Culinary Operations Manager

WHO WE ARE:

Cornerstones of Care is a mental and behavioral health nonprofit certified in trauma-informed care that provides evidence-based prevention, intervention, treatment, and support services to help children and families improve their safety and health by making positive changes in their lives. Each year, our team empowers children and families in Kansas, Missouri, and beyond through three key service areas:

• Youth & Family Support - We help youth gain independence through social and living support programs while empowering families with the skills and resources they need to become resilient and successful.
• Foster Care & Adoption - We reunify and unite families while recruiting and providing support to foster parents and youth in foster care.
• Education & Community Trainings - We help students achieve academic success while giving educators the tools to create safe learning environments to improve their students' behaviors and offer innovative learning opportunities to build and improve knowledge in the community.

We are seeking a Culinary Operations Manager to join our team oversees and managers all aspects of our kitchen operations in a non-profit setting. This individual will be responsible for opening and running commercial kitchens, developing and executing catering programs, hosting culinary events, and ensuring the highest standards of culinary excellence.

Additionally, this role involves providing nutritious meals to our day school youth, residential youth, emergency shelter youth, and more, while maintaining compliance with relevant regulations. The ideal candidate will have formal culinary education, extensive experience in kitchen management, and a passion for teaching and mentoring culinary staff and youth. They must also have a strong understanding of school meal service operations, reporting, funding, and the foster care system.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Kitchen Management:

* Oversee day-to-day operations of the kitchen(s), ensuring efficiency, organization, and adherence to safety, sanitation, and nutrition standards.

* Manage kitchen staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.

* Develop and maintain kitchen policies and procedures to ensure a productive and compliant work environment.

* Ensure all meals meet the nutritional needs of our youth, in compliance with federal and state regulations for school meal programs and residential services.

Meal Service for Youth:

* Use culinary education and experience as Lead Chef in developing healthy meal plans for diverse nutritional needs.

* Coordinate and oversee the preparation and delivery of meals for day schools, residential youth, emergency shelters, and other youth programs.

* Ensure compliance with the nutritional guidelines for school meal services and foster care systems.

* Develop meal plans that meet the specific needs of diverse populations, including special dietary requirements and cultural preferences.

* Maintain proper records for meal service operations, including attendance, meal counts, and compliance with funding and reporting requirements for school meal programs and foster care funding.

Partnership with Build Trybe's Seed-to-Plate:

* Collaborate closely with the Build Trybe's Seed-to-Plate program, working with program leaders, pre-apprenticeship youth to develop and build their culinary skills in real-world settings.

* Assist in developing training materials, curriculum, and structured experiences for youth participants.

* Serve as a mentor and coach, guiding youth participants through hands-on culinary tasks, helping them gain the confidence and skills to succeed in the culinary field.

* Coordinate with program leaders to ensure seamless integration of youth participants into kitchen operations and special culinary events.

Catering & Event Planning:

* Plan, organize, and execute catering programs and private events, ensuring high-quality service and culinary standards.

* Collaborate with clients and event planners to tailor menus and execute custom dining experiences.

* Host and manage culinary dinners, demonstrations, and other special events as part of the organization's culinary outreach and branding.

Menu Development & Innovation:

* Collaborate in developing seasonal, innovative, and cost-effective menus for daily meal service, catering, events, and other occasions.

* Ensure consistent menu execution, quality, and presentation across all service platforms.

* Ensure that all meals meet the specific needs of the youth served by the organization, including adherence to dietary restrictions, food allergies, and health guidelines.

Operations & Budgeting:

* Manage inventory, ordering, and supply chain for kitchen operations, ensuring efficient use of resources and cost control.

* Prepare budgets and financial reports related to kitchen operations, tracking food costs, labor, and other expenses.

* Assist in reporting for grant funding, government programs, and foster care meal reimbursements.

Leadership & Staff Development:

* Lead by example, promoting a positive and professional culture in the kitchen.

* Conduct performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.

* Foster team cohesion, motivation, and a passion for culinary arts among all staff.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Our ideal candidate will have At least 5-7 years of experience in kitchen management or in a culinary leadership role, with a proven track record of successful kitchen operations, event management, and staff development. Formal culinary education from a recognized institution (e.g., culinary school or equivalent). To be considered.

