Kitchen Training Specialist

Job Title: Kitchen Training Specialist
Department: Workforce Development
Reports to: Workforce Development Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Schedule Tuesday-Saturday 8 am – 4 pm
Salary range $50,925-$53,045

To apply: Visit .

Overview
In an atmosphere of dignity and respect, Inspiration Corporation connects people and creates opportunity through access to social services, job training, housing, and food. Each year, Inspiration Corporation works with hundreds of resilient Chicagoans who face systemic disparities and inequities, such as homelessness, hunger, and social isolation.

In order to help individuals and families overcome these barriers, we provide dedicated support coupled with housing, job training, scholarships, meals and engagement services. Inspiration Corporation meets people where they are in life, helping them access the support they need and achieve their personal goals.

At Inspiration Corporation, employees live this mission by demonstrating the following Core Values. Inspiration Corporation believes that these Core Values are what makes the organization one of Chicago’s leading facilitators of personal transformation, and a great place to work:

At Inspiration Corporation, employees embody our mission by demonstrating the following Core Values:

• Integrity – We cultivate trusting, collaborative relationships rooted in mutual respect and accountability.
• Growth – We encourage personal development, curiosity and being open to new possibilities.
• Equity –We recognize each person’s inherent rights and advocate for inclusive access to resources and opportunities.
• Resilience –We persevere and seek solutions that celebrate our strength in the face of adversity, while practicing and encouraging self-care.
• Hospitality – We create uplifting, accepting, and nourishing connections with everyone who comes through our doors.

POSITION SUMMARY
The key responsibilities are to support the success of foodservice training participants during our 12-week program offered at no cost to them in our social enterprise restaurant. The Kitchen Training Specialist supports participants in meeting their employment and economic security goals through helping them gain culinary and career skills so that they can obtain and maintain employment, participating in restaurant and catering activities; assessing and documenting progress, assisting with restaurant and catering activities, maintain the cleanliness of the kitchen; to work with foodservice training and restaurant/catering operations teams to coordinate training and operations activities; occasional pick-up and deliveries.

GENERAL

• Demonstrate Inspiration Corporation’s Core Values.
• Exhibit professionalism and high standards in all aspects of performance.
• Ensure the efficient and effective provision of foodservice training and restaurant operations with dignity and respect in accordance with the agency’s mission.
• Work with all departments as appropriate to ensure that the needs of the agency’s participants, programming and operations are addressed.
• Attend department and agency meetings.
• Uphold Policies and Procedures of Inspiration Corporation and Inspiration Kitchens.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, other duties may be assigned:

SUPPORTING FOOD SERVICE TRAINEES

• Provide balanced and growth-oriented assessment and feedback to participants; share successes and challenges related to participants with colleagues in a strengths-based way to support participant coaching and growth.
• Plan for restaurant and catering activities and provide clear, supportive instruction to participants.
• Provide lecture, demonstration and experiential support to participants. Support timesheet and payroll preparation for students enrolled in Transitional Jobs.
• Support preparation of family meal, tours.
• Utilize strengths-based approaches such as: trauma-informed care, harm reduction and motivational interviewing.
• Use client data system to record participant strengths and challenges weekly.
• Partner with Chef Instructors, Employment Specialists, Case Managers and Workforce Development Program Manager to meet team goals.
• Serve as liaison between Foodservice Training team and Restaurant/Operations team in planning training activities, scheduling participants; attend team meetings and share information.

Inspiration Kitchens is the social enterprise restaurant, catering and foodservice training and employment program of Inspiration Corporation. The restaurant prepares contemporary American cuisine and is top-rated in the Chicagoland community (4+ stars on Yelp, featured on Check Please!). Inspiration Kitchens’ culinary skills job training program for low-income job seekers equips participants with basic culinary, sanitation and restaurant operations skills and offers participants paid, on-the-job experience. Revenue from Inspiration Kitchens’ restaurant and catering helps to support the larger goals of Inspiration Corporation and its mission.

KITCHEN SPECIALIST

• Work with the on-duty Restaurant Chef in restaurant and catering preparation.
• Assist in the set up and break down of kitchen areas.
• Prioritize work to accomplish daily, weekly and monthly tasks as assigned by supervisor.
• Follow restaurant/kitchen policies and procedures for operational flow at each station.
• Maintain a clean, orderly, and sanitized kitchen by washing dishes, sanitizing surfaces, equipment, and taking out trash. Perform cleaning tasks, uphold and follow health, safety and sanitation standards and guidelines and work as a kitchen team member.
• Receive, label, date and appropriately store all deliveries from vendors and donors while following standards for stocking, rotating, and storing all products. F.I.F.O. (First In First Out).
• Maintain inventory of restaurant and catering prep items on hand, update weekly. Report needs of essential working supplies within a 3- day notice.
• Assist with food recovery efforts that support restaurant/catering activities, Meals program and Foodservice Training & Employment program, including recording the weight and type of produce and donated goods to maintain accurate donation data.
• Collaborate with culinary staff to utilize recovered ingredients into family meals and foodservice training, ensuring recovered food is used creatively and effectively within program offerings
• Maintain a safe environment inside kitchen and throughout facility.
• Be flexible with hours for catering and special events throughout the year.

CUSTOMER SERVICE (CATERING, PARTNERS, DONORS)

• Give a friendly greeting.
• Share information about Inspiration Corporation’s mission and work, including the foodservice training program to customers.
• Discover customer's needs and appropriately suggest products with every delivery to enhance service and meet production goals.
• Deliver Inspiration Kitchens food proudly and with care.
• Pick-up perishable and non-perishable food from donors.
• Inform the Restaurant Chef or General Manager on duty of any concerns or complaints in a timely manner

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The following requirements are representative of the education, experience and skills necessary for the position.

• Knowledge of cooking techniques.
• Understanding of ingredients, recipes, kitchen safety and sanitation.
• Familiar with general kitchen equipment, catering equipment and appliances.
• Patience with the ability to stay positive, perform under pressure, complete work on time while maintaining focus in a fast-paced environment.
• Manual dexterity to operate cooking tools such as knives.
• A team player with good communication skills.
• Able to follow instructions.
• Ability to bend, stretch, lift, carry and/or move heavy material.
• Physically able to stand for long periods.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Flexibility to work shifts, weekdays, weekends, and nights.
• A clean driving record is required, along with a current, valid, state issued driver’s license
• If the applicant is under 25 or over 65 years of age, an MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) demonstrating a clear driving record must be provided
• Food and Sanitation Certificate preferred, and Manager’s level held or to be earned after hire.
• Teaching, training and experience supervising preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by, an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to walk and stand for long periods. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

SCHEDULE : The standard schedule for this role aligns with the Inspiration Kitchens’ operations schedule; currently Tuesday-Saturday. Some evening, Sunday or Monday hours may be required.

Inspiration Corporation is an equal opportunity employer.