Company description

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, widely recognized as one of New York’s premier human services providers, is a settlement house founded in 1894 that provides an extensive array of effective and integrated services—social, educational, health, housing, mental health, nutritional and fitness—which significantly improve the lives of 16,000 people in need each year, ages 3 to 103, on the East Side of Manhattan. Our clients include older adults, unhoused and formerly unhoused adults, children and families, disabled persons, adult learners and more. For more information on Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, please visit lenoxhill.org and check us out on Facebook or Instagram.

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House's Food Services is a leader in New York City's nonprofit farm-to-institution movement. Our team prepares and serves approximately 1,600 healthy, delicious, and culturally appropriate meals each day across our two Older Adult Centers, Early Childhood Center, Social Adult Day Program, and Women's Mental Health Shelter. In addition to daily meal service, our team supports internal and external catering, special events, and community food initiatives throughout the organization.

Food Services works collaboratively with the Teaching Kitchen®, a program which trains nonprofit organizations to transform their food service programs using the farm-to-institution model originally developed through our own meal programs. Our Food Services and Teaching Kitchen® programs aim to improve the health of individuals and families who have limited resources, food insecurity, chronic health conditions, and low income by increasing their access to fresh, healthy food.

Job description

Reporting to the Sous Chefs, the Server & Cook is an integral member of our Food Services Team and is responsible for ensuring that Lenox Hill Neighborhood House’s Food Services meets its goal of providing nutritious, quality meals for clients and other members of the Neighborhood House community. The Server & Cook will perform duties for our two Older Adult Centers, Early Childhood Center, Women’s Mental Health Shelter and CARE Program. The Server & Cook must be flexible and adaptable to change to support the evolving and fluid nature of the Neighborhood House’s Food Services department.

Salary: $53,890 annually

The Server & Cook will:

• Serve lunch and dinner at our Older Adult Center efficiently, ensuring clients receive appropriately portioned hot food in a timely manner
• Prepare, portion, and serve meals accurately and according to established menus, recipes, and required quantities; ensure consistency and quality while efficiently supporting all aspects of ingredient and meal preparation
• Deep clean, wash dishes, manage inventory, and maintain clean, sanitary, and organized kitchen, food preparation, and serving areas across multiple sites
• Uphold procedures and policies while maintaining calm, kind communication with clients, staff, and volunteers alike
• Maintain compliance with all food handling procedures, including those of the Neighborhood House, the City Department of Health, and all other oversight agencies, by maintaining food at correct temperatures, record keeping, providing for safe food storage, and completing all cleaning schedules
• Memorize and effectively communicate allergens and ingredients in foods to clients
• Effectively manage time to conduct all responsibilities thoroughly within the appropriate timeframe
• Collaborate with Lenox Hill Neighborhood House’s staff and volunteers from a variety of departments and disciplines
• Complete all other responsibilities and duties as assigned by the Head Chef and Sous Chefs

Hours of Operation:

The Server & Cook is willing and able to work a fast-paced schedule that will include evenings and weekends and some holidays given our 7-day a week operating schedule and the expansive food services needs of our clients. This is a full-time position that currently is scheduled for Monday–Friday, 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Qualifications:

High School diploma or GED plus a minimum of one year of food service experience. A certificate of Food Protection and Sanitation from the New York City Department of Health or a commitment to obtaining one within 30 days of start. Willingness to participate in trainings, take initiative and be able to work in a fast-paced kitchen environment. Communicate effectively, troubleshoot, and be flexible. Open to feedback. Fluency in English and Spanish is preferred. This is an 1199SEIU union position with competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health insurance choices for staff and their families-at no cost to staff
• Extensive paid time off – 25 days’ vacation; 12 holidays; and substantial sick time
• Pension plan (Defined Benefit) provided at no cost to employees plus other retirement savings plans
• Paid parental leave policy for all staff
• Professional Development Opportunities – certifications and licenses, conferences, trainings, lectures and more
• Free Life Insurance – 3x annual salary
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical, Dependent Care and Parking/Mass Transit
• Supplemental Insurance Coverage (Accident, Hospital and Critical Illness)
• We like to have fun! Monthly Film and Dinner nights, bowling parties, Mets and Yankee games, cruises, food trucks, holiday parties, parties on our Green Roof, chocolate event for Valentine’s Day and ice cream socials, and much more.
• Staff use of State-of-the Art Fitness Center, Gym and Swimming Pool
• Staff group fitness classes, swimming lessons and lap swim for staff
• PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) Eligible Employer

All individuals, as a condition for employment by Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, are required to undergo a pre-employment background check. Certain positions require more extensive background checks to comply with applicable laws.

At Lenox Hill Neighborhood House we value respect, integrity, diversity and integrity. We are an equal opportunity employer. Lenox Hill Neighborhood House prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Lenox Hill Neighborhood House conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations. The policy of equal employment opportunity (EEO) and anti-discrimination applies to all aspects of the relationship between Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and its colleagues.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, varies DOE, $53,890.00 - $53,890.00

Application instructions

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Deadline

December 06, 2026