedures
• Kitchen organizational skills
• Food Handling
• Customer service skills

Typical Job Duties:

• Preparing, cooking, and serving meals. Food prepared must meet quality and Serve-safe standards for taste, temperature (doneness), and visual appeal.
• Use all equipment in a safe manner according to proper procedures – stove, title skillet, kettle, convection ovens, can openers, knives, steam tables, ice wands, trash compactor, carts.
• Wash dishes and kitchen equipment.
• Taking inventory and checking orders that arrive from the warehouse; organizing storage.
• Following opening and closing procedures.
• Maintaining and following cleaning and sanitizing protocols to ensure a safe environment.
• Supporting shelter programs and day services; may occasionally be asked to assist with sanitizing showers in the event of staff shortage.
• Duties as assigned

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at Housing Matters without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer-related and genetic characteristics), marital status, sexual orientation, age (over 18), veteran status, gender, pregnancy, or any other non-merit factor unrelated to job duties. Such action shall include, but not be limited to, the following: recruitment; advertising, layoff or termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training (including apprenticeship), employment, upgrading, demotion, or transfer.

40 hours per week