Food Services & Partnerships Manager

Job description

The Food Services & Partnerships Manager is a key staff role dedicated to nourishing our community through high-quality meal service and strategic food access initiatives. This individual oversees all aspects of our fast-paced kitchen operations—including family-style meals in our common areas, daytime "Cafe" service from the kitchen, and "Open Kitchen & Pantry" —while building a robust network of local partnerships to bolster food security for our diverse membership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Kitchen & Food Service Management

  • Direct Service:

    • Lead the preparation and delivery of nutritious, family-style communal meals, fostering a sense of belonging and connection among members.

    • Manage the daily "Cafe" service (e.g., refrigerated items, beverage).

    • Oversee the "Open Kitchen & Pantry", empowering members to access food choices in a dignified, self-directed manner.

  • Coverage & Engagement: Provide consistent kitchen coverage, guide and support volunteers, and engage with member guests.

  • Safety Standards: Maintain a professional, ServSafe-compliant kitchen environment, ensuring all sanitation and allergy protocols are followed.

Partnerships & Food Security

  • Existing Partnership: Manage and cultivate ongoing relationships with core partners, including Food for Free, Spoonfuls, and Community Cooks.

  • Strategic Growth: Act as a forward-thinking advocate to expand our direct food donation network by identifying and securing new partnerships with local organizations, restaurants, businesses, and farms.

  •  Member Advocacy: Ensure food offerings are culturally responsive and meet the specific dietary needs of our multilingual community.

Operations & Inventory

  • Inventory Control: Direct all food and supply procurement, maintaining organized systems to minimize waste and ensure consistent availability of staples.

  • Delivery Logistics: Coordinate, manage, and inventory food deliveries during scheduled delivery windows.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

  • Experience: Must have significant professional experience in restaurant or institutional kitchen service environments.

  • Certifications: ServSafe Manager and Allergy Awareness certifications are highly recommended (or required within 30 days of hire).

  • Cultural Competency: Deep commitment to food justice and the ability to engage with our community members, with languages including Cape Verdean, English, French, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, and many more

  • Operational Skills: Ability to balance administrative partnership work with hands-on kitchen management and member interaction.

  • Collaborative Communications: Willing to share ideas, challenge thinking, participate in “active listening”, and interact with CWC leadership, staff, volunteers, partners, and members

 DETAILS & APPLICATION PROCESS

Status: Part-time (25-30 hours/week)

Compensation: $28 per hour

Schedule: Service days currently Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, approx. 10am-6pm. Wednesdays (deliveries 10am-2pm), (Hours may increase in Fall 2026.)
Reports to: Interim Executive Director

To apply: To apply for this role, please submit your cover letter and resume to Info@CambridgeWomensCenter.org. For candidates who are not current CWC volunteers, our hiring process includes a preliminary screening interview and then, for candidates who move forward, an onsite shift (11am-2pm; $50 stipend provided) in our kitchen with CWC staff during service hours. For final candidates, two references will be requested.

Application deadline: July 17, 2026. Priority will be given to early applicants.

Our Commitment: The Cambridge Women’s Center is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this role. We support principles of equity, inclusion, and justice in our work, welcome authentic collaboration, and are committed to learning from and uplifting the voices of others.