Cook / Food Service Coordinator

Houses of Hope; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision

Paid LTD and Life Insurance

11 Paid Holidays

Vacation, Sick, and Personal Hours

5% 403(b) match

Verizon Discount

Sam's Club Membership

Job summary

Houses of Hope in Lincoln, Nebraska is seeking a Cook / Food Services Coordinator to manage daily meal preparation, menu planning, purchasing, and kitchen documentation in a trauma-informed, recovery-focused setting at our new Short-Term Residential program.

You will supervise kitchen helpers, maintain inventory within budget, ensure health and safety standards, and help deliver nutrition-focused services for residents in a new short-term residential program, opening at 4740 A Street in November.

Qualifications

• Two years of food-service experience in commercial, institutional, or residential settings.
• Food handler permits or certifications as required by health departments.
• CPR/First Aid certification provided or held.
• Ability to plan menus, manage inventory, and purchase within budget.
• Knowledge of nutrition, sanitation, and food safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Foster a trauma-informed environment and ensure safety for all individuals served.
• Plan menus and prepare meals efficiently using available food and supplies.
• Prepare and serve meals for individuals and on-site programs and events.
• Coordinate menus and supplies for meals outside regular hours.
• Maintain inventory, place orders, and ensure stocked kitchen equipment.
• Monitor expenditures and manage purchasing within the department budget.
• Maintain a clean, safe kitchen and comply with health regulations.
• Complete documentation for quality improvement and nutrition requirements.
• Organize and teach basic cooking and kitchen skills to individuals in service.
• Supervise kitchen helpers and establish professional boundaries.

Skills

Food-service exp

Food safety knowledge

Menu planning

Budgeting & purchasing

Education

Food handler certification

CPR/First Aid certification

Job description

Join Our New Short-Term Residential Team

At Houses of Hope, we are committed to providing compassionate, recovery-oriented care that empowers individuals to rebuild their lives. Our team values collaboration, integrity, accountability, and hope - and we are excited to bring those values to our new Short-Term Residential program.

Opening in November at our newly renovated facility at 4740 A Street, the Short-Term Residential program represents an exciting new chapter for Houses of Hope. We are building a team of professionals who want to create a safe, welcoming, trauma-informed environment where individuals experiencing substance use and co-occurring mental health needs can take meaningful steps toward recovery and greater independence.

Joining the program at its beginning offers a unique opportunity to help establish the culture of a new team and contribute to how services are delivered from day one. We are looking for people who value teamwork, communicate well, believe in treating individuals with dignity and respect, and want their work to make a meaningful difference.

Houses of Hope is seeking a Cook / Food Services Coordinator to join our team. The Cook / Food Service Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the agency's food service program, including menu planning, meal preparation, purchasing, inventory, food-service documentation, and maintenance of a clean, sanitary, and safe commercial kitchen.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Foster and maintain a safe, welcoming, trauma-informed environment for all individuals served.
• Plan menus and prepare meals that make nutritious and efficient use of available food and supplies.
• Prepare and serve meals for individuals in service and provide food service for agency programs and onsite community events, as scheduled.
• Coordinate menus, food supplies, and cooking instructions for meals or snacks that must be prepared outside of regularly scheduled work hours.
• Maintain food inventory, order food and supplies from outside sources, and ensure the kitchen is appropriately stocked with necessary food, utensils, supplies, and cooking equipment.
• Monitor food and supply expenditures and manage purchasing within the established food-service budget, coordinating with the Director of Programs and System Development regarding food and supply needs.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, organized, and safe food preparation and service environment and ensure ongoing compliance with applicable health department requirements.
• Complete documentation required for agency quality improvement measures, USDA food and nutrition requirements, and other food-service reporting as needed.
• Organize and teach cooking activities or classes that develop basic cooking, food preparation, sanitation, and kitchen and life skills for individuals in service.
• Supervise and provide instruction to individuals in service who serve as kitchen helpers.
• Establish rapport with individuals in service while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Communicate problems, concerns, or strengths to appropriate program and clinical leadership.
• Work independently to coordinate daily food-service operations and respond appropriately to changing food-service and program needs.

Qualifications

• Minimum age 21.
• Two years of food-service experience involving meal preparation in a commercial, institutional, residential, or similar setting, or completion of a food service or hospitality program.
• Possess food handler permits or certifications as required by state and local health departments.
• CPR/First Aid Certified (will provide training).
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan, prepare, and serve meals for groups in a commercial, institutional, residential, or similar food-service setting.
• Knowledge of basic nutrition, meal planning, food preparation, food safety, and sanitation practices.
• Ability to plan menus and manage food inventory, purchasing, and supplies within established budget parameters.
• Ability to organize work, manage multiple food-service responsibilities, and operate effectively with limited direct supervision.
• Knowledge of cleaning, care, and light maintenance of commercial kitchen appliances and equipment.
• Ability to teach and assist others in developing basic cooking, food preparation, sanitation, and kitchen skills.
• Knowledge of addiction and recovery experiences, preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

Houses of Hope offers a full benefits package including:

• Casual Dress Code
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Paid LTD and Life Insurance
• 11 Paid HolidaysVacation, Sick, and Personal Hours
• Paid licensure fees and CEUs
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) with up to a 5% company match
• Verizon Discount
• Sam's Club Membership

Houses of Hope is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. We believe in the principles of equal employment opportunity and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

We are dedicated to ensuring that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, and that they have equal access to employment opportunities. This commitment extends to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment.

In accordance with our commitment to ethical standards and recovery integrity, Houses of Hope may restrict employment eligibility for individuals who have completed treatment at our facility within the past two years. This policy supports professional boundaries and client safety and complies with ADA and confidentiality laws.