Position Summary: The Cook is responsible for preparing meals that are nutritionally balanced and appealing for residents in a 24/7 facility.  The Cook will also work in conjunction with the Food Service Manager to ensure the efficient operation of the food service department and ensure compliance with sanitation regulations. Shelter Residents are traumatized both by the intimate partner violence they experienced, and the sudden experience of homelessness.  Families may also have unrelated trauma experiences from their lives.  The Cook must be comfortable engaging traumatized people in a sensitive manner and must be comfortable working in a Voluntary Services program model.  This position is an essential staff position and is expected to report in weather emergencies.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Prepares assigned meals. Makes good use of donated commodities in effort to cut agency cost.
• Serves meals, ensuring proper food handling procedures.
• Creates a welcoming environment for traumatized families and their children.  Interacts in a friendly, helpful manner with residents.
• Informs Food Service Manager of food and related supply needs to ensure sufficient inventory for daily and weekly consumption.
• Assists in the development of menus that ensure meals are nutritionally balanced and meet MSDE grant requirements.
• Follows routines and schedules that ensure kitchen meet Health department regulations and agency standards of proper sanitation.
• Implements system developed by Food Service Manager to ensure prepared frozen meals and other commodities are available for hotel program participants and for use in an emergency.
• Rotates food inventory as necessary to ensure freshness and quality.
• Responds to request for food commodities for clients who do not reside in shelter as well as request from staff for food for volunteers and meetings.
• Prepares late plates and bag lunches as necessary.
• Washes pots, pans, and other cookware used in the preparation of meals; leaves kitchen clean and sanitized at end of shift.
• Demonstrates positive conflict management and conflict resolution behavior.
• Monitor and maintain food storage area in a clean and organized fashion, consistent with Health Department regulations and agency standards.

• Stocks shelter pantry with donated items.

Experience/ Requirements:

·        High school diploma/ GED equivalent.  Minimum of 1 year experience in residential facility food preparation preferred.

·        Sanitation Certificate as required to meet Baltimore City and State of Maryland food preparation and sanitation regulations.

·        Demonstrates competence in proper food handling.

·        Excellent customer service skills, with a strong ability to relate to a diverse range of individuals.

·        Be able to work in a fast paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.

·        Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds.

·        Experience with conflict resolution/ mediation.

·        Ability to pass a criminal background check.

·        If driving the agency van, clean driving record.

·        Ability to understand intimate partner violence and how it affects the client population.