Kitchen Lead

National Health Foundation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

National Health Foundation is seeking a dedicated Kitchen Lead to supervise dining operations in a residential care setting. You will bridge the gap between line cooks and management, ensuring meals meet nutritional needs for residents and adhere to safety standards.

The role requires 1–2 years in a commercial kitchen with leadership experience, ability to manage large meals, and familiarity with dietary restrictions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1–2 years in a commercial kitchen; leadership experience preferred.
• Experience cooking for large groups or high-volume settings.
• Understanding dietary restrictions, food safety protocols, and nutritional needs.
• Ability to work with individuals with behavioral challenges or other unique needs.
• Strong time management and cleanliness standards.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills.
• Flexibility to work an additional day as required.
• SERV Safe Certification or equivalent food safety training preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Assist Kitchen Manager with daily operations, including opening/closing procedures, staff scheduling, prep schedules and station organization.
• Assist with planning menus to be nutritious, cost-effective, and accommodate dietary requirements.
• Supervise cooks in food prep, washing, peeling, chopping, and marinating proteins.
• Maintain quality and consistency by ensuring items are cooked to spec and meet recipes.
• Keep kitchen prep area and dining hall clean and organized; manage dishwashing and sanitation.
• Train new hires on equipment and safety protocols; supervise staff.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP and sanitation standards in Kitchen and Dining Hall.
• Manage inventory, food cost, ordering, receiving, restocking, and waste minimization.
• Assist in maintaining walk-in cooler/freezer organization and temperature control.
• Collaborate with staff to provide a positive dining experience for guests.

Skills

Leadership

Cooking for large groups

Food safety

Time management

Bilingual Spanish

Communication

Tools

SERV Safe

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full time Manual Labor Los Angeles, CA, US

Salary Range: $23.00 To $24.00 Hourly

Location: Arleta, CA

Classification: Non-Exempt, Full-Time

Hourly Rate: $23.00 – $24.00

Schedule:

• Wednesday - Sunday shift from 9:30AM - 6:00 PM.
• All positions require candidates to successfully pass a background check, LIVE scan and TB Test

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Kitchen Lead to join our team that would serve as a hands‑on supervisor, bridging the gaps between line cooks and management along with serving older adults in a residential setting. The ideal candidate will have experience cooking for large groups and a background in healthcare, homeless services, or working with individuals with behavioral challenges. This role is integral to ensure operational efficiency, consistency in food quality, compliance with safety standards and the well‑being of our residents by preparing meals that meet dietary and nutritional needs.

Responsibilities and Initiatives

To help NHF provide nutritional meals, you will:

• Assist Kitchen Manager with daily operations, including opening/closing procedures, staff scheduling, prep schedules and station organization.
• Assist with planning menus, ensuring they are nutritious, cost‑effective, and cater to special dietary requirements.
• Assist and manage cooks with prepared food by washing, peeling, chopping vegetables and marinating all proteins.
• Maintain quality and consistency by ensuring all food items are prepared to specification, properly cooked and adhere to recipe standards.
• Maintain a clean and manageable kitchen prep & 3-sink area as well as the dining room by washing dishes, utensils and appliances including sweeping & mopping.
• Assist Kitchen Manager with staff supervision and training with new hires on equipment and safety protocols.
• Maintain a stringent compliance with food safety regulations, sanitation standards and HACCP procedures in both Kitchen and Dining Hall.
• Manage inventory, food cost, ordering, receiving, unpack and restock food supplies while minimizing food waste.
• Assist Kitchen Manager in maintaining the organization, temperature control and cleanliness of the walk‑in cooler and freezer areas.
• Work collaboratively with other staff members to create a supportive and positive dining experience for guests.
• Assist Kitchen Manager in guiding, educating and collaborating with community partners and internship programs.
• Always follow NHF policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Must have a minimum of 1-2 years of previous food preparation or commercial kitchen experience, ideally with leadership experience is highly preferred.
• Experience cooking for large groups or high‑volume settings.
• Understanding dietary restrictions, food safety protocols, and nutritional needs.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals experiencing behavioral challenges or other unique needs.
• Strong time management and approach to cleanliness and directives.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills.
• Flexibility to occasionally work an additional day as required.
• SERV Safe Certification or equivalent food safety training, preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish preferred; however, not required.

Physical Requirements

The duties described will require frequent standing and walking for long periods of time. The employee will frequently bend/stoop, squat, reach above the shoulders, twist, and turn, kneel, and push/pull. The employee will frequently be required to lift/pull/push/move up to 50 pounds. The employee must have good dexterity, especially when handling hot pans, sharp utensils and tools. Must utilize conversational speech for effective verbal communication. Noise level is high in some guest care areas. Must be able to hear equipment alarms, overhead pages, and direct verbal communication. Employees must be

Programs

National Health Foundation is addressing the social determinants of health using several research-proven strategies. We are targeting Food Access, with an emphasis on increasing the availability of health and fresh foods in under-resourced communities, Housing, with a focus on providing shelter and care for individuals who have been released from the hospital, the Built Environment, prioritizing the removal of the barriers to health in the Historic South Los Angeles community, and Education, with a focus on risk prevention and support for pregnant and parenting teens to complete their education. National Health Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.