The Millrace Kitchen Manager will manage a shared, commissary commercial kitchen facility and ancillary spaces located at the gateway to Woonsocket’s Historic Main Street. The facility offers production and storage space to members for rent.
The Kitchen Manager will promote the commissary kitchen and ancillary spaces to potential kitchen members and local neighbors. The goal is to grow a diverse community of kitchen members, patrons, and friends, – in turn – increasing neighborhood wealth, generating community benefit, and earning income for NWBRV.
We’re seeking a candidate who is comfortable overseeing kitchen operations, member communications, public relations, social media marketing, as well as general business management and marketing initiatives. This position requires a blend of “front of the house” and “back of the house” skills. A working knowledge of commercial kitchen equipment, safety procedures, and Department of Health regulations is as important as experience building community around food and culture enterprises.
Essential Functions
The Kitchen Manager is responsible for management and day-to-day oversight of a shared commercial kitchen facility and social enterprise, including:
- Develop collaborations with partners and stakeholders to further facility and organizational goals;
- Staff/vendor/consultant supervision, management, and evaluation as required;
- Facility and program budget oversight, monitoring, and planning;
- Database management including program outcomes and impacts;
- Oversight of facility maintenance, sanitation, and compliance with RI DOH licensing requirements and standards;
- Membership development and training;
- Develop and implement facility protocols, systems, and procedures;
- Harness technology to streamline operations and promote efficiency;
- Provide/engage professional technical assistance designed to improve member business operations, market penetration, profit, scale and sustainability;
- Analyze user, marketing, and other data for trends and patterns;
- Program design and implementation;
- Reporting as required.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Deploy and manage all necessary resources to offer a quality RI Department of Health (RIDOH) licensed, shared kitchen incubator for entrepreneurs;
- Implement facility policies, protocols, rules, and procedures to ensure smooth, efficient, and harmonious operations;
- Monitor and assure facility compliance with RIDOH regulations;
- Maintain all required facility certifications and licenses and assure proactive inspection schedule to stay in compliance with regulatory bodies;
- Market facility to maximize usage and earned income generation and balance pro-bono use;
- Strict oversight of operational expenses to meet financial goals;
- Collaborate with Asset Management staff to oversee facility maintenance and risk management;
- Assure peak performance of kitchen facilities and that the facility is well-maintained, clean, and inviting;
- Ensure proper kitchen sanitation and housekeeping and assure members are fully accountable to each other to maintain the highest standards;
- Ensure members maintain organization and cleanliness of assigned storage areas and kitchen areas;
- Monitor and ensure peak performance of equipment;
- Coordinate regular kitchen equipment repair and maintenance and manage professional relationships with service vendors;
- Take regular inventory of equipment, supplies, and smallware;
- Assure and order adequate supplies for daily operations;
- Recruit kitchen members and other potential customers;
- Conduct member onboarding and execute all required agreements;
- Plan and implement ongoing professional development opportunities for members to grow their businesses;
- Conduct ongoing member satisfaction surveys;
- Responsible for timely monthly member billing, hours tracking, and other charges, and follow-up regarding unpaid invoices;
- Coordinate billing and payments with Finance staff;
- Enforce membership agreement terms and condition and rules;
- Oversee kitchen scheduling and other rentals to maximize usage and resolve any conflicts;
- Collaborate with NWBRV staff, community partners and kitchen members to integrate creative placemaking events and activities throughout the year to generate fun, member income, and vitality in the target area;
- Collaborate with staff to develop programming to draw diverse audiences and spearhead innovative community building;
- Participate in planning for ‘The Millrace District’ development;
- Maximize opportunities for kitchen members to secure vending opportunities as part of ’Millrace District’ events;
- Assist staff in implementing the annual summer ‘Levitt Music Series’;
- Provide monthly narrative and data reports to Board of Directors on program progress and key performance metrics including customer conversion, utilization rate, revenue, and others and assist in program evaluation.
Qualifications & Requirements
Education and Experience Requirements: Associate’s and/or Bachelor’s degree in management, hospitality, social enterprise, culinary/food management, entrepreneurship, or related field; three years’ experience in administration and oversight; demonstrated experience in running a successful business, program collaboration, business marketing, financial management, staff/vendor supervision, and kitchen facility management; experience with RI Department of Health food facility licensing and certifications.
Licenses, Registrations and Certifications: RI Department of Health ‘Serve Safe’ Certification within two weeks of hire. Other food facility operational licenses or certifications as may be necessary to position the facility for growth.
Knowledge, Skill and Ability Requirements: Knowledge of food business facility management and business technical assistance programs and providers, community health programming, and creative place-making; proven ability to manage community programming; skilled in public presentations and marketing; strong organizational skills; community outreach to recruit neighborhood food entrepreneurs; excellent written communication skills; ability to balance the scheduling of facility usage to maximize income generation yet provide space for limited community programming; Skilled at working with the public and maintaining good public relations; Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc).
Physical Demands: Ability to utilize a computer and keyboard for data input and document writing; ability to remain calm and even-tempered in seemingly chaotic situations; ability to ascend up three flights of stairs in multifamily/commercial buildings to address maintenance issues; ability to move chairs and tables for events.
Work Environment, Dynamics, Physical Demands and Environmental Conditions: Sufficient mobility to work in a kitchen and public event facility setting; Extensive use of computer keyboard and technology; Work is performed primarily in a public environment under pressure and requires the ability to quickly adjust to changing priorities and demands and provide good service to members; This is a ‘Working Manager’ position that often requires hands-on work to address a variety of issues; Work is performed with an extensive degree of independent judgment and action under the direction of the Director of Resident Services and Community Engagement.
Additional Information: Flexible work schedule as needed to cover job functions.
To Apply
E-mail a cover letter and resume to jvincent@nwbrv.org
