Ceres Community Project

NOW HIRING!

Associate Chef, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol 

Ceres Community Project seeks candidates for the position of Associate Chef.

The position is open for an immediate start at 30 hours per week, and may go to full time in Summer, 2018. The ideal candidate for the job is a dynamic person with a passion for Ceres' mission, at least 2 years of experience as a chef, preferably in the whole foods arena,and a love of, and experience working with, teens. He/she/they will have the ability to stay calm and organized in a fast paced environment, and work with both adult and youth volunteers in an empowering, respectful and kind way.

We will be accepting applications for the positions through Tuesday, April 17, 2018. Candidates should send a cover letter expressing why they are interested in working at Ceres Community Project and how their experience and skills match the position, along with a current resume and three references with the reference's name, email address and daytime contact info to: hr@ceresproject.org
We will acknowledge receipt of your application and, if we would like to speak with you further we will contact you by April 30. We apologize that we are unable to communicate personally with each applicant.
 
Below is a job description for the position. Please help us spread the word about this opening at Ceres by passing this email on to anyone you know who may be interested. Thanks so much for your support of Ceres Community Project. 
 
Warm regards,
 
Jake Blehm
Director, Administration
Organization
 
Founded in 2007, Ceres Community Project creates health for people, communities and the planet through love, healing food and empowering the next generation. We have three program sites in San Rafael, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, as well as a Catering Department at our Santa Rosa site. For more information, please visit www.CeresProject.org. 

What We Do :
  • Food as Medicine: We support primarily low-income people struggling because of a serious health challenge with home-delivered nourishing organic and locally produced meals, nutrition education and the caring support of the community.
  • Youth Development Program: All the meals we provide are prepared by youth ages 14 and up who volunteer in our two food production gardens and three commercial kitchen sites in Marin and Sonoma counties. Youth learn about growing, cooking and eating healthy whole foods and the connection between diet and health, develop life and work-ready skills, and experience their power to make a difference.
  • Community Education: We educate clients, youth and the whole community about the vital importance of a diet based on healthy organic and locally-produced foods, and provide the knowledge, skills and inspiration for people to make and maintain real change in how they eat.
  • National Replication: We have trained thirteen communities nationally to replicate our model.
For more information, please visit  www.CeresProject.org

Position Title: Associate Chef 

3/4 time/ Non-Exempt
Hours may increase to full-time by Summer, 2018
Start date: Immediate
Location: Sebastopol and Santa Rosa

Eligible for benefits including health insurance, paid holidays and paid time off after 60 days.
Position
 
The Associate Chef ensures the smooth running of Ceres' Kitchen Healing Meals Program by working as a team with other relevant staff, including the Program Site Manager, Youth Coordinator, and Ceres' Executive Chef to implement program goals.

The Associate Chef works regularly as the Lead Chef in the Santa Rosa or Sebastopol kitchens, including supervising adult volunteer prep shifts, mentoring teens and performs other duties to support the smooth running of the Youth Development Program, the kitchen and the delivery of meals.

This is a part-time position and includes working on some Saturdays.
 
 
Responsibilities
 
Work as a Lead Chef in the kitchen for 2-4 shifts/week. Chef works to:
  • Provide consistency across all shifts in food safety and sanitation practices, and in cooking practices and food quality 
  • Facilitate coordination from one day to the next, including insuring adult volunteer Kitchen Mentors are set up to be successful 
  • Manage, onboard and schedule the volunteer Kitchen Mentors and adult prep volunteers 
  • Insure that all meals leaving the kitchen are beautiful, delicious and nutritious 
  • Create weekly cooking plans 
  • Develop relationships with teen chefs and provide appropriate support, training and acknowledgement 
  • Identify, develop and mentor Teen Leaders 
  • Mentor teens in a timely way and consistent with Ceres' culture 
  • Hold teens accountable for their participation in the program by following up with teens who arrive late, leave early and/or miss their shifts in a way that empowers them to show up more fully 
  • Handle some administrative tasks
 
Qualifications
  • A commitment to Ceres Community Project mission and operating principles
  • At least 2 years of professional cooking experience, preferably in the whole foods arena
  • Experience working with teens and in youth development; preference for community organizing experience, especially with teens
  • Strong capacity for mentoring and teaching
  • Excellent administrative skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to stay calm and keep your sense of humor in a fast-paced environment
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite and database programs
  • Culinary degree and/or B.A. preferred
  • Ability to work well in a team
  • Ability to communicate warmly and clearly
  • Has a good awareness of self
  • Ability and desire to be in a work environment that values working as a team, relationships and giving and receiving honest feedback
  • Ability to lift 25 lbs
Work environment is primarily indoors with the majority of time spent in a busy production kitchen or at a desk.
Ceres Community Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer
and strongly encourages members of minority groups to apply. 
All employment decisions at Ceres are made without regard to race, color,
religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital & veteran status or any other status protected by laws or regulations.
OPERATING PRINCIPLES

Heart Centered & Love Guided

We are committed to expressing love, trust, respect and integrity in
our lives, work and organization.

 

Everything Matters

Nothing is left out. We work to have every action and choice lead to
the greatest positive impact.

 

Young People are the Future

Young People are intelligent, responsible, capable, creative and caring,
and must be central participants in shaping our collective future.

 

The Universe has a Purpose

Everything is connected, and life continually invites us to experience gratitude, abundance, connection, community and healing. 

 

 

Ceres Logo 2012