Kitchen Assistant Jobs

Do you care about providing access to healthy food, natural products, and sustainable practices in our area? Do you want to work in a place that supports local farmers, purveyors, producers, and suppliers? Do you have concern for the community and want to help bring support to different organizations & food initiatives in the area? Do you want to be part of an environment creating a place where everyone is welcome, safe, and respected?

At Common Ground Food Cooperative, we do all these things and more. We are here to serve the local CU area by providing nutritious groceries, house-made delights, and natural products for your body & home. We also strive to create a place for gathering & learning for our neighbors. We believe that good people and good food combined with hard work and care for community can bring great things to us all.

Join the fun! Common Ground isn't your average employer: we provide competitive wages and benefits, a great work environment, and plenty of opportunity for growth. You can make a difference here.

Common Ground offers:

• Retirement SIMPLE IRA & company matching
• Flexible scheduling
• Employee charge account
• Employee assistance programs
• Sick pay (for Full Time and Part Time)
• Great work environment
• Transparent payroll - See your timecard & approve your check a week early
• Sustainable transportation to work program
• Relaxed dress code
• Staff discount for you and 2 others
• Employee referral program
• Health benefits
• 3 weeks paid vacation (for Full Time and Part Time)
• Life Insurance
• Employees included in Policy and Decisions
• Opportunity for advancement

Common Ground Food Cooperative does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Offers consistent, fair, and respectful customer interactions to ensure satisfied shoppers and encourage repeat customer traffic.
• Uses knowledge of body language and cues, along with talking to customers to understand and provide the desired level of personal service.
• Answers all phone calls within 3 rings.
• Looks at the sales floor from the perspective of the customer to ensure shelves are full and inviting.
• Projects a helpful, approachable manner smiling, eye contact, open posture, greeting nearby shoppers. Stops tasks to help a customer with full attention.
• Understands and communicates the particulars of ownership to shoppers and staff alike.

COOPERATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Acts in a manner consistent with Common Grounds principles, mission and vision.
• Attends all department and store meetings as required.
• Receives feedback and evaluations with a willingness to improve and better performance.
• Understands the importance of and demonstrates excellent communication. Uses knowledge of store organization to determine what information to share with whom, both within and across departments.
• Speaks positively and respectfully to and about coworkers, customers, local businesses, farms, and vendors.
• Promotes sustainability and reduces waste.
• Reads department and store communications.
• Works with a sense of energy and completes tasks in a timely manner.
• Assumes the best in people. When facing an issue, goes direct to the person involved to work together toward a solution. Doesnt engage in gossip.
• Operates with a sense of teamwork in daily tasks; approaches all things with solution-oriented thinking. Exhibits calmness under pressure.
• Knows and promotes the cooperative principles and our Ends.
• Supports customers, department and store by being on time and ready to work at the beginning of scheduled shift. Demonstrates regular, predictable attendance.
• Actively helps create an environment that is inclusive, safe and respectful for everyone who works and shops at the co-op.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Wash all kitchen and deli dishes.
• Participate in monthly inventory counts when assigned by the Kitchen Manager.
• Maintain a clean and organized dish room.
• Communicate with deli counter staff and kitchen staff regularly about the needs of the department.
• Perform other tasks assigned by the Kitchen Manager or Kitchen Assistant Manager.
• Perform cleaning tasks as outlined by the Kitchen Assistant Manager.
• Stock and face the entire deli sales floor.
• Package items for the deli sales floor.

DEPARTMENT MAINTENAINCE & SAFETY

• Observes good ergonomic practices.
• Uses equipment safely.
• Understands and adheres to store emergency and safety procedures.
• Understands employee safety measures for food handling and preparation. Uses the most functional and efficient methods that meet all local and federal health codes.
• Ensures department work areas and aisles are clean and orderly and meets all Health Department and ADA requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Displayed ability to lift 50# and stand for long periods.
• Regular, predictable attendance.
• Ability to work well with other in a cooperative environment where teamwork and constant communication is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments.
• Willingness and ability to learn and grow to meet the changing requirements of the job.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Illinois Food Handler's card and Allergen Certification required.
• Ability to work in close quarters with others.
• Strong communication and listening skills.