Preservation Assistant Grace Klein Community

Grace Klein Community, Inc.; Bessemer (AL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10 days of vacation

Community engagement opportunities

Job summary

Grace Klein Community, Inc. is looking for a full-time Preservation Assistant in Bessemer, Alabama. This role is pivotal in managing the food preservation initiative, ensuring efficient operations while fostering community relationships.

The ideal candidate will possess kitchen management or food service experience and be passionate about reducing food waste and promoting food justice. Responsibilities include developing protocols, coordinating deliveries, and training volunteers. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Grace Milligan.

Qualifications

• Experience in kitchen management, culinary arts, or food service operations is preferred.
• Familiarity with food safety practices and nutritional guidelines.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain food safety protocols and inventory systems.
• Coordinate with FeedBHM's food rescue team for timely deliveries.
• Recruit, train, and manage kitchen volunteers.

Skills

Kitchen management

Food service operations

Food safety practices

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Training volunteers

Digital tools for tracking

Passion for food justice

Job description

Preservation Assistant

This is a full-time, hourly-paid position. 40 hours per week and 10 days of vacation annually.

Location Address: 2701 Morgan Road, Bessemer, AL 35216 / 419 Philippians Blvd, Pelham, AL 35124.

Our most important function is as a ministry. People come first. No matter the task at hand, we do everything in our power to make a place for everyone. We stop and listen, we pray, we encourage gifts, skills, and purpose. We foster relationships with people where they are, whether in abundance or in crisis. Our vision reflects the basics of the early church: "We all have a need, we all have something to give. If we all share what we have, we all have what we need."

Position Summary

As the Preservation Assistant, you will contribute to the development, operations, and capacity building of the Grace Klein Community Food Preservation Initiative, where we transform and reallocate rescued, bulk surplus food into nutritious meals, reducing food waste and feeding food-insecure individuals. You will coordinate with internal teams, volunteers, chefs, and community partners to ensure smooth operations and promote food preservation education.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain food safety protocols, inventory systems, and recipe documentation procedures.
• Coordinate with FeedBHM’s food rescue team to schedule timely delivery of appropriate food for kitchen use.
• Assist with mitigating food waste on all levels, including farmer food and compost.
• Collaborate with chefs, culinary schools, and food professionals to create meals using rescued food.
• Recruit, train, and manage kitchen volunteers and interns, ensuring adherence to safety and hygiene guidelines.
• Plan and execute batch cooking days and events to maximize rescued food use.
• Build systems to evaluate kitchen workflow, volunteer feedback, and recipe quality for continuous improvement.
• Educate the community on food preservation through workshops, social media, blog posts, content writing, and printed/digital materials.
• Create and maintain a recipe library featuring affordable and nutritious meals using common surplus ingredients, with potential for publishing.
• Develop take-home preservation kits, DIY meal resources, and written educational materials for families in the FeedBHM network.
• Track metrics related to meals prepared, food volume rescued, and volunteer hours.
• Maintain compliance with health regulations and organizational policies.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and supplies.
• Support expansion efforts such as FeedBHM Pelham, mobile kitchens, or additional kitchen sites.
• Represent the Food Preservation Initiative at community events, speaking engagements, or partner engagements.
• Assist in finding and creating donor and grant applications related to initiative operations and outcomes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Weekly KPIs

• Recruit Serve Teams
• Recruit Food Rescue Heroes
• Recruit Chef Club Members
• Secure Pelham Financial Donors
• Secure New In-Kind Donors
• Secure Aluminum Can Donors
• Educational Content Support (social media, grant, blogs, cards passed out in drive-thru, etc.)
• Attend or Host Food Education-Related Events
• Grow Personal LinkedIn

Qualifications

• Experience in kitchen management, culinary arts, or food service operations is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with food safety practices and nutritional guidelines.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Experience in training and leading volunteers or teams.
• Comfortable using digital tools for inventory tracking, scheduling, and documentation.
• Comfortable with the handling of all types of perishable produce.
• Passion for food justice, waste reduction, and community empowerment.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter outlining their qualifications and interest in the position to Grace Milligan at [e-mail]. Please include “Preservation Assistant – Job Application” in the subject line of your email.