Culinary Assistant

Job Title: Culinary Assistant
FLSA Status: Full-time or Part-time Seasonal Position (March - End of November)
Reports to: Food Access Program Manager
Supervisory Duties: N/A

Work Locations: Mess Hall: The Production Facility in NE, DC; WeWork: Office Building in SE, DC.
Travel to various market locations, farms and CSA pickup sites. COVID safety protocols in place.
Work Hours: 24-37 hour Workweek; Monday - Sunday
Tentative Start Date: March 2024

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION: Dreaming Out Louds (DOL) mission is to create economic opportunities for the DC metro regions marginalized community members through building a healthy, equitable food system.

POSITION SUMMARY: DOLs food distribution social enterprise, the Food Hub, consists of weekly Farmers Markets, Dreaming Out Loud Grocery which serves many customers and organizations on a weekly basis, wholesale operations and culinary operations. The Culinary Assistant will assist the Markets & CSA coordinator to run the weekly farmers markets, operate the logistics of Dreaming Out Loud Grocery, and will help with programming related to the DOL Grocery website & our farmers markets. Were looking for someone who takes pride in representing our organization, loves engaging with people, and can handle the complex logistical needs behind-the-scenes with keen attention to detail.

Key Responsibility of Food Access Assistant:

• Tracking packing deadlines to accomplish all goals on time whilst monitoring contingencies & other related tasks.
• Packing and fulfilling all orders on a weekly basis in accordance with our SOPs, key processes and food safety requirements.
• Keeping track of supplies & inventory.
• Supporting outreach and marketing efforts for DOL Grocery.
• Checking the quality control, portioning, & packing of all products going out from DOL Grocery.
• Ensuring quality of all the products being delivered to the customers.
• Keep track of the timeliness of orders; support refining the ordering process; Identify opportunities for process improvements to better serve our customers
• Accurately processing Payments transactions via POS system.
• Create and send out weekly market communications via print, text, & email. Working with communications staff to make sure it is consistent with brand standards.
• Support weekly markets duties including, but not limited to, Setting up the market with tents, tables, produce and value added products; operating the markets with outstanding customer service; and breaking down the market in a timely manner.
• Break down the market tents, tables, produce and value added products and place them in storage and or van.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong commitment to social justice, our Mission, and upholding our high quality standards
• At least 1 year of relevant experience (e.g., food service, customer service, small business, etc.)
• Comfort and experience working and communicating with people from all backgrounds and professions including farmers, truck drivers, warehouse workers, office and non-profit staff, local community members and customers
• Strong organization, prioritization and short- and long-term planning skills
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills; ability to thoroughly and professionally resolve any disputes; strong, empathetic listener that seeks to incorporate customer feedback into operational improvements
• Ability to collaborate with a team; committed to maintaining open lines of communication
• An entrepreneurial spirit that loves to problem-solve and evolve with an organization
• COVID vaccination required prior to getting onboarded
• Ability to work independently and take initiative; strong work ethic and time management skills
• Proficiency in Google Suite, databases (e.g., Volunteer Hub), communications apps (e.g., Canva, Slack), navigation apps (e.g., Google Maps), and spreadsheets
• Ability to work in various weather conditions
• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs.
• Able to regularly push a cart or dolly weighing 150-600 lbs, across a distance of up to 200 yds
• Willing and available to work some evenings and weekends
• Willing to drive delivery vehicles, including but not limited to minivans; sprinter vans; panel trucks and SUVs. Must have a clean driving record, active license, and ability to qualify for a vehicle rental.

COMPENSATION: The hourly wage is $17-20/hr based on experience and qualifications. Benefits included (health insurance, monthly cell phone allowance, monthly travel/commuting allowance).

DOL provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, DOL complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the organization has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.