Food Services Worker - Cook

Located in San Mateo, CA

Salary: $23.08 per hour

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

1. General Safety & Compliance

· Perform all duties using general safety practices and agency-assigned tools to prevent lifting

injuries, slips, falls, and other hazards.

· Wear required PPE and comply with all safety requirements including Federal, State, Local, CAL-

OSHA, and San Mateo County Health Regulations.

· Report any maintenance, safety issues, incidents, or injuries to the supervisor immediately.

 

2. Food Handling, Cooking & Preparation

· Assist with or independently prepare and cook meals in accordance with food safety guidelines

and nutritional standards.

· Follow standardized recipes, portion control, and menu plans; assist with recipe scaling as

needed.

· Label, date, and properly store all food items.

· Move food inventory to the kitchen and assist with food packaging for service or delivery.

· Ensure all prepared food is cooked, stored, and served at appropriate temperatures.

 

3. Inventory, Receiving & Storage

· Receive, weigh, record, and sort food deliveries, donations, and inventory; follow in-kind

donation policy.

· Divide and distribute inventory to appropriate locations (refrigerator, freezer, pantry, food line).

· Track and monitor inventory movement and stock levels; restock supplies as needed.

· Store all food and related supplies under appropriate temperature controls.

· Organize pantry and storage spaces to ensure safety and efficiency.

· Use equipment (e.g., pallet jacks) safely and with proper training and authorization.

 

4. Loading, Unloading & Delivery

· Load and unload delivery trucks and agency vehicles.

· Assist with food deliveries and ensure items are placed in temperature-controlled storage areas

or insulated containers for transport.

· Ensure the back-kitchen loading dock is restricted to authorized personnel only.

 

5. Sanitation & Cleaning · Clean and sanitize all food service areas, cooking equipment, utensils, and surrounding indoor/outdoor areas. · Perform janitorial tasks, including garbage bin organization and cleaning of floors and surfaces. · Wash, dry, and sanitize reusable linens and cloth items used in kitchen operations. · Maintain the cleanliness of food service zones including tents, front lines, and storage areas.

 

6. Volunteer & Client Interaction · Provide instruction and supervision to volunteers and new staff to ensure safe and sanitary food handling. · Guide clients through food pantry lines, assisting as needed in a respectful and professional manner. · Operate collaboratively with all team members, volunteers, and clients. 7. Administrative & Operational Support · Accurately weigh and record all food collections and distributions. · Complete reports (e.g., food rescue logs, inventory, deliveries) and submit them in a timely manner. · Support Food Services and Facilities operations as assigned. · Maintain high standards of ethics, professionalism, and adherence to agency policies. · Ensure excellent client service at all levels. Demonstrate a caring and helpful attitude when interacting with clients, vendors, volunteers and fellow employees. · Position will operate within all applicable federal, state and local laws and ordinances, and any and all other policies adopted by Samaritan House. · Support, assist and attend general Agency events, activities and functions. · Report all incidents, vehicular accidents or on the job injuries immediately or within 24 hours whichever is sooner. Complete necessary incident report forms. · All work/business to be performed with appropriate professional boundaries, excellent ethics/integrity and in good faith. · Flexible work schedule, early mornings, days, evenings, weekends and holidays may need. · Attend any assigned trainings or meetings. Represent Samaritan House professionally and successfully to any external contacts/constituents. · Perform other duties as directed.

 

EXPERIENCE:

· At least 1 year of experience in a commercial kitchen or food service environment.

· Cooking experience required; experience with inventory/logistics a strong plus.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

· Understanding of safe food handling and sanitation practices.

· Strong organizational and multitasking skills.

· Ability to follow recipes, measure ingredients, and manage food portions accurately.

· Comfortable using basic kitchen equipment and tools.

· Excellent Professional Communication Skills- Written and verbal.

Competent with computer programs such as Microsoft office Suite- Outlook, simple excel, word. Ability to learn computer programs, applications and databases for training purposes. Familiarity with telecommunication applications- Zoom, Skype, FB Messenger, MS Teams · Exercise appropriate and sound judgement under normal and stressful conditions · Excellent professionalism and professional boundaries in all business interactions. · Excellent customer service skills. Ability to perform work within agency values, positive collaborative attitude, high level of ethics and integrity · Excellent adaptability in a fast paced and ever-changing work environment. Excellent time management skills, multi-tasking, prioritization and organizational skills, ability to meet deadlines · Excellent interpersonal skills and initiative. Ability to self-start while working alone and to collaborate effectively when working within a team environment

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