Cafe Kitchen Manager

Job Title: Cafe Kitchen Manager
Department: Meals and Supportive Services
Reports to: General Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary $53,045 to $55,700

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. Inspiration Corporation programs are voluntary, and all service needs and goals are participant-driven. Our case management philosophy is strengths-based and trauma-informed. Inspiration Corporation practices harm reduction and focuses on reducing or minimizing the harm associated with high-risk behavior through motivational interviewing.

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.

Inspiration Corporation believes that these values are central to our work with participants and one another, and they create a culture we all have a stake in.

Position Summary
The Cafe Kitchen Manager will be responsible for overseeing the Back-of-House (BOH) operations of Inspiration Cafe. At present, meal service consists of breakfast, which begins at approximately 5:30am; however, service times and offerings may expand or adjust in the future. The Cafe Kitchen Manager’s responsibilities include but are not limited to: scheduling of BOH part-time Cafe staff; ordering, inventory management, maintaining kitchen and dining room cleanliness and organization; maintaining relationships with donors and volunteers; and menu development. The Cafe Kitchen Manager will also oversee all food recovery efforts, ensuring effective coordination with current partners such as GCM as well as any additional food recovery partners in the future.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

GENERAL

• Demonstrate Inspiration Corporation’s Core Values.
• Exhibit professionalism and high standards in all aspects of performance.
• Ensure the efficient and effective provision of services 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 are addressed.
• Occasionally assist Inspiration Kitchens with restaurant and catering, including agency fundraiser.
• Attend agency All Staff meetings, Leadership Team meetings and program meetings.

CAFE MANAGEMENT

• Coordinate with the General Manager to plan and execute menus.
• Delegate and instruct preparation of meals to volunteers, staff, and Inspiration Kitchens students as necessary.
• Ensure that donated ingredients are utilized appropriately.
• Record daily inventory and place orders as necessary.
• Monitor all food, supplies, and labor costs in relation to approved budget(s) as determined by the General Manager.
• Oversee the proper cleaning, sanitation, and organization of all food-related supplies.
• Create weekly schedules for the part-time staff.
• Ensure staff complete delegated tasks in a timely manner.
• Ensure house rules, policies, and procedures are followed.
• Keep all supplies, tools, and chemicals organized.
• Monitor and control proper cleaning and sanitation procedures; Kitchen space, Dry storage, and the Café equipment, while ensuring that the Cafe is in line with Department of Health Guidelines.
• Ensure vender and donor deliveries are received and properly stored.
• Maintain all kitchen equipment.
• Coordinate with the General Manager to address any equipment repairs.
• Coordinate and execute any relevant meetings in relation the café, staff and/or participants.
• Work with Meals Program Coordinator to ensure smooth day to day operations as they relate to food, service and environment.
• Assist the General Manager in obtaining donations and creating new partnerships with prospective donors.

FOOD RECOVERY

• Lead the coordination and logistics of all recovered food from partners.
• Ensure the weight and type of produce and donated goods are recorded.
• Manage the organization, storage, and rotation of recovered items to ensure freshness and food safety compliance.
• Collaborate with culinary staff to integrate recovered ingredients into café menus and meal programs, including FST&E and SPARC, ensuring recovered food is used creatively and effectively within all program offerings.
• Prioritize the use of recovered food for Inspiration Corporation’s programs and social enterprise and, when there is a surplus, coordinate the distribution of excess food to partner nonprofit organizations that feed people in need, ensuring that recovered food is utilized.
• Maintain detailed inventory logs and distribution reports for internal tracking and partner reporting.
• Work closely with food recovery partners to ensure smooth communication and efficient pickup/drop-off processes.
• Train and guide team members on sustainable kitchen practices and proper handling of recovered food.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensures supervision of all BOH part-time Cafe staff, Inspiration Kitchens graduates, and volunteers.
• Provides training for the staff as required.
• Utilizes staff effectively to ensure satisfactory completion of all goals and responsibilities.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• 2 years in a Supervisory/Management role preferred
• Prior culinary teaching/training experience preferred.
• Good verbal & written communication skills.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Computer literate, experience working with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• A strong commitment to personal and professional development.
• Excellent communication and assessment skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Obtaining and maintaining a valid State of Illinois Foodservice Sanitation Manager Certification and City of Chicago Food Safety Manager Certification required (Inspiration Corporation will cover costs of training and licensing).

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to work with basic mathematical concepts for menu planning.

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is regularly required to stand. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50-60 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The Cafe Kitchen Manager will work varying hours, as required, including evenings and weekends.

Inspiration Corporation is an equal opportunity employer.