Cook

The Salvation Army Southern California; Wenatchee (WA); On-site; USD 24,796 - 34,440; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Retirement plans

Job summary

The Salvation Army Southern California is seeking a Part-Time Cook in Wenatchee. This role involves preparing and serving meals for individuals experiencing homelessness and managing kitchen operations. Ideal candidates have 3+ years of kitchen experience and a current Washington State Food Handler's Card.

Join us for Monday through Friday shifts, with a focus on safety, creativity in meal planning, and collaboration with community partners to ensure quality food service.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in a professional or large-scale kitchen environment.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and prepare meals using donated and commodity foods.
• Strong understanding of safe food handling and storage procedures.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve the evening meal using donated foods.
• Maintain a clean and organized kitchen in compliance with health standards.
• Train and supervise volunteers in the kitchen as needed.

Skills

Food Safety Certification

Meal Preparation

Communication Skills

Creative Culinary Skills

Education

Current Washington State Food Handler’s Card

3 years experience in kitchen

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

PART-TIME COOK

Department: Social Services

Supervisor: Corps Officer

Scope of Position

This position primarily prepares and serves the evening meal for individuals experiencing homelessness and low-income residents, Monday through Friday at 3:30 PM. The cook creatively plans and prepares meals using donated foods, ensuring food safety, kitchen sanitation, and consistent quality. This role also includes oversight of kitchen operations, food inventory, and maintaining compliance with public health standards.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Maintain current certification on Food Safety and Kitchen Operations and take refresher courses as needed.
• Plan, prepare, and serve the evening meal using available food resources and donations.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe kitchen in accordance with public health standards, including procurement and maintenance of equipment.
• Monitor and log food temperatures, and maintain equipment such as walk‑in refrigerators and freezers.
• Ensure proper sanitation procedures are followed (wash, rinse, sanitize) for all kitchen equipment and utensils.
• Maintain an organized pantry and food storage area, rotating stock to minimize waste.
• Collaborate with staff and community partners to source food donations and build sustainable food supply relationships.
• Implement creative culinary initiatives that reflect cultural sensitivity and the nutritional needs of the population served.
• Assist staff and volunteers in maintaining the cleanliness of the dining area before and after meals.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to ongoing improvements in meal service operations.
• Train, support, and supervise volunteers according to Food Safety guidelines in the kitchen when applicable.
• Serve food to Salvation Army guests.
• Maintain a peaceful and respectful environment in coordination with other staff that aligns with the Code of Ethics.

Education And Work Experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in a professional or large‑scale kitchen environment.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and prepare meals using donated and commodity foods.
• Current Washington State Food Handler’s Card (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).
• Experience in food safety practices and kitchen sanitation standards preferred.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities Required

• Strong understanding of safe food handling and storage procedures (HACCP knowledge a plus).
• Ability to prepare balanced, nutritious meals for groups ranging from 10 to 60 individuals.
• Creative approach to meal planning and adapting to changing food donations.
• Effective communication skills with diverse populations, including staff, volunteers, and clients.
• Ability to maintain a calm and respectful demeanor when dealing with guest concerns.
• Basic computer literacy (for meal planning, inventory tracking, and timekeeping).
• Self‑motivated, organized, and detail‑oriented.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate professionalism at all times.
• Flexibility to work in a dynamic, community‑based environment.

Software‑related Skills

• Ability to learn and utilize basic software tools for timekeeping and food inventory (e.g., Microsoft Excel, meal planning apps) and Salvation Army online platforms.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or continuous basis.
• Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as food boxes and reach overhead.
• Ability to operate a telephone or a desktop/laptop computer.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to access and produce information from a computer.
• Ability to understand written information.

Qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation. The Salvation Army will provide reasonable accommodations as needed.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a kitchen environment with exposure to typical workplace hazards such as hot equipment and sharps. The cook will also interact directly with Salvation Army clientele, including unhoused individuals.

Work Schedule / Location

Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM, in‑person at the Wenatchee Salvation Army Corps.

The Salvation Army is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a respectful environment for all applicants and employees that is free from unlawful discrimination or harassment based on age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Benefits

• Paid holidays, vacation time, and sick time for full‑time positions.
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• Health insurance: Low bi‑weekly premiums (e.g., $39.23 employee only coverage, Kaiser HMO, Anthem EPO/PPO).
• Dental insurance: Delta Dental DHMO and DPPO starting at $2.31 bi‑weekly cost.
• Life insurance: Employer‑paid policy; voluntary supplemental life and disability plans.
• Retirement plans: Employer‑funded Money Purchase Pension Plan (defined contribution) and employee‑funded 403(b) options.
• Parental leave: One week (5 business days) of paid leave at normal rate for births, adoptions, and foster placements.
• Sick leave: 12 days annually accruing from day one, eligible after 3 months’ service.
• Paid vacation: 2 weeks annually accruing from day one for non‑exempt positions; 4 weeks for exempt positions; vacation eligible after 6 months’ service.
• Paid holidays: 13 designated holidays + 1 floating holiday per year.