Receiver & Porter

Rethink Food; New York (NY); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free nutritious lunch daily

Paid time off (PTO)

Paid holidays

Retirement plan with employer match

Job summary

Rethink Food in New York is seeking a Receiver and Porter to support the Sustainable Community Kitchen. You will help receive goods, stock, label, and maintain clean, organized storage areas while supporting culinary operations.

You will handle inventory, manage walk-ins, follow FIFO procedures, and assist with meal production. The role requires 1 year of kitchen support experience, NYC Food Handlers/ServSafe, and the ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Qualifications

• NYC Food Handlers Certificate and ServSafe or obtain within the first 30 days.
• Minimum 1 year experience in porter or kitchen support.
• Minimum 1 year experience in medium to high volume kitchen required.
• Basic computer skills required (inputting data in Excel, Word, Google Workspace).
• Professional, reliable, enthusiastic.
• Follows safety protocols and communicates effectively with supervisors.
• Clean, well organized and detail oriented.
• Catering and event experience a plus.
• Have a passion for cooking and knowledge of food handling standards.
• Must stand, bend, stretch, lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Supports the culinary team in maintaining a clean and respectful shared kitchen space.
• Receiving, decanting, labeling and putting away stock in the food storage areas of the kitchen.
• Responsible for all donation sorting, organizing, boxing and storage in and out of SCK.
• Responsible for inventory of entire Sustainable Community Kitchen.
• Manages walk-in and shared food storage, dry storage organization and cleaning; FIFO.
• Follows building protocol for freight elevator procedure and safety guidelines.
• Monitors supply levels and communicates with the Culinary Relations Manager when inventory is low.
• Assists in dish cleaning and equipment handling related to Rethink’s production process.
• Disposes of cooking oil/grease into appropriate barrels.

Skills

NYC Food Handlers Certificate

ServSafe

Porter/kitchen support experience

Kitchen safety protocols

Basic computer skills

Safety communication

Organization and cleanup

Catering/event experience

Mission alignment

Physical stamina (up to 50 lbs)

Education

NYC Food Handlers Certificate and ServSafe certification

Job description

ABOUT US

Rethink Food is a chef-led nonprofit partnering with restaurants to better feed communities. Through strong partnerships with local restaurants and community-based organizations, we work with a responsive, hyperlocal network that provides culturally celebrated, nutritious meals. Since 2017, we've served over 30 million meals and reinvested more than $142 million into local economies.

• Building the Network: We connect restaurants, community-based organizations, and food donors to deliver meals where they’re needed most.
• Setting the Example: Through our Sustainable Community Kitchen, we demonstrate what dignified, community-centered food access can look like.
• Advocating for Change: We champion policy and systems change to create a more sustainable, equitable food future for all.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Receiver and Porter will support the work of the Sustainable Community Kitchen that includes receiving goods, cleaning, organizing, inventory of goods and other supplies, and supporting culinary operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supports the culinary team in maintaining a clean and respectful shared kitchen space.
• Receiving, decanting, labeling and putting away stock in the food storage areas of the kitchen.
• Responsible for all donation sorting, organizing, boxing and storage in and out of SCK.
• Responsible for inventory of entire Sustainable Community Kitchen.
• Manages walk-in and shared food storage, dry storage organization and cleaning; maintains a clean, organized, and appropriately labeled stock - FIFO.
• Follows building protocol for freight elevator procedure; lifts gate, uses the responsible decision making skills that align with standard operating procedure.
• Follows DOH and Commissary kitchen guidelines of food labeling procedures when receiving food product to ensure quality, freshness and consistently.
• Monitors supply levels and communicates with the Culinary Relations Manager when inventory is low.
• Responds to any major spills, accidents, or other cleaning crises as it pertains to Rethink staff; places safety hazard signs in the building including wet floor warning signs.
• Assists in the production of meals; packaging, labeling, boxing and filling out necessary forms.
• Follows standard operating procedures and safety guidelines of SCK in all shared spaces.
• Responsibly follows protocol when handling facilities equipment; including but not limited to appliances, cooking equipment, freight elevator, dollies, hand jacks and electric jacks etc.
• Maintains the locker room and linens; regularly scheduled cleaning, organization, and laundry services.
• Assists in dish cleaning cooking equipment that is specialized and particular to Rethink’s production process.
• Trash maintenance, including organizing and breaking down boxes for disposal, recycling and compost.
• Ensuring compliance with Winnow compost system.
• Sweeping, mopping, washing windows for Sustainable Community Kitchen.
• Follow bathroom maintenance schedules and restocking paper goods.
• Disposing of cooking oil/ grease into appropriate barrels.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• NYC Food Handlers Certificate and ServSafe or obtain within the first 30 days of employment.
• Minimum 1 year experience in porter or kitchen support.
• Minimum 1 year experience in medium to high volume kitchen required.
• Basic computer skills required (inputting data in Excel, Word, Google Workspace).
• Professional, reliable, enthusiastic.
• Follows safety protocols and communicates effectively with supervisors.
• Clean, well organized and detail oriented.
• Catering and event experience a plus.
• Have a good attitude and willing to take instructions and work well with others
• Have a passion for cooking, understand product utilization, food quality and seasonal ingredients
• The ability to multitask and work in a fast paced, high pressured environment
• Self motivated individual who takes initiative, and is always looking to grow and learn
• Must embrace the mission and core values of Rethink Food
• Must be able to stand, bend, stretch, lift and carry heavy materials up to 50 lbs

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

Inventiveness: At our core, we are relentlessly curious about solving problems. As our name suggests, we’re a team of creative thinkers, but we’re also hands-on doers, challenging norms with humility to find practical solutions that can create lasting change.

Vulnerability: Guided by an “always be better” mindset, we are a team that intentionally reflects on what we are doing well and where we need to improve. We hold ourselves and each other accountable, every day. No blame, no shame — we just want to be sure we’re always doing the right thing.

Thoughtfulness: Our vision for a nourished and thriving world starts with nourished and thriving individuals in each of our communities. Our work is centered on the needs of the people that bring our communities to life. We don’t pretend to have all of the answers. We are committed to listening and learning in order to identify and scale solutions that ensure stable and reliable access to healthy food for all so each and every community can thrive.

Kindness: At Rethink, we show up every day with empathy and compassion and believe everyone should be treated with dignity. Kindness goes a long way — we are all about just being kind

COMPENSATION

The annual salary range for this position is $20.00 per hour. We also offer a complete benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, PTO, paid holidays, two weeks per year for an organization-wide office closure to recharge, a retirement plan with employer match, free nutritious lunch daily, and a progressive parental leave plan.