Kitchen/Direct Services Coordinator

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

Employee Assistance Program

PTO and holidays

Job summary

Housing Matters in Santa Cruz County seeks a Kitchen DSC to prep, cook, and transport meals from Landing and Bridge sites. The role requires working closely with kitchen staff and shelter teams, following strict food-safety standards, and ensuring meals meet quality expectations.

The position is full-time, hourly, non-exempt, with benefits including medical, dental, vision, 403b, and PTO. Regular shifts are Monday–Friday, 10 am–6 pm, with potential holiday coverage.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of institutional cooking experience for large volumes.
• Must have a valid California Driver’s License, insurance and registered vehicle.
• Serve-safe certification is required.
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs and perform physical tasks.
• Structured scheduling skills and kitchen safety knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and serve meals meeting Serve-safe standards.
• Safely operate kitchen equipment and maintain sanitation.
• Wash dishes and kitchen tools as part of daily duties.
• Transport meals to Landing and Bridge satellite locations.
• Follow opening/closing procedures and cleaning protocols.
• Support shelter guests and provide problem-solving assistance.
• Distribute snacks and supplies when available.

Skills

Cooking

Serve-Safe certified

Driver's license

Food safety

Lifting 60 lbs

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 direct supervision of the Kitchen Manager, the Kitchen DSC (Direct Services Coordinator)is responsible for prepping, cooking, and providing transport of meals from Housing Matter’s satellite locations called "Landing" and "Bridge", residential participants. These two satellite sites are located within Santa Cruz County. The ideal candidate will work alongside kitchen staff and campus shelter DSCs and is expected to be totally immersed in the day-to-day operations involved with running an institutional kitchen while practicing safe food handling standards and procedures.

Hours and Benefits

The Kitchen / DSC 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
• 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 Monday-Friday from 10 am to 6 pm. Occasional holidays may be required.

Starting Wages (Offer Dependent on Experience):

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

Preferred Experience

• Minimum of 1 year of prior institutional cooking experience (school cafeteria, prison, shelter) preparing food for large volumes of people preferred.

Special Requirements

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License, insurance, and registered vehicle, as they are necessary to fulfill an essential component of this position.
• Regular standing, walking, sitting, crouching, stooping, transporting food in a vehicle, 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 60 lbs.
• Must be Serve-safe certified.
• Structured scheduling skills

Thorough knowledge of:

• Kitchen cleaning and safety procedures

Typical Job Duties:

• Preparing, cooking, and serving meals. Food prepared must meet quality and Serve-safe standards for taste, temperature (doneness), and visual appeal.
• Safely use all equipment 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.
• Transport meals to Landing and Bridge satellite locations
• Following opening and closing procedures.
• Maintaining and following cleaning and sanitizing protocols to ensure a safe environment.
• Maintaining a safe, secure, and clean environment
• Be available to answer questions and problem-solve with shelter guests
• Distribute snacks and supplies when available
• Understand and apply housing first and harm reduction strategies