Food Services & Nutrition Manager

Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) seeks a passionate and highly-organized Food Services & Nutrition Manager (FSNM) to oversee kitchen management, meal planning, food procurement, inventory, and food distribution through our dinner and food pantry programs. The FSNM manages a team of 3-4 staff and serves as part of DESK’s leadership team, contributing to overall organizational strategy.

Mission & Background Information

DESK serves people experiencing homelessness or living in poverty by providing food assistance and services that promote health, community, and equity. We are located in Downtown New Haven, just off the Green. In fall 2024, DESK re-opened our Drop-in & Resource Center at 266 State Street with a new commercial kitchen to provide up to 300 meals per day to those experiencing homelessness. In our efforts to promote internal equity, DESK is building a diverse and inclusive organization; we eagerly consider candidates with diverse work experiences and personal backgrounds, especially on our leadership team. Candidates are encouraged to use their cover letter to highlight how their background will contribute to a more equitable workplace. For more information on our programs, history, and vision, visit us online at deskct.org.

Core Responsibilities

• Kitchen Operations Management – Oversees DESK’s commercial kitchen, ensuring proper opening and closing procedures, equipment maintenance, supplies stock, health and safety requirements, licensure and permitting, etc. Supervises the Food Services staff (cooks) in support of Kitchen Operations, projects program costs for budgeting purposes, and identifies resources.
• Meal Planning – Works with Food Services staff to set nutritional and quality guidelines, plan the weekly menu, and determine resource needs.
• Procurement – Works with staff to procure food for the Dinner and Food Pantry programs through Connecticut Foodshare, wholesalers, and retail partners; works with the Development Associate to determine appropriate foods collected through volunteer food drives; supervises and supports the Pantry and Inventory Specialist to determine inventory needs and ensure proper stock.
• Dinner Management – Works with program staff to coordinate meal distribution in the Drop-in Center Cafe, through the Dinner-on-the-Green program, and as part of street outreach, ensuring proper deployment of resources, and appropriate data collection.
• Food Pantry Distribution – Oversees the planning for the weekly distribution of food through the Food Pantry program, including developing the food distribution list, ordering food, and creating weekly meal guides and recipes.
• Community Engagement – Shares ideas, nutritional information, recipes, stories, and more via online platforms (DESK Blog, social media), and engages DESK’s community of volunteers and supporters on food and nutrition, in collaboration with DESK’s Development Director.
• Volunteer Supervision – Designs appropriate volunteer tasks and works with the Development staff to advertise for and recruit volunteers; supervises volunteers when appropriate; recruits and supervises interns.
• Interagency Collaboration – Works as part of the Coordinated Food Assistance Network (CFAN) and, when appropriate, serves on work groups or committees to bolster interagency collaboration.

Must-haves

• Two years of paid work experience in commercial food service
• Associate or bachelor's degree in food science, nutrition, or closely related field, or equivalent experience
• One year of staff supervision experience and familiarity with budget oversight and processes
• Excellent communication & management skills
• Valid driver’s license
• Friendly & courteous; enthusiasm for mission

Nice-to-haves

• More than two years of relevant experience in management roles
• Experience in human services, social services, and/or direct customer service
• Experience directing volunteers & providing basic needs
• Experience working with unhoused people and/or those with mental health or substance use disorders
• Spanish proficiency; New Haven proficiency

Compensation

Starting salary will be between $51,921 and $58,930, based on experience and background. Medical/life insurance is available.

How to Apply

Please visit deskct.org/food-guru-app to submit your cover letter and résumé. Please note that DESK is an equal opportunity employer who affirms and values greatly the role of diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds and lifestyles.

Health insurance, Life insurance, Dental insurance, Generous PTO, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Will preparation services, Consumer Loan Program

English required.

Spanish proficiency preferred, but not required.

Other languages always a plus!