Culinary Employment Coordinator

The Opportunity:

Are you eager to work at a business with a clear and proven social mission? Would you like to earn a competitive salary while feeling great about the meaningful work you do? Would you enjoy a 3-day weekend every single month?  We are changing lives for the better every day and are looking for talented individuals to help further our mission. We offer a welcoming work culture that prioritizes wellness and DEI values, along with a competitive salary and a commitment to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Homeward Bound of Marin is a dynamic and evolving nonprofit agency dedicated to ending homelessness in Marin County through affordable housing development, supportive services, job training, and social enterprise. With a successful 50-year history and strong interdisciplinary partnerships with both private and public organizations, Homeward Bound is poised for impactful growth over the next decade. Our work environment places a strong emphasis on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) values and rewards qualities such as resourcefulness, flexibility, kindness, compassion, and understanding.

Homeward Bound offers culinary training to individuals facing barriers to regular employment through the operation of the Fresh Starts Culinary Academy (FSCA). The FSCA training is approved by the American Culinary Federation and designed to provide industry-certified culinary arts training to those with barriers to employment, equipping them with the skills needed for jobs in the food service and hospitality industries. We place FSCA graduates into the culinary field and also hire them into our four related culinary “social enterprise” businesses, including an events and catering center, monthly celebrity chef demonstration dinners, daily mass contract meal production, and a line of gourmet dog treats.

Position Summary:

The Culinary Employment Coordinator is responsible for recruiting potential FSCA students, supporting students and alumni to successfully complete training and find employment, and  managing professional development plans for FSCA graduates who are employed in Homeward Bound of Marin’s culinary businesses.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop and enhance recruitment strategies to attract new students to FSCA from the agency’s programs and external partner relationships.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with community partners to present recruitment ideas and solicit referrals of prospective students to our program.
• Screen prospective students’ application forms and interview applicants with the Culinary Training Specialist.
• Teach weekly life skills and professional development curriculum.
• Identify behaviors or conditions that may create a barrier to employment and develop a plan with the Workforce Training Team to alleviate those barriers where possible.
• Maintain and manage the FSCA inventory, including student uniforms and school needs.
• Collaborate with Workforce Training Team to coordinate graduation ceremonies for FSCA students.
• Foster positive relationships and meet with students individually to identify employment opportunities that fit their individual needs and goals.
• Provide customized coaching through their resume development, job search, and employment placement, to ensure an appropriate placement for their knowledge, skills and interest.
• Develop and maintain relationships with businesses and organizations to provide quality employment opportunities for students and alumni.
• Provide ongoing support to clients upon graduation through follow-up meetings, referrals to other resources, and success surveys to collect 6-, 12- and 18-month employment and outcomes data.
• Consult with our partner organizations (through existing networks such as Catalyst Kitchens and REDF) to implement best practices for recruiting, training and job placement through a JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) lens.
• Manage, organize and maintain a monthly process to provide JRAs (job-readiness assessments) for trainees and PDPs (professional development plans) for permanent employees, along with a team of chefs and managers.
• Lead semi-annual alumni events.
• Host semi-annual Advisory Committee luncheons.
• Partner with the Workforce Investment Alliance, SNAP E&T and other external partners to facilitate subsidized employment opportunities.

The Candidate:

We are seeking a professional, charismatic, motivated, and organized individual to join Homeward Bound of Marin’s (FSCA) as the Culinary Employment Coordinator. This is a people-oriented role with administrative tasks.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• Prior experience in workforce development.
• Experience with employer partnerships, job development and job retention required.
• Experience creating professional development plans (preferred).
• Prior experience working with vulnerable populations, including individuals who have experienced homelessness or have been incarcerated, struggled with substance use, or faced mental health challenges.
• Familiarity with workforce development programs that serve individuals with barriers to employment.
• Ability to build and nurture relationships with clients, staff and employment partners.
• Excellent listening, oral and written skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently.
• Ability to work under deadlines and changing priorities.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritized workload effectively.
• Strong understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion principles.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of virtual platforms (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.)
• Committed to the mission of Homeward Bound of Marin.
• Diplomatic, flexible, and has a sense of humor.
• Compassionate, kind, innovative and willing to experiment with new strategies and in a team environment.

Competitive Benefits:

• 100% Employer Paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 403B match
• 80 accrued vacation hours (2 weeks); prorated for part-time employees.
• 12 paid holidays off
• 12 sick days annually (prorated for part-time employees)
• Employee Assistance Program

To Apply:

Send resumes to careers@hbofm.org

*$32-$35 DOE with a competitive benefits package which includes 100% employer paid medical and dental insurance, 80 accrued vacation hours, and access to a 403b retirement plan. Under California law, Homeward Bound is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary or hourly rate outside of the range posted in this job announcement.  This range considers the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decision including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. Salary and hourly rate offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience