Kitchen Lead

Assabet Co-op; Maynard, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Assabet Co-op Market in Maynard, MA seeks a full-time kitchen team member to support the Fresh Department Manager. You will prepare foods according to recipes, maintain a clean, safe, and attractive department, and assist with opening/closing shifts as needed.

This role emphasizes customer service, teamwork, and efficient kitchen operations, with wage starting at $18 per hour and 35-40 hours weekly. Previous food service experience and ServSafe certification are preferred.

Qualifications

• Retail deli/kitchen food service experience preferred.
• Knowledge of natural foods and the natural foods industry.
• Commitment to customer service.
• Ability to manage and motivate self and others.
• Ability to follow systems to provide for efficient and productive food service operations.
• Good communication and listening skills.
• Regular predictable attendance.
• Ability to comprehend complex instructions and communicate with diverse staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide prompt, friendly service to customers.
• Develop standard menu items and production schedules with Fresh Department Manager.
• Lead kitchen operations when the manager is absent or for opening/closing duties.
• Prepare foods according to recipes and prep sheets.
• Prepare and serve menu items to order as needed.
• Label, store and stock prepared foods.
• Keep retail cases clean, stocked and properly signed.
• Advise on equipment repair or maintenance needs.
• Participate in monthly inventory when requested.

Skills

Customer service

Food service experience

Teamwork

Communication

Attention to detail

Adaptability

Problem solving

Safety compliance

Attendance

Education

ServSafe Certification (preferred)

Tools

POS systems

Inventory tracking

Job description

To provide prompt, friendly food service in a fast-paced retail kitchen environment. Working in support of the Fresh Department Manager in ensuring that the kitchen department runs efficiently and effectively. To prepare kitchen foods according to pre-determined recipes. Maintain a clean, safe, attractive, and efficient department and work area. Function as a Manager on Duty when scheduled for store opening/closing shifts or as needed.

Status

• Reports To: Fresh Department Manager
• Status: Non-exempt/hourly; Full time (35-40 hours weekly)
• Wage Level: Starting at $18.00/hour, range commensurate with experience

Essential Responsibilities and Functions

Customer Experience

• Treat internal and external customers fairly, consistently and with respect.
• Exceed our customers’ expectations for service and provide a welcoming environment for all people and all diverse backgrounds and in accordance with the Co-op’s customer service standards.
• Model, provide, and ensure customers receive prompt, friendly and courteous services in a professional manner that demonstrates our cooperative advantage.
• Maintain a calm and friendly demeanor with all customers

Department Operations

• Work with the Fresh Department Manager to develop standard menu items, food quantities and varieties of products as requested
• Utilize checklists and production schedules to ensure efficient department operations
• As directed by the Fresh Department Manager or when the manager is absent from the department, lead the kitchen operations and set daily priorities for team
• Prepare foods according to predetermined recipes and prep sheets as needed
• Prepare and serve menus items to order as needed
• Ensure that all prepared foods are labeled and stored properly
• Ensure that individual servings are packaged, priced, and stocked in a timely manner
• Keep retail cases clean, stocked, fronted, and faced with proper signage
• Dispose of un-sellable items properly
• Support purchasing for the department as needed or as requested by the Fresh Department Manager
• Advise manager of equipment repair or maintenance needsParticipate in monthly inventory as requested
• Accurately record shrink, transfers, and production levels
• Perform other duties as requested by store management staff

Manager on Duty (as needed or when scheduled)

• The Manager on Duty will be a designated key carrier for the co-op and will be trained to open and close the store as needed.
• Provide support to all departments to ensure store security, prompt and friendly customer service and a safe working environment for staff.
• Review and monitor the physical appearance of the store and do whatever is necessary to maintain smooth and cohesive store operations.
• Resolve customer concerns and complaints according to Co-op policies and procedures.

All department staff must adhere to all policies and guidelines as laid out in the staff handbook and department level operating standards.

Responsibilities to Sustainability

Contribute to efforts at Assabet Co-op Market that support a sustainable community through: Minimizing waste by reducing and reusing materials and resources when possible; Proper recycling and composting; Water & energy conservation.

Responsibilities to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Value and support a work environment that includes people of different identities from diverse backgrounds

Physical Job Requirements

The physical requirements described here are those that an employee must meet, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to use computer keyboard, monitor, mouse, telephone, and various office equipment.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds frequently.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to be present and working in assigned area for up to 3 hours without rest.
• Ability to bend, stoop, squat, kneel, climb stairs or ladder.
• Ability to reach above shoulder height occasionally.
• Ability to talk and hear to communicate with customers.
• Finger and hand dexterity with ability to grasp and hold items of different sizes.
• Vision ability – close, distance, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Ability to read register screen and product and shelf labels.
• Open availability and ability to work morning, afternoon, evening, weekday and weekend shifts as required.

Working Conditions

The work environment described here is representative of the conditions an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Frequent exposure to cold, hot, wet or humid conditions.
• Exposure to fumes, airborne particles, hazardous materials ranging from natural to chemical (store products, cleaning products, scents from working in a public setting).
• Exposure to and potential handling of fresh foods including meats and seafood.
• Handling objects that have been handled by the public.
• Frequently performs work standing on cement floors at the cash register.
• May work occasionally in temperature extremes (walk-in freezer, outside warehouse, hot kitchen, etc.).
• Noise level in the store is usually moderate to loud.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

• Previous food service experience in a retail deli, kitchen or restaurant preferred.
• Knowledge of natural foods and the natural foods industry.
• Commitment to customer service.
• Ability to manage and motivate self and others.
• Ability to follow systems to provide for efficient and productive food service operations.
• Good communication and listening skills.
• Ability to work well with others in a cooperative environment.
• Follow through with delegated tasks.
• Current ServSafe Food Handlers Certification preferred.
• Regular predictable attendance
• Language ability:
• Comprehend complex instructions, correspondence, and memos
• Communicate effectively and respectfully in oral or written form to staff and customers of diverse backgrounds
• Effectively present information in one-to-one and small group situations to employees and customers
• Math ability:
• Add and subtract two digit numbers
• Perform calculation using units of US currency, weight, volume and distance measurements
• Computer skills – use email, website, time clock and other work related programs proficiently
• Ability to manage difficult or emotional customer situations