PREP TRAINER

 
 

Who We Are

Old Skool Cafe is a faith-based, violence prevention program, providing marketable employment skills in the restaurant industry to at-risk, formerly incarcerated and foster care youth aged 16-22. Old Skool Cafe offers more than just employment; we provide a supportive environment needed to help our youth maintain their employment and be successful in all areas of life.

We seek team members who align with our core Christian faith values of dignity, excellence, accountability, and compassion. Staff are expected to create an inclusive, respectful environment where all youth feel safe and valued.

Position Overview

Reports To: Lead Kitchen Trainer

Employment Type: Non-Exempt, Hourly

Hours: 32-40 hours/week, schedule aligns with dinner service and catering events

Location: On-site at Old Skool Cafe

The Prep Trainer is responsible for executing daily kitchen prep to professional standards while providing hands-on instruction to youth participants throughout each shift. This is not a production role with teaching added on. This is a production role with teaching as a main component of success.

The Prep Trainer must balance restaurant needs with youth development, demonstrating and teaching culinary skills, coaching youth through the work, and helping them build the confidence and independence needed to meet professional kitchen standards.

Key Responsibilities

These responsibilities and metrics are guides for success and growth, not punitive quotas. We believe in developing leaders through support, structure, and partnership.

1. Prep Operations

  • Execute daily prep to established recipes and professional kitchen standards, including knife work, sauces, stocks, mise en place, portioning, and station setup.

  • Ensure the kitchen is clean, organized, fully prepped, and ready for service.

  • Monitor inventory and communicate prep needs and par-level concerns to the Lead Kitchen Trainer.

  • Cover kitchen staff meal breaks prior to Family Meal and service.

  • Maintain food safety and health standards throughout the prep period.

    2. Youth Training & Mentorship

  • Provide hands-on instruction around but not limited to cleanliness, knife skills, food safety, mise en place, portion control, recipe execution, and station organization.

  • Be able to demonstrate a task and then coach youth to complete them independently.

  • Provide clear, patient, and constructive feedback while maintaining professional standards.

  • Document youth progress and communicate to entirety of OSC staff

  • Reinforce skill progression, workplace expectations, and accountability.

    3. Professional Conduct & Youth Safety

  • Model professionalism, reliability, teamwork, communication, and respect.

  • Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with all youth participants and follow all Old Skool Cafe policies.

  • Do not connect with, follow, message, or otherwise communicate with program participants through personal social media accounts or other prohibited personal communication channels.

  • Address minor conduct or performance concerns through coaching and redirection; escalate ongoing, significant, or safety-related concerns to program leadership.

Qualifications

Required

Professional kitchen experience with demonstrated competency in high-volume prep.

Genuine commitment to youth development, mentorship, and equity.

Ability to provide clear instruction while maintaining production standards.

Strong organization and time-management skills.

ServSafe Certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.

Ability to pass a background check consistent with Old Skool Cafe youth-safety policies.

Preferred

Experience in workforce development, nonprofit, culinary education, or training

kitchens.

Experience mentoring, coaching, or providing hands-on instruction.

Old Skool Cafe’s Compensation Policy

This is a full-time, non-exempt position offering approximately 32 to 40 hours per week at $28 to $32 per hour, commensurate with experience. OSC offers full medical, dental, and vision benefits for all full-time staff, in addition to paid time off in accordance with California labor law.

Equity and Inclusion

At OSC, we welcome everyone regardless of their background, race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, etc. We depend on the diverse and unique cultural and life experiences of our team to demonstrate examples of success for our youth. We are committed to increasing diversity across our team and ensuring that OSC is a place where people from all backgrounds can make an impact, and all of our youth have mentors and leaders who represent examples of success that they can see themselves in.

Accommodations

Old Skool Cafe is an inclusive work environment, and we are committed to ensuring equal opportunity in employment for qualified persons with disabilities. Please email accessibleinterviewing@oldskoolcafe.org or click here if you require any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruiting process.

Application Process

Applications, which will be reviewed as received, must include a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, and your resume in Word or PDF format. Please send to matthew@oldskoolcafe.org with “Prep Trainer” in the subject line.

Position open until filled. No telephone calls, please.

 
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