Culinary Assistant

Organization Overview: The Goddard Riverside Community Center (Goddard Riverside) and the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center (Isaacs Center) are well-established Manhattan community-based agencies that support services to approximately 30,000 New Yorkers. We are two of New York City’s leading human services organizations meeting the needs of children, youth and families, homeless individuals, and older adults through-out Manhattan and New York City. We work every day for a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families.

Purpose of Position:  The purpose of the Culinary Assistant position at Goddard Riverside / Isaacs Center is to support the Chef Instructor in delivering high-quality culinary education to students. The Culinary Assistant plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the culinary classes by assisting with demonstrations, maintaining a clean and organized kitchen and classroom environment, and providing administrative support. This position is essential for fostering a positive and effective learning experience for students, helping them to develop their culinary skills and knowledge in a professional and supportive setting. By maintaining high standards of cleanliness, organization, and food safety, the Culinary Assistant contributes to the overall success and reputation of the culinary school. 

Schedule: Monday to Thursday 10:30 am to 6:30 pm (1 hr. unpaid break)

Hourly Rate: $21.00/hr

Responsibilities and Essential Duties:

• Collaborate with the Chef Instructor to support students in learning and applying culinary techniques.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization in kitchen and classroom areas, including dishwashing and cleaning workstations.
• Prepare and organize ingredients, tools, and materials for classes.
• Ensure compliance with proper food storage and refrigeration standards.
• Monitor inventory levels and manage ordering and receiving supplies.
• Receive and process food and paper deliveries.
• Perform administrative tasks, such as taking attendance, data entry (training provided for Salesforce and DYCD), and maintaining records.
• Organize and manage class materials to ensure smooth operations.
• Adhere to and enforce health and safety regulations in the kitchen.
• Provide additional support as needed to facilitate the program’s operations.

Qualifications:

• Previous culinary experience, particularly in a culinary training school environment, is required.
• Strong knowledge of culinary techniques, kitchen equipment, and operations.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to multitask effectively.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to support and lead students.
• Ability to follow instructions and collaborate with a team.
• Commitment to maintaining high cleanliness and professionalism standards.
• A culinary degree or certification is preferred but not required.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand for extended periods, typically 5 hours or more.
• Capability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, including supplies and ingredients.
• Dexterity and strength to handle kitchen equipment and utensils.
• Capacity to perform repetitive tasks such as chopping, stirring, and mixing.
• Tolerance for heat and humidity is typical in commercial kitchen environments.
• Visual acuity for food preparation and presentation standards.

Working Conditions:

• Primary work environment includes a kitchen and classroom setting.
• Exposure to kitchen equipment such as ovens, stoves, mixers, and knives.
• Regular interaction with students, instructors, and staff in a fast-paced environment.
• Adherence to strict safety and sanitation protocols.
• Occasional need to work beyond scheduled hours for class preparation or administrative tasks

Benefits:

• Competitive salary.
• Opportunity to work with experienced chef instructors and positively impact students' culinary education.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Supportive and collaborative work environment.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.