Job Description
Position Title: Shelter Services Staff - Cook

Basic Function: Cooking, shopping, and handling donations for emergency homeless shelter. Position includes routine cleaning of kitchen equipment and storage area, shopping for needed groceries, menu planning, cooking for 24 people, organizing donations, and rotating stock.
Qualifications: Applicant must be 21 years; high school diploma or GED; work well with others; ability to serve well in a team environment but able to work independently; able to communicate effectively, written and orally. Must have driver’s license and clean driving record. Must be able to work some evenings and weekends.

Physical Requirements:
1. Must be able to lift 25 pounds on a regular basis
2. Must be able to go up and down steps repeatedly
3. Must be able to reach, twist, bend, pull and push repeatedly
4. Must be able to get down to and up from floor repeatedly
5. Must be able to climb step stool repeatedly
6. Must be able to differentiate colors to maintain color coded labels for stock rotation

Reporting Relationships and Authority:
1. Position reports to Executive Director of Liberty Center, and/or office manager
2. Shelter Services Staff communicates with executive director or office manager regarding recommendation for removal of resident from shelter in situations of non-compliance.
3. Shelter Services Staff does not accept new residents without the direct authorization of Executive Director.

Duties and Responsibilities
Resident Relationships:
1. Maintain confidentiality of all information regarding past, current, and potential residents at all times
2. Assure that House Rules are being followed
3. Talk with residents to develop a sense of rapport, provide positive feedback when appropriate
4. Communicate concerns regarding residents to director, case manager, or office manager.
5. Train residents on kitchen duty

Employee/Staff Relationships:
1. Read Staff Log at the beginning of each shift or check with supervisor for updates
2. Attend mandatory monthly staff meetings and trainings
3. Communicate daily through Staff Log entries or relay messages to your supervisor
4. Meet with executive director/office manager as needed

Shelter Facility:
1. Cook meals weekly and for weekend as needed
2. Clean stove, oven, exhaust hood filters, refrigerators, and freezers regularly
3. Clean out refrigerators, dispose of outdated food items and properly package leftovers
4. Check bread, buns, snacks for freshness and dispose of items that are moldy or stale
5. Check inventory and make list of needed items
6. Shop for needed grocery/supply items
7. Keep resident dining room stocked with necessary food stuffs and paper supplies
8. Process donations by sorting out expired items and color coding usable items
9. Organize all donations and supplies in supply room, upstairs, and shed
10. Follow weekly menu but be flexible to work in donations
11. Deliver unusable items to other community organizations that can use them
12. Plan and prepare for birthday and holiday parties for residents
13. Assist in decorating for the holidays and then putting decorations away after holidays
14. Notify director/office manager in writing of major repairs that are needed
15. Notify director/office manager in writing of major cleaning projects needed
16. Keep all work areas ready for inspection at any time
17. Any other tasks as assigned by executive director and/or office manager

Community Resource:
1. Answer phone, provide information and resource/referral to callers
2. Record all donations that come in during shift