REQUIREMENTS:

• At least 21 years of age and pass a background check, physical, and drug screening
• A valid driver's license, proof of current vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation
• Be able to pass State Abuse, Neglect, and criminal background checks.
• Be able to carry out the essential functions of the position with, or without, accommodation.
• Perform all job duties in a manner that demonstrates a commitment to Sanctuary values and practices.
• Demonstrate awareness and understanding of the cultural and ethnic diversity of clients, staff, and other community partners.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

* Experience in opening and managing commercial kitchens.

* Prior experience in catering program development, menu planning, and executing culinary events is a plus.

* Experience with school meal service operations, including knowledge of meal reporting, funding, and compliance with regulations. Understanding of USDA and DESE meal programing and requirements is a plus.

* Understanding of the foster care system, including reporting and funding requirements for meal services.

* Experience working with youth or community programs is highly desirable, particularly in culinary training or mentorship roles.

Strong culinary skills with a diverse range of techniques and knowledge.

* Must obtain a Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas food handler's certification.

* Ability to lead and motivate a diverse team in a fast-paced environment.

* Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

* Financial acumen with experience in budget management and cost control.

* Strong understanding of food safety and health regulations related to school meal programs and youth services.

* Ability to lead and motivate a diverse team in a fast-paced environment.

* Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

* Financial acumen with experience in budget management and cost control.

* Strong understanding of food safety and health regulations related to school meal programs and youth services.

Starting Salary: $ 60, 000- $ 70,000 (Annually)

Bonus: If applicable

CORNERSTONES OF CARE'S BENEFITS:

Cornerstones of Care offers a competitive benefits package, which includes:

• 9 Paid Holidays, flexible Paid Time Off, and Paid Sick Leave
• Team members who work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for
  
  
  
  • Health insurance benefits (medical, prescription, dental, vision)
  • Cafeteria plans (Health Savings Account (HSA) and Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts)
  • Ancillary insurance benefits (accident insurance, critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, short-term disability insurance, voluntary life)
  • Cornerstones of Care provides long-term disability insurance and basic term life/AD&D insurance at no cost to the team member
  
  
  
  
• Retirement savings plan (401K) with employer match
• Pet Insurance
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• To view more information on our benefits, please visit our Job Openings page at Join Our Team - Cornerstones of Care to download the current benefits guide.

CORNERSTONES OF CARE'S ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENTS:

• Nonviolence - helping to build safety skills and a commitment to a higher purpose.
• Emotional Intelligence - helping to teach emotional management skills.
• Social Learning - helping to build cognitive skills.
• Open Communication - helping to overcome barriers to healthy communication, learn conflict management.
• Democracy - helping to create civic skills of self-control, self-discipline, and administration of healthy authority.
• Social Responsibility - helping to rebuild social connection skills, establish healthy attachment relationships.
• Growth and Change - helping to work through loss and prepare for the future.

CORNERSTONES OF CARE'S DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

We believe in the creation of inclusive communities where children, families, and team members thrive in an environment characterized by safety, respect, and the freedom to authentically express their unique identities - a place where each individual experiences a profound sense of belonging. To ensure that this vision becomes a reality, we have engaged with our team members, clients, stakeholders, and volunteers to craft a diversity statement that defines our commitment to foster diversity, inclusion, and equality throughout all aspects of our organization.

• We partner for safe and healthy communities.
• We cultivate a culture in which children, families, team members, volunteers, donors, and community partners feel welcomed, safe, respected, empowered, and celebrated.
• We value diversity of race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin or citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, geographical location, pregnancy, disability, neurodiversity, socio-economic, and military status.
• We stand for anti-racism, equity, and inclusivity.
• We insist and affirm that discrimination and violence have no place in safe and healthy communities, including in our organization.
• We strive toward a more welcoming, inclusive, diverse, and equitable organization through our policies, partnerships, and practices.

Questions?

Please contact: Cornerstones of Care, People Experience Department

8150 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64114

Phone: (816) 508-3500 Fax: (816) 508-1757

Like us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/cornerstonescareers

Cornerstones of Care is an

Equal Opportunity Employer