ABOUT DC CENTRAL KITCHEN:

DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. Our approach provides hands-on culinary job training while creating living-wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed in our city. We serve scratch-cooked farm-to-school meals in DC schools; deliver fresh, affordable produce to corner stores in neighborhoods without supermarkets; provide delicious catering; and operate fast-casual cafes. Above all else, we are committed to creating a more just, equitable, and inclusive community, both outside our doors and right here on our team. We strive to offer a safe environment to learn, discover and develop individual strengths, and pursue meaningful career pathways. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we recognize and work to address the lasting effects of historic injustices and systemic racism, and we strongly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ people, returning citizens, and people who have experienced poverty or homelessness to apply to join our team.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION:

DC Central Kitchen uses welcoming, vibrant cafes as tools for career training, job creation, and inclusive community development. Our cafes do not simply offer delicious, scratch-cooked menus featuring the highest quality ingredients and products sourced from local family farmers and coffee roasters. They serve as on-the-job training locations for adults and Opportunity Youth pursuing hospitality careers. These social enterprises also create leadership roles and full-time, living wage job opportunities for graduates of our acclaimed Culinary Job Training program. Each DC Central Kitchen café reflects the past, present, and future of its surrounding community, from its menus, art installations, on-site events, and collaborations with area businesses and residents.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Food Service Worker works directly with the Café Lead to ensure exceptional guest experience at The Café at THEARC. It is the goal of this position to work with other food service workers, cooks, and utility workers to maintain high customer service standards, proper food safety and sanitation practices and minimize waste of products. The Food Service Worker is responsible for all interactions with customers from entrance to exit while serving their requested products in a timely and efficient manner. This position is also responsible for guest interactions during special events at The Café. The successful candidate will have prior entry-level food service experience, excellent customer service skills, good teamwork, solid communication skills, and strong organizational abilities.

*Full COVID-19 vaccination is required. *

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Effectively represent the mission of DC Central Kitchen to all internal and external customers, including staff, students, café customers, visitors, and members of the community.
• Set-up retail displays including sandwiches, salads, bottled beverages, snacks and pastry items.
• Set-up back line including hot wells, food prep areas, coffee, and tea selections.
• Greet every customer with a warm welcome and ensure a superior guest experience.
• Take orders from guests, retrieve items, and serve accordingly.
• Ensure proper food preparation by using approved food recipes and following DCCK standards of service.
• Report order total, take payment and process payment through POS system in a timely fashion.
• Properly handle all cash and payments, reconcile receipts at the end of the shift.
• Holds responsibility for assigned cash drawer and follows overage/shortage standards.
• Maintain clean retail displays including condiment stations and guest areas.
• Re-stock retail displays and condiment stations as needed throughout the shift.
• Work with Café Leads to identify product needs and communicate to production staff.
• Maintain sanitation of equipment, utensils, and supplies
• Thoroughly clean equipment and work area at the end of each shift.
• Perform other duties and tasks as required or requested to maintain quality relationships with all our partners and customers and / or duties and tasks needed to drive the vision, mission, and values of DC Central Kitchen.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• *Weekend availability required*
• Current Servsafe Certification and must maintain certification during employment
• Graduate of CJT Program is preferred.
• Prior experience in related food service industry, including quick-service food establishments
• Working knowledge of commercial grade kitchen equipment use, safety, and maintenance
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with co-workers and customers, and excellent customer service skills
• Relationship building and relationship management skills
• Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure
• Pre-employment background check, COVID-19 vaccine, drug test and TB test are required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be capable of independent local travel.
• May occasionally move kitchen equipment or product weighing up to 50 pounds
• Must be comfortable with moderate physical activity and the ability to stand and walk for up to 10 hours per day
• Ability to maintain fast-paced activities for periods of up to 6 hours in length
• Ability to perform general physical activities that require considerable use of arms, legs, and moving your whole body, such as: climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials; Ability to bend, lean, reach and stoop without hindrance; Possess fine motor skills, stand and/or walk for long periods
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, use hands, fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear; taste or smell.
• Ability to work in an environment where exposure to unusual elements such as extreme temperatures, fumes, dirt, smoke, loud noise, and a variety of odors is common.
• This job description is subject to change at any time.

BENEFITS:

• Medical and dental insurance (DCCK pays 100% of employee premiums for individual coverage)
• Vision Insurance
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, and personal leave)
• 10 Company Paid Holidays
• Bonding Leave for new parents
• Commuter Benefits plan
• Matching 401(k) program
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Wellness Reimbursement program

NOTE:

This document is an outline of the primary tasks assigned and may be changed at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing. All team members are expected to assist DC Central Kitchen in achieving its goals even if such tasks are beyond the scope of this outline. The job description does not constitute an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

DC Central Kitchen is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and a Strengths-based organization.