Primary Purpose:
The Assistant Kitchen Manager assists with the daily operation of the Cooper Center Café, helping to ensure the preparation and service of nutritious, high-quality meals in a safe, welcoming environment. This position supports food preparation, inventory management, volunteer coordination, customer service, and compliance with food safety standards. The Assistant Kitchen Manager works closely with the Food Service Manager to maintain efficient kitchen operations and provides day-to-day leadership to kitchen staff and volunteers. In the absence of the Food Service Manager, this position assumes responsibility for the daily operation of the café and kitchen. This is a part-time (19.5 hours/week), non-benefitted, hourly position. Hours may shift depending on the needs of the Older Adult Services Department.
Supervision:
Scope and Judgment: Under the direction of the Food Service Manager, this position functions with a moderate degree of independence in coordinating daily kitchen and café operations. Performs varied duties of a routine to semi-complex nature requiring sound judgment, initiative, and tact when assisting with food preparation, inventory management, volunteer supervision, customer service, and compliance with food safety standards. Exercises independent judgment in prioritizing daily work assignments, resolving routine operational issues, and ensuring efficient kitchen operations.
Supervision Received: Reports to the Food Service Manager or their designee. Works independently within established department policies and procedures and refers unusual situations or matters requiring policy interpretation to the supervisor.
Supervision Given: Provides day-to-day direction, training, and support to Kitchen Assistants, food service volunteers, and special event kitchen volunteers. Assists with coordinating volunteer assignments and monitoring work to ensure compliance with food safety, customer service, and operational standards. In the absence of the Food Service Manager, assumes responsibility for overseeing daily kitchen and café operations.
Essential Functions:
(The essential functions or duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)
Assist in overseeing the daily operation of the Cooper Center Café, ensuring high standards of food quality, safety, cleanliness, and customer service.
Prepare, cook, portion, and serve meals, snacks, and beverages in accordance with approved menus, recipes, and portion standards.
Assist with menu implementation and accommodate special dietary needs including low-sodium, vegetarian, gluten-free, and other dietary restrictions as appropriate.
Ensure all food is prepared, stored, and served in compliance with local, state, and federal food safety regulations and ServeSafe standards.
Open and close the café as assigned, ensuring all food service areas are clean, stocked, secure, and ready for operation.
Assist with ordering, receiving, storing, and rotating food, supplies, and equipment using proper inventory control procedures.
Monitor inventory levels and communicate supply needs to the Food Service Manager to maintain adequate stock while minimizing waste.
Assist in maintaining food production records, temperature logs, sanitation logs, and other required documentation.
Provide day-to-day direction, training, and support to Kitchen Assistants, volunteers, and special event food service volunteers.
Serve as acting supervisor of café operations in the absence of the Food Service Manager, ensuring continuity of service and compliance with all policies and procedures.
Assist with scheduling and coordinating volunteers to support meal service and special events.
Maintain kitchen equipment and report maintenance or repair needs promptly.
Greet and assist café patrons in a friendly and welcoming manner, responding to questions, concerns, and special requests.
Assist with cash handling, point-of-sale transactions, and daily reconciliation procedures as assigned.
Support catering services, special events, community meals, cooking demonstrations, and other food-related programming offered by the Cooper Center.
Work collaboratively with Cooper Center staff, volunteers, vendors, and community partners to support department goals and enhance the visitor experience.
Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities related to food service, nutrition, customer service, and older adult programming.
Assist with promotional efforts and special initiatives designed to increase café participation and community engagement.
Perform similar or related work as required, or as circumstances dictate, to support the successful operation of the Cooper Center Café and Older Adult Services Department.
Minimum Entrance Qualifications:
Education, Training, and Experience:
High school diploma or equivalent; three to five years of progressively responsible food service, kitchen operations, or culinary experience, including experience supervising staff and/or volunteers, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. ServeSafe certification and any other certifications as required by the Health Department, including but not limited to CPR, and Allergy Awareness certifications, or the ability to obtain such certifications within sixty (60) days of employment. Experience working with older adults, volunteers, or in a community-based food service setting is preferred.
Knowledge, Ability and Skill:
Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and ServeSafe regulations. Working knowledge of nutrition and meal preparation, particularly for older adults. Knowledge of inventory control, food storage procedures, kitchen operations, and customer service principles. General knowledge of the applicable provisions of Massachusetts General Laws and Health Department regulations pertaining to the operation of a public kitchen and preparation of meals.
Ability: Ability to prepare and serve meals efficiently while maintaining high standards of food quality and safety. Ability to supervise, train, and support kitchen staff and volunteers. Ability to organize work, prioritize multiple tasks, and adapt to changing operational needs. Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in the absence of the Food Service Manager. Ability to maintain accurate records and follow written and verbal instructions. Ability to interact effectively and professionally with older adults, volunteers, vendors, staff, and the public.
Skills: Demonstrated skill in food preparation, kitchen operations, and safe operation of commercial kitchen equipment. Strong organizational, interpersonal, and customer service skills. Skill in inventory management, record keeping, and maintaining food production and sanitation logs. Proficiency with basic computer and office equipment. Excellent time management, problem-solving, and communication skills. Ability to foster positive working relationships and contribute to a collaborative team environment.
Job Environment:
Most work is performed in a traditional kitchen setting where there is exposure to potential hazards and discomforts found in a kitchen environment. Operates various kinds of kitchen equipment, a computer, and general office equipment such as a computer, calculator, copier, facsimile machine and telephone. Employee has frequent contact with volunteers, older adults, vendors, and other staff members. Employee has access to confidential information pertaining to the provision of meal services to patrons. Errors could result in delay or loss of service, legal repercussions, financial loss, food borne illness, lower standards of service to the community and negative public relations to the city.
Physical requirements
(The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
Work is performed in a kitchen setting, subject to moderate noise and is exposed to hot and cold temperatures frequently found in a kitchen environment. A significant amount of time is spent standing, walking, stooping or reaching. This position is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms to lift food items. Frequently required to lift up to 60 pounds. Normal vision requirements. Required to operate kitchen equipment in a safe manner and in accordance with manufacturer’s operating instructions. Errors in judgment could result in significant delay or loss of services, legal ramifications, adverse public relations, and monetary loss.
Performance Standard
Employees are expected to work collaboratively to meet community needs and demonstrate the City’s values. Employees must maintain high ethical standards and professional conduct.
(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)
THE CITY:
The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.
OUR GOVERNMENT:
Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Marc C. Laredo was sworn in on January 1, 2026 after serving on the City Council. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.
AS AN EMPLOYER:
The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees. And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing hr@newtonma.gov.
Human Resources Diversity Statement
We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:
The targeted salary range reflects what the City of Newton reasonably and in good faith expects to offer for this position at the time of posting, but the final salary determination may be within or outside this range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and market factors. The range will be reviewed regularly and is subject to change.
This is a non-benefited position