General Summary of the Position

This position reports to the Food Services Manager. The Lead Cook will be responsible for the overall smooth operation of the kitchen. Will oversee the daily process of running a kitchen and managing all food preparation at the Retreat Center. Will direct kitchen staff and handle all food-related issues, including checking up on food supplies, planning menus, and creating new recipes. Develop recipes and determine how to present dishes. Plan menus and ensure the quality of meals. Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas for cleanliness and functionality.

train and supervise cooks and other food preparation workers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the Position

• Prepares food in an attractive, palatable, efficient and cost-effective manner for all functions including catering.
• Plans menus, apportion ingredients, use food surpluses and store food in a safe and sanitary manner, along with Guest Services in a weekly manner.
• Ensures the highest level of qualify product and service.
• Translates generalized menu into an ingredient list to order from our food service providers.
• Helps the FS Manager with scheduling the necessary kitchen staff (regular and temporary workers), PTO and Vacation approvals for regular staff.
• Maintain sanitation procedures and organization of work areas and make sure the kitchen is a safe and hygienic place to work.
• Maintain food storage, receiving, rotating and stocking of products.
• Ensure that all cooking areas are maintained clean and are properly cared for.
• Performs bi-annual inventories of the whole kitchen (January & July).
• Prepares food costs sheets after every event and hands it to the FS Manager.
• Point of contact for maintenance/repairs needed in the kitchen and its equipment and reports to Administration. In case of emergency contacts provider directly.
• Keeps logs of temperatures daily.
• Reports any issues or concerns to the appropriate staff personnel: Guest Services, Food Services Manager or Director.
• Other duties assigned as needed.

Ministerial Responsibilities:

• NA

Position Requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Must possess a service-oriented attitude thereby actively looking for ways to help our guests and his/her team.
• Able to actively and constantly teach others how to work more efficiently.
• Ability to conduct quality control analysis by conducting tests and inspections of products, services and/or processes to evaluate quality and performance.
• Must know how to manage all material resources by obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed in the kitchen.
• Able to propose the FS Manager sufficient costs for food/menu items to adequately accommodate the needs and avoiding wastes and accounting for these expenditures.
• Require leadership and management skills
• Must be creative. Able to constantly creating menus and designing new dishes that appeal to customers
• Ability to work under pressure 
• Must have food preparation skills
• Must understand ingredients and flavor
• Must have discipline and dedication
• Must pay attention to detail

Education and Experience:  

• Extensive experience working in professional kitchens
• Credentials in health and safety training
• Experience in food service preparation for large groups including catering • Experience in ordering food from food distributors.
• Possess safety food knowledge and have at least the food handler certificate.

Special Requirements: 

• This job requires a person who is bilingual in English and Spanish and has a working knowledge of management of the kitchen.
• This individual must be willing to accept working mostly on weekends and weekdays when necessary.
• Cleaning and sanitizing of kitchen tools and equipment as needed or assigned when there are no kitchen responsibilities.
• Computer skills

Physical Requirements Specific to the Job:

• Lift up to 40lbs.

DO NOT REMOVE

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities of the position. The duties and responsibilities of the position may be changed at the sole discretion of the Diocese of Dallas – Pastoral Center. 

The Diocese of Dallas – Pastoral Center reserves the right to modify this job description without notice to the employee. This job description is not a contract and does not alter the employee’s at-will employment status.