Kitchen and Cafe Associate for Opportunity Kitchen

Passionate about food? Join Opportunity Kitchen as a Kitchen & Café Associate, where you'll work Monday–Friday, 9 AM – 2:30 PM, and train under an Executive Chef starting at $18.00 per hour! Perfect hours, hands-on experience, and a chance to sharpen your culinary skills in a welcoming environment. The Opportunity Kitchen is located at the Richland Federal Building but is a business line of our non-profit, Columbia Ability Alliance, formerly Columbia Industries.

The Kitchen and Café Associate duties will include preparing food, greeting customers professionally, preparing and selling coffee drinks using standardized recipes, and accurately managing transactions. Responsibilities also include handling payments, taking customer orders, providing excellent service, and maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the front-of-house areas.

The Kitchen and Cafe Associate role focuses on preparing high-quality, nutritious food under the direction of the Executive Chef and Sous Chef. Key duties include maintaining cleanliness, stocking inventory, labeling and storing food correctly, and working collaboratively to ensure timely food delivery. A positive, professional attitude and self-motivation are essential for success in both roles.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

·       Handling cash, credit card, and other forms of payments: This includes accurately counting back change, handling cash and credit card transactions, and ensuring that the cash drawer is balanced at the end of each shift.

·       Managing customer orders: This includes inputting customer orders into the POS system, communicating with kitchen staff, and ensuring that orders are accurate and delivered on time.

·       Providing excellent customer service: Restaurant cashiers are responsible for providing friendly and professional service at all times.

·       Keeping the front of the house clean and organized: This includes keeping the cashier station clean and tidy, stocking napkins and other supplies, and ensuring that the dining area is clean and presentable.

·       Report to and follow instructions from the Executive Chef and Sous Chef.

·       Clean station thoroughly and take care of leftover food, always labeling, dating and cooling to the requirements stated by the Benton Franklin Health Department.

·       Stock inventory appropriately and in timely fashion.

·       Ensure high quality, nutritious food gets to the customer in unison with the other stations in a timely manner.

·       Maintain a positive and professional approach with co-workers and customers.

·       A friendly, positive, and high-enthusiasm attitude is a must. Must be self-motivated, trustworthy, honest and efficient.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to pass a criminal background check and drug/alcohol screening

Must possess a current Washington state food handler’s care

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

High school diploma, or GED preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Speak, read, and write English.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to apply concepts to fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical solutions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

·       Constant standing and walking. 

·       Talk or hear over 2/3 of time.

·       Under 1/3 of time kneeling.

·       Occasional lifting/carrying less than 25 lbs.

·       Fine finger movement: both hands required and some computer usage.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment will be in an indoor cafe. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job requires standing constantly.

Moderate-loud noise 1/3-2/3 of time (i.e., customers conversations and kitchen equipment noise).

Salary : $18