Chef & Kitchen Operations Manager - Monday - Friday!

Great Opportunity - Monday through Friday, Primarily day time hours!

Purpose of Position:

The Chef & Kitchen Operations Manager provides culinary and operational leadership for the Iris Bistro, a community-focused café serving older adults living in an independent living apartment community. The Bistro currently serves lunch four days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday) allowing a day for planning and prepping, averaging approximately 60 meals per service, while also maintaining a robust grab-and-go meal program, catering for special events and developing a home-delivered meal program.

This position is responsible for all aspects of kitchen operations, including menu planning, meal production, food safety, purchasing, inventory management, staff supervision, quality assurance, and successful financial performance. The Chef & Kitchen Operations Manager leads a kitchen team consisting of one full-time Prep Cook and two part-time Dishwasher/Prep Assistants and serves as the primary steward of the Bistro's culinary vision and customer experience. The purpose of the Iris Bistro is to both provide nutritious and delicious meals for the residents of Golden West and to create the opportunity for belonging through meals together.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Provides Culinary Leadership and Oversees Food Service Operations
• Lead all aspects of kitchen operations including menu planning, food preparation, meal service, and grab-and-go offerings.
• Ensure high standards for food quality, presentation, customer satisfaction, and food safety.
• Develop recipes, production schedules, and kitchen procedures that support efficient operations.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and compliant commercial kitchen environment.
• Oversee equipment and ensure proper use of kitchen tools and resources.
• Supervises and Develops Kitchen Staff and Volunteers

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• Supervise, schedule, train, and support kitchen staff and volunteers
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and customer-focused kitchen culture.
• Provide coaching, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Ensure team compliance with food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.
• Partner with the Imagine! Employment Services Team to offer employment opportunities and job coaching to the individuals we serve.

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• Maintain collaborative opportunities for the people Imagine! serves.
• Integrate job coaching and skill building into job opportunities for the people we serve.
• Partner with the Employment Services Program Manager to learn about working with people with disabilities, how to build an inclusive work environment and designing opportunities for the people we serve.
• Community Engagement and Partnership Building

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• Build strong relationships with residents and actively seek feedback to shape menus, dining experiences, and Bistro offerings.
• Foster a welcoming dining environment that promotes community, connection, and belonging.
• Partner with Boulder Housing Partners and other community stakeholders on initiatives that enhance resident engagement and quality of life.
• Maintain open, honest, and responsive communication with residents, staff, partners, and vendors.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Iris Bistro and Imagine! within the broader community.
• Compliance and Continuous Improvement

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• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal food service regulations and Imagine! policies.
• Maintain required records related to food safety, inventory, inspections, and operational performance.
• Identify and implement improvements that enhance quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Participate in planning and quality improvement efforts that support the long-term success of the Bistro.

Other Duties/Responsibilities

• Ensures the health and safety of all kitchen staff, bistro volunteers, and bistro patrons
• Provides excellent customer service to residents & business partners.
• Responsible for Bistro customer satisfaction.

Job Qualifications

Knowledge, Skill, and Ability:

• Knowledge and understanding of commercial food safety regulations and quality standards.
• General knowledge of human services and/or social enterprises.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks/goals for self and others.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with individuals and groups at all professional levels.
• Ability to provide effective training to individuals and groups.
• Ability to work effectively with various technologies including word processing software, cloud-based databases, assistive technology, etc.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and ability to meet Imagine! driving requirements.
• This position requires regular use of a personal mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet.

Training/Education:

• High school diploma required.
• Food Protection Manager Certification required.

Experience:

• One year experience planning and preparing commercial kitchen or home delivered meals (or related) required.
• One to three years of experience managing staff required.
• One year experience working with people with developmental disabilities preferred.
• One year experience providing job coaching services preferred.

Working Environment/Physical Activities

• Ability to lift 50 pounds.
• This job requires standing and walking for up to 6 hours per day in a professional kitchen environment.
• Occasional evening and weekend work required for events.
• Requires ability to: Walk; carry supplies, stand for long periods of time, serve, and operate kitchen equipment.
• Effective with shifting roles, responsibilities, and expectations in a fast paced and changing environment.
• Ability to respond to emergency situations.

Note:

• This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.
• Employment at Imagine! is at-will, meaning that either the employee or Imagine! may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.
• Imagine! is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.