Job Title: Cook

Hiring Salary Range: $21 - $22 per hour

Work Schedule: This position must have flexibility to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays. This full-time position typically works 5 days each week (40 hours) with 2 consecutive days off. Shifts typically fall between the hours of 5am and 7pm.

Have you ever wanted a career that's fulfilling and rewarding? Have you ever worked in a place that prides itself in taking care of their employees? What about an organization that leads the way in the fight to end homelessness? If this sounds like a place for you check out what UMOM has to offer!

Benefits Package includes: FREE Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability & Life Insurance/AD&D plans. In addition to: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, 401k with Employer Match, Legal Services, Professional Development Fund and more.

About UMOM New Day Centers: Founded in 1964, UMOM is Arizona's largest provider of services for families experiencing homelessness. Our mission is to end family homelessness by restoring hope and rebuilding lives. With an annual operating budget of $20 million dollars, UMOM provides shelter, supportive services, and housing programs to families and individuals experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. UMOM serves over 15,000 unique individuals across all our services annually, including those families receiving support at the Family Housing Hub, Maricopa County's family coordinated entry system.

Position Description: UMOM New Day Centers serves over 300,000 meals each year to clients experiencing homelessness who are temporarily living in our emergency shelters. The Cook position contributes to UMOM's mission to restore hope, rebuild lives, and end homelessness by cooking and creating meals in the area of Residential Dining. This is an intermediate-level position requiring knowledge and skills of best practices in a kitchen, experience in basic and intermediate-level cooking methods, and the ability to prepare and organize all aspects needed for meal service. The Cook has demonstrated experience in team leadership and inventory processes and procedures. This individual will create a sanitary and organized environment and will practice and abide by Maricopa County Health codes to ensure food is safe for our clients and customers. The Cook understands a positive, team-focused approach is the best way to keep a fast-paced kitchen running smoothly and is excited to contribute to ensuring this type of work environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs culinary skills and techniques including roasting, sauteing, sauce production, batch cooking, gourmet salads, and common side dishes.
• Leads kitchen tasks of ingredient preparation, labeling and proper storage of food in containers, and countertop cleaning. Stocks and maintains sufficient levels of food products at all stations to assure a smooth service period.
• Exhibits knowledge of proper food storage, rotation, and disposal in accordance with Food safety standards.
• Exhibits working knowledge of all kitchen equipment and experience in menu modification.
• Ensures food production at UMOM kitchens maintains food quality, accurate portion control, consistency of recipes, and timely delivery in accordance with established meal schedules/menus.
• Maintains well-organized kitchens reflective of the safety standards established by UMOM and in accordance with all safety and sanitation standards per Maricopa County Health codes/the health department.
• Assists with the back-of-house training portion of the Homegrown student program.
• Operates with speed, efficiency and consistent mindfulness towards kitchen organization and sanitation in a fast-paced production-kitchen environment.
• Communicates daily with kitchen staff to gain continuous feedback.
• Assists with inventory of all program supplies and works with Culinary Enterprise and Residential Dining Managers to manage all related expenses as needed.
• Articulately represents UMOM to the trainees, community, businesses, and social service organizations.
• Assumes 100% responsibility for quality of products served.
• Attends all scheduled employee meetings and brings suggestions for improvement.
• Other duties as assigned by Leadership.

Qualification and Competency Requirements:

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED equivalent, preferred
• Minimum two years of experience in kitchen preparation and cooking in a fast-paced food service environment required
• Experience with inventory process and procedures preferred

Compliance

• Current Maricopa Food Handler's card or the ability to obtain one
• Valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card or the ability to obtain one
• Ability to clear the Central Registry Screening from the Department of Child Safety & Adult Protective Services.
• Ability to comply with and pass all required background check and drug screening requirements, including but not limited to pre-employment and random drug screening as required/requested.
• This position is classified as a safety sensitive position.

Physical activities and working conditions

The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative, but not exhaustive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• This position is very active and requires standing, moving, bending, stooping, lifting, and reaching all day. The duties of this job require regular exposure to kitchen conditions including heat, cold, humidity, wet, smoke, and loud noises.

Background Screens-

This position requires the selected candidate to have the ability to obtain, maintain and possess a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card (FPCC). If the selected candidate does not currently possess an FPCC, UMOM will cover the cost of obtaining a card post-hire.

In addition, all UMOM employees must pass a background screen through the Central Registry. This screening reviews the Department of Child Safety (DCS) registry and the Adult Protective Services (APS) registry.

Drug Screening-

This position is considered a safety sensitive position. All new hires must successfully pass the required drug screening.