Lutheran Social Services of Southern California began in December 1944 when a group of Lutheran congregations in San Diego came together to discuss how to better assist families in need. They began discussing how to form a Welfare Commission. Their vision expanded when they came together with another group of Lutheran congregations in Los Angeles having the very same conversation. Lutheran Social Services of Southern California was officially incorporated in 1946 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit social service agency. The mission has stayed true to its earliest beginnings, to be a servant to those in need. Today LSSSC serves thousands of individuals and families throughout Southern California with over 40 programs/services at 14 separate locations. We are part of the Lutheran Services in America (LSA) network and strive to serve those in need with dignity and respect. 

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California’s Mission: Ignited by faith, we live out God’s love by embracing, equipping, and empowering vulnerable people in Southern California.

SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Clinic Director or designated supervisor, the Cook is responsible for cooking and serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to interim and emergency shelter clients. The cook is also responsible for organizing the kitchen and storage areas, cleaning, and shopping or ordering groceries and kitchen equipment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. 

• Create Weekly Meal Schedule. 
• Ensure that the weekly meal schedule is posted in commons areas of the shelter and interim housing.
• Prepare meals according to recipe, production sheets, and allergy and religious needs.
• Coordinate or assist with the preparation, plating, and serving of meals to ensure timely and efficient service.
• Maintain kitchen hygiene and meal quality standards in accordance with LSSSC and the County Health Inspection Guidelines. 
• Oversee kitchen food production, sanitation, safety and storage and food pantry distributions.  
• Ensure dates for all food products are current and that recalled food is removed from the kitchen. 
• Effectively track kitchen expenses:
• Complete weekly inventory checks on food, disposables, and cleaning supplies weekly. 
• Maintain detailed records of inventory checks, donations, purchases, and food and overstocking. Records to include vendor, date received, expiration date, quantity, and costs.
• Ensure pantry, freezers, refrigerators, and storage areas are properly stocked, stored, and labelled. 
• Conduct monthly surveys regarding meals and sanitation.
• Shop for groceries or complete and submit Credit Card Requests (CCRs) or Purchase Orders (POs) for food and kitchen items.
• Attend staff meetings and training.
• Assist in cross training of kitchen staff, clients, and volunteers.
• Maintain vehicle cleanliness and report all maintenance and safety issues. 
• Conduct food deliveries and pick-ups as needed. 
• Adhere to wearing appropriate kitchen attire (apron, hair net, gloves, non-slip shoes)
• Develop respectful relationships with individuals from varied backgrounds, identities, and life experience. 
• Represent as the LSSSC SBCWC cook professionally and effectively at staff meetings, LSSSC events, and community and stakeholder meetings.
• The supervisor may assign other duties. 

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Education/Experience

• High school or equivalent. 
• 2-3 years of high production cooking experience, serving principles, and possess skills needed to produce food according to standardized recipes and production sheets. 
• Must be legally authorized to work in county of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status)
• Demonstrated alignment with LSSSC’s vision, mission, and values. 

Language Ability: Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent English. Bilingual is a plus. Ability to follow directions, policies, and procedures. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

Communication: Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with clients and staff.

Math Ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage and to draw and interpret bar graphs. 

Reasoning: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. 

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of and specific experience using Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint. 

Certificates and Licenses: A valid California driver's license to drive on interstates, other arterial, collector, and local roads.

Food Handler Card (Must obtain within thirty (30) days of employment)

Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

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. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk. The employee is required to drive also.