Lead Kitchen Assistant

Position Summary The Lead Kitchen Assistant supports daily kitchen operations while providing guidance, coordination, and oversight to Kitchen Assistants. In addition to performing core kitchen support duties, this role ensures that tasks are completed efficiently, food safety standards are consistently upheld, and kitchen workflows run smoothly. The Lead Kitchen Assistant serves as a point of contact for kitchen support staff during assigned shifts, assisting the Kitchen Manager with inventory oversight, task delegation, and maintaining a clean, safe, and organized kitchen environment. To be successful in this role, the incumbent will demonstrate strong leadership, time management, and communication skills, and model compliance with all food health and safety regulations. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Perform all standard Kitchen Assistant duties, including cleaning, sanitizing, dishwashing, and basic food prep support.
• Provide direction and support to Kitchen Assistants to ensure tasks are completed correctly and on time.
• Assist with daily kitchen operations and workflow coordination.
• Open the kitchen by ensuring all equipment is operational, sanitation standards are met, temperatures are logged, and meal production starts on time.
• Monitor kitchen safety and food handling practices throughout the shift.
• Assist with food preparation, storage, rotation, and organization of supplies.
• Close the kitchen by verifying all cleaning tasks are completed, equipment is properly shut down, food is stored or disposed of correctly, and utilities are secured.
• Conduct final kitchen walk-throughs and ensure the space is clean, safe, and ready for the next shift.
• Document shift notes, incidents, and corrective actions as needed.
• Release staff once all closing duties are verified as complete.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• High school diploma or GED.
• 1–2 years of kitchen experience required.
• A food handler's license.
• Sound knowledge of food health and safety regulations.
• Valid food handler’s certification required.
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and stand for extended periods.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills.
• Ability to lead and support a team effectively.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• The ability to safely operate a motor vehicle to transport oneself, others and program supplies as necessary.
• The physical ability to travel to assigned locations, stand, stoop, bend, reach, pull, push, lift, grasp, climb, talk, see, hear and perform basic and light home maintenance activities, and operate office equipment.
• The physical ability to move and lift light objects up to 30 pounds such as mail, supplies, files, and equipment.
• The ability to operate office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements.
• The ability to remain in a sitting position for extended periods of time.

Note This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.