Kitchen Manager (On-Call)

The Salvation Army is a globally recognized evangelical organization and a vital part of the universal Christian Church, driven by a mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs without discrimination. Established in many communities across the world, including the Mesa Corps in Mesa, Arizona, The Salvation Army provides essential services to vulnerable populations, including seniors and children. Their outreach programs are deeply rooted in compassion, inspired by the love of God, and supported through volunteer efforts and donations. At the heart of these services is the commitment to serve nutritious meals that cater to specific dietary needs, such as those of senior citizens, ensuring balanced nutrition and promoting good health among the community members they assist.

The role available at the Mesa Corps is for a Food Service Manager or Cook, tasked with overseeing meal preparation and food service for senior citizens and other community groups. This is a non-exempt, on-call position that requires a passionate individual dedicated to the mission of The Salvation Army and capable of managing both food preparation and volunteer coordination efficiently. The role involves preparing meals specifically suited for seniors, focusing on low sodium, low fat, and well-balanced nutrition. The Food Service Manager must develop weekly meal plans that provide variety and nutritious options, ensuring that meals meet health standards prescribed by the Maricopa County Health Department. Cooking and managing mass feeding operations, servicing 100 meals per seating, requires significant experience and skill.

Beyond cooking, this position involves supervising volunteers, ensuring they adhere to required food safety standards, including holding valid food handler’s permits and completing the necessary paperwork to volunteer in the kitchen. The manager will maintain inventory and oversee food pantry organization to minimize waste and ensure stock rotation. Collaboration with the corps officer is essential to source food supplies efficiently, limiting supply store trips to twice per month, except for emergencies.

The Food Service Manager also holds the responsibility of maintaining the kitchen’s cleanliness and food safety standards, including maintaining temperature logs and securing food, equipment, and inventory to prevent theft. They are tasked with creating a welcoming environment for seniors and other program participants, including seasonal decorations and well-organized serving areas. The position extends to coordinating special meal events throughout the year, for example, holiday meals and fundraisers like the Christmas Kettle Kickoff Dinner and the Volunteer Recognition Luncheon. Additionally, this role requires preparing meals for children’s troop programs on Wednesday nights and Sunday family meals after church services.

Physical demands of the role involve frequent lifting of weights ranging from 10 to 75 pounds, standing, walking, balancing, stooping, and other physical activities inherent in food service and kitchen management. The role is crucial in supporting the community through nutrition and fellowship, requiring an individual with a strong sense of initiative, leadership skills, and the ability to work independently while communicating effectively with senior clients and volunteers. The position requires passing a criminal background check and the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Driver’s License along with the completion of The Salvation Army Driver’s Test Certification. Overall, this role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community through dedicated service and support in a faith-based environment.