FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 

Hourly Range: $19.77 per hour - $21.74 per hour   

Schedule: In person, Tuesday to Saturday 6am to 2pm. Occasional evenings and holiday hours may be required.  

Homelessness is a public health, social and racial justice issue!

Since 1984, St. Francis House has committed itself to healing the wounds of those impacted by an inequitable society and breaking down the barriers, including systemic racism that prevent all people from living lives of dignity.

St. Francis House is the State’s largest provider of day services supporting people who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness. Located in the heart of downtown Boston, we compassionately welcome nearly 500+ adults through our doors every day who are seeking a safe and dignified refuge and opportunities to rebuild their lives. Our holistic approach allows us to deepen our impact by offering integrated programing that helps our guests achieve stability in the areas of housing, income, and behavioral health. Joining our team would provide you a dynamic opportunity to work with an interdisciplinary team of providers dedicated to solving this public health crisis.

We offer an extensive Benefits package! Up to 90% of individual insurance premiums paid for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care health insurance & Altus dental insurance, 4 weeks of vacation and 13 holidays recognized per year, employer – paid life & disability insurance, a vested 403b retirement with 5% match, and much more!

Job Summary:

The Utility Worker - Kitchen Assistant serves as the primary point of contact for purposes for maintaining a clean and safe kitchen and dining room. This includes performing sanitation duties on a regular basis. The Utility Worker - Kitchen Assistant may be called upon to manage the dining room, assist in the preparation and serving of meals and receiving department orders.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Informal Support and Oversight

• Community Service Workers
• Dining Room Volunteers

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Performs assigned sanitation duties including pot washing, cleaning equipment, sweeping and mopping floors after each meal period, cleaning kitchen equipment, storage areas, washing walls, shelving and countertops.
• Operates dishwashing machine during any meal period as needed.
• Maintaining and cleaning of walk-in freezer and dry storage areas.
• Reports cleaning supply needs to supervisor.
• Maintains compliance with health and safety codes, performs tasks according to the policies and procedures of Saint Francis House.
• Retrieves and prepares meal ingredients for the Cook, which includes washing, peeling, cutting and slicing ingredients.
• Follows HAACP principles in meal service including dining room and kitchen operations as required to serve our guests in a food safe and healthy environment.
• Directs/assists volunteers with dining room sanitation (busing tables, wiping tables, etc.) as well as help as needed for pantry services.
• Responsible for the preparation and service of beverages.
• Performs receiving functions for the food service department.
• Must be available to work on weekends and holidays as assigned.
•  Adheres to agency code of conduct.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Keep current and proficient with necessary skills and knowledge.
• Best practices around maintaining a safe and clean kitchen and dining room area.
• Ability to safely use kitchen equipment and appliances.
• Knowledge of food safety standards and procedures.
• Be detail oriented, able to multi-task, and willing to work in a team-oriented environment.
• Proficiency in English.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Ability to function well in a fast-pace and stressful environment.
• Basic understanding of and commitment to taking a person-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed approach.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Required Education & Experiences 

• High School degree or equivalent, required. 
• Further education in culinary arts a plus.
• Six months of kitchen and dining room related experience. 
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
• Completion of a culinary training program is desirable but not required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain ServSafe Certification if requested or required.
• Experience working within homeless services a plus.
• Lived experience with homelessness and/or recovery a plus.
• Human Service shelter or program experiences a plus. Bi-lingual in Spanish a plus.

Work Environment & Activity

• Ability to work in a kitchen, which may be subject to extreme temperature changes. 
• Occasional ability to bend, stoop, reach overhead to lift, move supplies. 
• Ability to lift 25–50-pound packages and transport them from one area to another as needed. 
• Constantly standing and moving throughout multi-level building. 
• Occasional evenings may be needed, as planned and scheduled in advance. 
• Holiday schedule hours required. 

If you are ready to make a lasting impact in the lives of others, please complete our application process.

SFH is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fair and equitable employment practices and to fostering a workplace where all employees are respected, supported, and able to grow. In support of our mission, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including those with lived experience of homelessness or recovery and those who have faced barriers to employment. We value the range of experiences and perspectives that strengthen our work in the community.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these duties.

This job description is subject to change and does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.