Food Ministry Associate
Summary
Prepares and serves meals in a shelter kitchen while mentoring guests in culinary skills and workplace habits, ensuring food safety and hospitality standards.
Food Ministry Associate Job Description
Position: Food Ministry Associate
Department: Operations
Reports to: Dining Services Manager
FLSA Classification: Non-exempt
Full-time/Part-time: Full-time, Monday through Friday with rotating weekends
Starting Wage: $21/hour
Summary
The Food Ministry Associate supports the daily kitchen operations of the shelter kitchen while engaging in relational ministry with guests, volunteers, and program participants. Working under the direction of the Dining Services Manager, the associate helps ensure that meals are prepared and served with excellence, health and sanitation guidelines are met and followed, and hospitality is being demonstrated. This role plays a key part in fostering a culture of excellence, dignity, and transformation. This role combines hands-on food service responsibility with intentional involvement in the job skills training program, helping guests develop practical work habits, kitchen skills, and personal responsibility.
At New Life Center, our work is rooted in our Christian faith and driven by our mission to guide people experiencing homelessness or addiction toward holistic transformation through the love of Jesus. Every role contributes to this ministry and advances our shared vision. Our team members are followers of Jesus Christ, affirm our Statement of Faith, and demonstrate our BEACON values—Bring Your Best, Engage with Empathy, Act in Unity, Choose Humility, Offer Hope, and Never Stop Growing—in the way they serve guests, support one another, and represent New Life Center each day.
Essential Functions
Essential Function 1: Food Preparation and Service Excellence
- Assist in meal preparation, cooking, service, with excellence and consistency.
- Follow recipes, portion control, and food safety guidelines.
- Help ensure meals are served in a timely, organized, and respectful manner.
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness, presentation, and quality of food service areas.
- Help meet special dietary requirements when appropriate.
- Assist with inspection of all donated food to determine quality of food as required.
- Minimize waste while maintaining high standards of excellence.
Essential Function 2: Kitchen Operational Support
- Assist with kitchen setup, closing duties, and daily workflow.
- Wash dishes, clean equipment and maintain a sanitary work environment.
- Help organize food storage areas, including refrigerators, freezers, and dry storage.
- Contribute to a smooth and efficient operation with a commitment to excellence.
Essential Function 3: Safety and Compliance
- Follow all health department guidelines and regulations regarding proper food handling, sanitation, and safety.
- Properly store food including labeling and proper rotation of all food (FIFO).
- Maintain required temperature logs for refrigerators, freezers, and meals.
- Use proper PPE appropriately and maintain a safe work environment.
- Ensure safe use of all kitchen equipment and report any safety concerns or equipment issues promptly.
Essential Function 4: Volunteer and Guest Support
- Assist in welcoming, guiding, and supporting kitchen volunteers.
- Help provide direction and ensure volunteers/guests understand tasks and expectations.
- Model a spirit of hospitality.
- Help create a welcoming and respectful dining environment.
- Engage guests with dignity, kindness, and Christ-like compassion.
- Recognize that excellence in service communicates value and care to each individual.
Essential Function 5: Job Skills Training Program
- Actively support and participate in the Genesis job skills training program within the kitchen.
- Help train Genesis guests in basic culinary skills, food safety practices, and kitchen procedures.
- Model and reinforce essential workplace behaviors such as punctuality, accountability, teamwork, and consistency.
- Assist in creating a structured, goal-oriented environment that promotes excellence in both skill and character development.
- Assist with evaluation of Genesis guest progress by working with the Job Training Program Liaison.
ADA & Reasonable Accommodation
New Life Center complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Qualified individuals are considered for positions based on their ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with applicable law unless doing so would cause undue hardship or pose a direct threat to safety.
Position Reports to James Redding, Dining Services Manager
This job description identifies the major responsibilities of this job. It does not include all aspects of the position such as the potential additional duties assigned by the Operations Director, the requirement for flexibility in helping others, or the highly valued team-oriented approach used for the overall benefit and success of New Life Center.