Temporary-to-Permanent Hospitality Specialist

The Simons Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to advancing basic science and mathematics for the collective benefit of humankind, is currently seeking a Temporary-to-Permanent Hospitality Specialist to join their dynamic team. Situated across multiple office locations including 160 Fifth Avenue, 162 Fifth Avenue, and 915 Broadway in New York City, the Foundation places immense value on fostering an inclusive, diverse, and collaborative work environment. The Simons Foundation is committed to expanding pathways to science and opportunities for all, ensuring equal employment chances regardless of race, religion, age, gender identity, and other protected categories. As an essential part of this mission, the hospitality team plays a crucial role in supporting the daily operations of the office's pantries and the main dining room, which caters to over 400 staff members each day.

This full-time role offers an hourly rate of $25 and involves a temporary assignment initially expected to last three months, with the possibility of becoming permanent for the right candidate. The hospitality specialist's schedule is designed to cover operational hours from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday, including dinner services on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and extended dinner coverage five days a week during summer months (June to August). This is a rotational shift position with eight-hour shifts varying within the daily coverage window.

As the Temporary-to-Permanent Hospitality Specialist, you will be entrusted with the smooth and efficient management of all hospitality functions across the Foundation's office sites. Responsibilities include loading and unloading commercial dishwashers, maintaining cleanliness and organization in multiple pantry areas, monitoring and replenishing inventory supplies, placing orders with suppliers, and handling deliveries from vendors such as Fresh Direct and food delivery platforms like Grubhub. The role also requires maintaining specialty coffee equipment including Nespresso and Keurig machines.

Beyond the hands-on operational duties, this position offers an administrative component, where the specialist supports the hospitality manager and supervisor with various office tasks. These tasks include data entry of employee lunch orders, responding professionally to communications via email, telephone, and in person with vendors and other departments, and managing digital signage on television monitors through the Trilby system. Other administrative duties include updating and backing up laptops, submitting expense reports, and creating signage for pantry areas and the dining room.

This role demands strong organizational skills, an ability to multitask under pressure, and exceptional interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with a large team. Attention to detail is paramount, especially in food handling and cleanliness standards. The ideal candidate is proactive, reliable, and interested in learning new technologies relevant to the hospitality operations. Physical agility is also necessary as the job involves regular lifting and transporting of supplies up to 30 pounds, as well as moving between multiple office locations for delivery and cleaning duties.

At the Simons Foundation, you will be part of a vibrant and supportive community dedicated not only to scientific advancement but also to creating a welcoming workplace where everyone can thrive. The hospitality specialist role contributes directly to that mission by ensuring staff environments are professionally maintained, food services operate smoothly, and all hospitality needs are met with efficiency and tact. Joining the Foundation means becoming an integral part of a respected organization committed to excellence, diversity, and innovative support systems across various operational domains.