COOK

Job Description

Job Description

Are you passionate about creating opportunities for people to thrive?

Catholic Charities is the place for you!

Cook

St Paul Opportunity Center

Our Mission

The mission of Catholic Charities Twin Cities is to serve those most in need and to advocate for justice in the community.

As the need for our services grows and becomes increasingly complex, Catholic Charities continues to adapt and respond. We do this in three ways — preventing poverty, meeting basic needs in times of crisis, and creating pathways out of poverty.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE WORKING HERE :

Join a mission-driven organization that pairs compassion with accountability and hope with action. At Catholic Charities, you’ll be part of a supportive team dedicated to creating opportunity and advocating for justice. We invest in our employees through training, mentorship, and opportunities for professional growth.

WAGE RANGE : $20.00 - $22.00 / hour

BENEFIT HIGHLIGHT : Paid Time Off (PTO) starts accruing immediately and is available for use after your first pay period!

JOB SUMMARY :

Catholic Charities is seeking an experienced, innovative, food-loving Cook who is compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally aware to join our team at the St. Paul Opportunity Center.

This role supports our mission by preparing nutritious, high-quality meals for community members who may be experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, or crisis. Working under the direction of the Lead Cook or Food Service Supervisor, the Cook assists in all aspects of kitchen operations — from food preparation and menu execution to volunteer coordination, safety compliance, and inventory management.

The ideal candidate has a passion for service, strong teamwork skills, and at least one year of high-volume cooking experience in a commercial kitchen.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

Prepare and serve meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in accordance with established menus and food safety standards.

Operate commercial kitchen equipment safely and efficiently.

Supervise and train volunteers and clients in kitchen tasks as needed.

Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary kitchen and dining environment that meets all health-department requirements.

Assist with receiving, storing, and rotating food and supply inventories.

Monitor and help control food, supply, and paper-product inventory; assist with ordering as needed.

Provide welcoming, respectful customer service to Catholic Charities clients, volunteers, and staff

Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERTISE :

High school diploma or equivalent required; Culinary Arts degree preferred.

Basic computer literacy required.

Minimum of one year of food-preparation experience in a large-volume or high-quantity kitchen.

ServSafe Food Manager Certification required within 90 days of employment (preferred upon hire).

Ability to work respectfully and effectively with diverse and / or low-income populations, including individuals who may be experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, and / or mental illness.

JOB CLASSIFICATION : Regular; Full-Time; Hourly; Non-Exempt

P HYSICAL REQUIREMENTS ​

CPR

Driving

Lifting up to 25 lbs. without assistance

Lifting up to 50 lbs. without assistance

Physically restraining clients

Catholic Charities is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Description Updated : 10 / 14 / 2025

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all functions that are required of the employee for this job.