Casa Serena is hiring a Residential Cook to prepare lunch and dinner for the women in our residential treatment program.

About Casa Serena 

Casa Serena is a nonprofit that has served women in Santa Barbara for 67 years. We provide residential and outpatient treatment for substance use disorder and mental health conditions. We are licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services and accredited by The Joint Commission.

Holistic care, nutrition and wellness are the cornerstones of the care we provide to our clients.

Schedule: Full time, Onsite, 5 days a week, 35 - 40 hours/week, approximately 10:30AM - 7PM 

What you'll do

• Cook lunch and dinner daily for up to 15 residents, with a fresh green salad at every meal.
• Clean client and prep dishes, keep kitchen clean and organized at all times, maintain proper food labelling and storage.
• Plan the week’s meals from our recipe bank based on ingredients on hand, client response, and current dietary needs.
• Complete as needed grocery shopping trips based on current inventory and the week's menu. 
• Prepare an afternoon snack and set up breakfast items for overnight staff.
• Weekly batch-prepping: dressings, dips, veggie sticks, etc.
• Prepare meals to reheat and serve on off days. 
• Complete inventory weekly and as needed.
• Maintain a freezer stock of backup entrees, including gluten-free and vegan options.

What this Job is NOT

We would rather be clear up front than lose you in month three.

• This is not a chef position. You will not design menus, set the direction of the kitchen, or supervise kitchen staff.
• We cook one meal for the house. We accommodate documented dietary restrictions, but we do not prepare separate meals to order or accommodate preferences.
• It is home-style institutional cooking at volume: soups, stews, sheet tray meals, slow cooker dishes, grain bowls, stirfries, and curries. Done well, consistently.

What we are looking for:

Required

• Comfortable cooking for up to 15 people and scaling a recipe up or down.
• Proficient at accommodating common dietary restrictions including vegetarian and vegan diets and preparing vegan proteins (ie: tofu). 
• Food Handler Card, or ability to obtain upon hire
• Reliable attendance and the ability to hit meal times consistently.
• Willingness to follow a recipe bank and a daily structure.
• Organized, clean, team-player, receptive to feedback 
• Basic computer skills, experience in MS Office or Google Suite preferred
• Able to pass a background check
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record and insurable by our insurance carrier

We'd love to see (but not required)

• ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification
• Experience in a treatment, healthcare, or social services setting

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and respond quickly to emergencies
• Occasional lifting up to 25 lbs
• Exposure to clients in emotional distress or crisis situations
• Work performed in office, residential, or detox environment

Compensation & Benefits

$26.00 – $28.00 per hour, depending on experience.

• Medical insurance (90% employer sponsored)
• 401(k) with 10% employer match
• Paid vacation & sick leave
• Paid training time
• Tuition Assistance
• EAP

How to Apply

Apply directly to this post. A cover letter is welcome but not required. If you would rather just tell us about your cooking in a few sentences, that works too.