Sous Chef

Job DetailsJob Location: Georgetown Yards - 15 - Seattle, WA 98134Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $28.85 - $38.47 HourlyJob Shift: DayLifelong is a community health organization on a mission to make health and food accessible. We remove barriers to health with relentless compassion so that no one faces illness and injustice alone. We lead with heart. Our respect for people drives our mission. For 40 years, Lifelong has fought health inequities so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Our comprehensive services include food and nutrition, healthcare navigation, aging and disability support, and connection to housing and other vital resources.   Position Overview: Chicken Soup Brigade (CSB) is Lifelong’s food and nutrition program, providing medically tailored meals, culturally relevant groceries, and nutritional counseling & education to community members facing illness and injustice. The role of the Sous Chef is to manage our medically tailored meal program and ensure it caters to diverse medical and cultural needs. The Sous Chef manages culinary staff and the planning and production of weekly menus of frozen, medically tailored meals. This role includes performing daily kitchen production tasks, such as prep, cooking, and dish washing as needed. This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt, non-union position, that is 100% onsite in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle from 8:30AM – 5PM Tuesday – Saturday. QualificationsEssential Duties: Culinary Management and Meal Production: Oversee all aspects of meal production, including menu planning and development, ordering, inventory management, preparation, cooking, packaging, quality control, and adherence to food safety standards. Manages kitchen operations and staff including scheduling, hiring, training, and supervision, while establishing clear operational procedures and ensuring a safe, clean, and well-organized kitchen environment. Ensure meals meet nutrition standards and contract requirements by partnering with the nutrition team on recipe review, standards updates, meal audits, and ongoing quality improvement. Maintain vendor relationships and coordinate food deliveries to ensure timely access to appropriate products that meet nutritional, contractual, and client needs. Oversee kitchen safety, compliance and infrastructure, including food safety regulations, preventative maintenance of kitchen equipment and facilities, and adherence to federal, state, and local requirements. Monitor performance and contract compliance through reporting, client feedback review, and continuous improvement efforts to enhance meal quality and client satisfaction. Represent Lifelong in relevant local and national coalitions including the Food is Medicine Coalition, Meals Partnership Coalition, and the Bulk Buy Committee. Administration and Team Management: Manage employee performance, including annual performance evaluations, by providing clear job expectations, training and coaching.   Ensure that team members have adequate training in safe food handling procedures. Manage schedules and time off requests, and ensure payroll is entered accurately. Ensure staff and volunteers adhere to policies and procedures, mediate conflicts, and address feedback in a timely manner. Philanthropic and Public Event Support Assist in fundraising dinners, galas, and community events. Collaborate with the Development team on planning, staffing, and executing culinary components of events. Assist the Executive Chef in preparation for recipe and cooking demonstrations along with other media opportunities. Core Competencies: Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, and support kitchen staff, including prioritizing work, delegating tasks, and fostering a collaborative, accountable team environment. Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build positive relationships with staff, partners, volunteers, and vendors.  Highly organized with strong time management and attention to detail; able to manage multiple priorities and maintain efficiency in a fast-paced kitchen environment. Experience developing a variety of recipes and menus to meet customer needs. Able to remain flexible and effective under pressure, using sound judgment, crisis management, and de-escalation skills when needed. Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion; comfortable working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Demonstrated skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of applications, including Excel, Word, and Teams. Valid Washington State Driver’s License and a clear driving record is preferred. Education & Experience:  Two year Culinary degree, or combination of related education and work experience. 3-5 years working in a culinary environment. Experience managing in a high-volume production environment is preferred. Current King County food worker’s card and a Certified Food Protection Manager accreditation (CFPM), or the ability to obtain a CFPM within 30 days of start date. Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits Generous vacation (3 weeks your first year), sick leave, and 2 personal days a year 401(k) match Flexible spending accounts Life insurance options Long term disability Mass transit subsidy 15 paid holidays per year Work Environment: This position is primarily located in a kitchen setting, with the work occurring primarily onsite. This position requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. The role may also involve frequent standing, walking, bending, and reaching. Employees must be able to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds to move office supplies, food, or equipment. Depending on organizational needs, work may be performed in office, kitchen, or warehouse settings and may at times involve exposure to outdoor weather conditions or loud noises. Any offer of employment is contingent upon passing a criminal background check. Some programs may require additional background checks or frequency. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ About Lifelong: Lifelong is a community health organization committed to removing barriers to health with relentless compassion so that no one faces illness and injustice alone. We lead with heart. Our respect for people drives our mission. For 40 years, Lifelong has fought health inequities so that everyone can have the opportunity to thrive. Our comprehensive services include food and nutrition, healthcare navigation, aging and disability support, and connection to housing and other vital resources. We are looking for passionate, dedicated people to join our talented team and make real, meaningful changes in the daily lives of those living with chronic and life-threatening illnesses in their community. Lifelong offers exceptional benefits, including paid time off, medical and dental coverage in addition to a balanced work-life integration. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Lifelong, we are dedicated to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. EEO Statement: Lifelong is committed to creating an accessible, supportive environment and experience that recognizes diversity and cultural competence as integral components of what we do. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and as such, we do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. _____________________________________________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER: INTENT AND FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law. Job descriptions assist organizations in ensuring that the hiring process is fairly administered and that qualified employees are selected. They are an integral part of a compensation system, effective performance review system, related promotion, transfer, layoff, etc. decisions. All descriptions have been reviewed to illustrate the job functions and basic duties, in addition to peripheral tasks or that could generally be considered as other duties as assigned. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities and requirements be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. Requirements, skills and abilities included have been determined to illustrate the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions.