Kitchen Manager (Part-time)

Berkeley Hillel

Role Overview

The Kitchen Manager will oversee Berkeley Hillel’s two kosher kitchens, ensuring smooth daily operations that support our programs, weekly meals and cooking events, and student initiatives. This role combines culinary management, supervision, and mentorship—ideal for someone who loves both cooking and Jewish community. The Kitchen Manager leads a team of student kitchen interns, maintains a kosher kitchen environment, manages food purchasing and inventory, and helps foster creative food-based programming for students.

What You’ll Do

• Oversee daily operations of Berkeley Hillel’s two kosher kitchens, ensuring compliance with kosher standards and health regulations.
• Lead, train, and supervise a team of student kitchen interns.
• Plan and execute menus for weekly BBQ, Shabbat dinners, events, and Jewish holidays in coordination with program staff and kitchen interns.
• Order food and supplies, manage vendor relationships, and monitor inventory and budget.
• Develop and implement systems to minimize food waste and promote sustainability.
• Collaborate with student leaders to design and facilitate additional kitchen-based programs such as pizza nights, cooking classes, and baking events.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming kitchen environment.
• Work collaboratively with other Hillel staff to ensure the kitchen supports the organization’s mission and community goals.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a professional kitchen, catering environment, or food service management.
• Understanding of (or willingness to learn about) kosher food preparation and supervision.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills, with experience managing staff or volunteers.
• Creative approach to menu planning and event support.
• Commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for Jewish college students.
• Flexibility to work evenings and occasional weekends, particularly for Shabbat and Jewish holiday programs.

Schedule and Hours

This is a part-time, hourly, non-exempt position. The typical schedule is 20–25 hours per week, with a combination of some weekday daytime hours and some evening and weekend shifts to support Shabbat and Jewish holiday programs. Scheduling is flexible, and exact hours will be determined in collaboration with the supervisor based on program needs.

Preferred Qualities

• Culinary degree, catering experience, or professional chef background.
• Passion for mentoring students and engaging in Jewish community life.
• Interest in sustainability and innovative approaches to food systems.

Compensation

$35-45 per hour, commensurate with experience for 20-25 hours/week. 

About Berkeley Hillel

Berkeley Hillel serves as the center for Jewish student life at UC Berkeley. We are committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming community where Jewish students can explore identity, build relationships, and find a sense of belonging.

Berkeley Hillel is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.