NUTR - Assistant Chef (Temporary-3 months)

Asian Counseling & Referral Service Inc; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly pay $24.17

Sick leave accrual

403b Retirement savings

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) is seeking a part-time Assistant Chef (Temporary-3 months) to support the senior nutrition program kitchen in King County. The role involves helping prepare culturally familiar meals for Asian and NHOPI elders and providing multilingual service to participants.

Responsibilities include menu planning, ensuring compliance with USDA guidelines, and assisting with kitchen operations while supporting the Lead Chef and Nutrition Services teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year experience planning menus and preparing meals for 65 or more guests.
• Requires current Food Handler’s Permit.
• Previous experience in a commercial kitchen or senior nutrition site, with knowledge of Asian cuisine is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist Lead Chef in menu planning and preparation of meals and snacks for all Nutrition Programs, ensuring healthy ingredients and budget compliance.
• Maintain menus, recipes, and Food Temperature Log in line with WA State Licensing and USDA guidelines.
• Adhere to safety, hygiene, and sanitation requirements; supervise kitchen staff and volunteers as needed; ensure kitchen operations on Lead Chef’s days off.

Skills

Menu planning

Cooking for large groups

Food safety

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Food Handler’s Permit

Job description

Seattle, WA, USA

Job Description

Posted Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: COME WORK WITH US! Help us provide hope, opportunity, and voice to thousands in our region by joining our team!

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: COME WORK WITH US! Help us provide hope, opportunity, and voice to thousands in our region by joining our team!
A ll candidates are welcome to apply especially those with diverse lived experiences who bring their perspective, personal identities, and history. We strongly encourage candidates who represent Asian & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, intersectional communities to submit applications. These include those who identify as LGBTQIA+, Transracial Adoptee, those who are justice involved, multi-racial, multi-lingual, all abilities, South Asian, or are part of other underrepresented communities.

About ACRS

Since 1973, Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) has been working toward social justice and offering a broad array of behavioral health programs, human services and civic engagement activities for Asians, Pacific Islanders, and other underserved communities in King County and beyond.

Mission

Asian Counseling & Referral Service is a social justice organization that promotes the health and well-being of Asians and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders (A&NH/PIs) and other communities by providing and advocating for responsive community-based services.

Vision

Hope, Opportunity, and Voice for All

Values

• We are rooted in our Social Justice history and practice and advocate for and with those who are farthest from hope and opportunity.
• Our actions are Client-/Community Centered.
• Compassion is at the heart of our work and approach.

ACRS seeks a part time Assistant Chef (Temporary-3 months)who assists Lead Chef with the overall administrative and production tasks for the senior meal program kitchen, serving King County's Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander elders and other vulnerable adult populations. Helps prepare and serve culturally familiar meals and foods and provide culturally competent, multi-lingual service to visitors of the senior nutrition program.

Competitive Benefits Package includes

• Pay is $24.17 hourly.
• 1 hour per 30 hours of sick leave, accrued from day 1, available to use after 60 days of employment
• 403b Retirement savings account
• Employee assistance program

Essential Job Functions

• Assists Lead Chef in menu planning and preparation of mealsand snacks for all Nutrition Programs, to include: ensuringadvanced menu planning and meeting budget requirements;assisting in obtaining healthy and nutritious ingredients usingFood Life Line and supplementing from local farms and fooddistributors.
• Assists in maintaining all menus, recipes, Food Temperature Log and other paperwork as required by WA State Licensing, USDA regulations and the City of Seattle Senior Services guidelines.
• Understands USDA food program guidelines and requirements. Works with Lead Chef to ensure meals meet these guidelines and requirements. Adheres to and ensures others are informed and adhere to safety, nutrition, food handling, personal hygiene and sanitation requirements and USDA requirements.
• Collaborates with staff on kitchen usage, cleaning and storage practices, and overall management of kitchen spaces, to include: helping to ensure refrigerators and freezers are clean; food labeled and disposed of as required by WA State Licensing, USDA regulations and the City of Seattle Senior Services guidelines.
• Under supervision of Senior Nutrition and Assistance Manager and Nutrition Services Supervisor, assists with ensuring kitchen operations are maintained on the Lead Chef’s regularly scheduled days off.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• Education and Experience:
  • Minimum of 1 year experience planning menus and preparing meals for 65 or more guests is required; AND
  • Requires current Food Handler’s Permit.
  • Previous experience working in a commercial kitchen or senior nutrition site, with knowledge and experience in cooking Asian cuisine is preferred.
• Cultural Humility:
  • Demonstrates respect and sensitivity when working with individuals from diverse cultural, racial, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Maintains a welcoming and professional attitude with staff, clients, and visitors in all interactions.
  • Contributes to a safe and inclusive environment in support of the agency’s equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging values.
• Knowledge and Skills:
  • Knowledge of standards of menu preparation, food preparation, serving, kitchen procedures, safe food handling, and other safe kitchen practices is required.
  • Ability to prepare foods for special groups (i.e. people with special dietary needs) and familiarity with cooking Asian/Pacific Islander cuisine required.
  • Experience with instruction and cooking for large groups.
  • Ability to Supervise kitchen staff and volunteers.
  • Demonstrated ability to direct and supervise kitchen staff and volunteers.
  • Demonstrated organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • Fluency in one or more Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander language preferred.
• Technical Skills:
  • Proficient in using modern workplace technology, including collaboration tools, communication platforms, and business applications for document creation, scheduling, and data management. Able to learn new systems quickly, navigate digital workflows, and use online tools and resources to support day-to-day work.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Must have reliable transportation. If using a personal or agency vehicle to fulfill job duties, must have a valid driver's license and be insurable under ACRS's auto policy. If using personal vehicle, must have current auto insurance.
  • Follows all agency policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook.

Working Conditions

The position requires regular mobility within the office or workspace, may involve sitting for extended periods throughout the day and the ability to handle objects, tools, or controls. Occasional lifting or moving of up to 20 pounds may be required. Involves tasks where visual acuity is beneficial.

Work is performed in person. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

LOCATION

Asian Counseling and Referral Service - Main Office

EOE STATEMENT

Asian Counseling and Referral Service is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Washington Relay Service 711.

ACRS does not and will not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, national origin, parental status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, use of a service animal, military or veteran status. Equal access to programs, services and employment is available to all persons. Those individuals requiring accommodation should notify ACRS in advance. ACRS is a Tobacco-Free Campus.

ACRS is committed to ensuring that our job application process is accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

If you require accommodation to assist with your job application, please contact [e-mail]. Our HR team is dedicated to providing alternative means and personalized assistance to ensure that your application can be submitted without undue hardship.

Our goal is to provide an accessible, fair, and inclusive application process, and we encourage you to communicate your needs so we can assist you effectively.