Kitchen Prep & Office Assistant

The Firehouse Community Arts Center of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The Firehouse Community Arts Center of Chicago is seeking a dependable Kitchen & Office Support Assistant to assist with daily kitchen operations, meal service, and general administrative tasks for programs and events.

The role supports the chef, office staff, and facility needs, ensuring food safety, organization, and smooth operations during community services and events.

Qualifications

• Must be reliable and flexible, detail-oriented and able to follow directions.
• Must communicate professionally and work well with a team.
• Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Assist with daily food preparation and meal service.
• Wash, peel, chop, portion, and prepare ingredients as directed.
• Set up and break down the kitchen for meals and events.
• Label, date, store, and rotate food and kitchen supplies.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of kitchen and storage areas.
• Wash dishes and kitchen equipment as needed.
• Follow food safety and health guidelines.
• Monitor supplies and notify supervisor when replenishment is needed.
• Assist with packaging meals for community feeding programs and events.
• Store leftovers according to food safety guidelines.
• Provide general administrative support and office tasks.
• Answer phones and respond to inquiries; direct calls.
• File, organize documents, make copies, scan, and maintain records.
• Enter information into spreadsheets/databases; assist with meeting materials.
• Monitor office supplies and assist with scheduling and preparation.
• Maintain a clean, organized, professional office environment.

Skills

Reliability

Flexibility

Attention to detail

Communication

Job description

Position Summary

The Firehouse Community Arts Center is seeking a dependable and hands‑on Kitchen & Office Support Assistant to support daily kitchen operations, food preparation, administrative tasks, and general facility needs. This position plays an important role in helping the organization maintain clean, organized, and efficient kitchen and office environments while supporting programs, events, staff, and community services.

The ideal candidate is reliable, flexible, detail‑oriented, and comfortable assisting with a variety of tasks, including food preparation, meal service, office support, setup and breakdown for programs, and general cleaning and organization. This role requires someone who can follow directions, work well with a team, communicate professionally, and complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.

Kitchen & Food Preparation

• Assist the Chef and kitchen staff with daily food preparation and meal service.


• Wash, peel, chop, portion, and prepare ingredients as directed.


• Assist with setting up and breaking down the kitchen for meal preparation and events.


• Properly label, date, store, and rotate food and kitchen supplies.


• Maintain cleanliness and organization of kitchen work areas, equipment, refrigerators, and storage areas.


• Wash dishes, pots, pans, utensils, and other kitchen equipment (if needed)


• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and health department guidelines.


• Monitor kitchen supplies and notify the supervisor when items need to be replenished.


• Assist with packaging and preparing meals for community feeding programs and special events.


• Ensure leftover food is properly stored or discarded according to food safety guidelines.

Office Support

• Provide general administrative support to staff and program departments.


• Answer phones, respond to basic inquiries, and direct calls


• Assist with filing, organizing documents, making copies, scanning, and maintaining records.


• Enter and update information in spreadsheets, databases, or other office systems.


• Assist with preparing materials, forms, packets, and documents for meetings and programs.


• Monitor office supplies and notify the supervisor when supplies need to be ordered.


• Assist with scheduling, meeting preparation, and other administrative tasks as assigned.


• Maintain a clean, organized, and professional office environment.

Facility & Team Support

• Assist with setting up tables, chairs, food stations, and supplies for programs and events.


• Help maintain cleanliness and organization throughout shared kitchen and office spaces.


• Follow all Firehouse Community Arts Center policies and procedures.


• Maintain confidentiality when handling organizational, employee or participant information.


• Communicate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, participants, vendors, and community members.


• Complete assigned tasks in a timely and professional manner.


• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor or Director.