EJI Program Chef

Job Title: EJI Program Chef

Job Status: Full-time Exempt

Brigaid Supervisor: Regional Chef

Location: Montgomery, AL

Compensation: $90,000 plus full benefits

We’re hiring a Program Chef to lead our work with the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), focused on operations at Plaza Pizza in Montgomery, Alabama.

About Our Partnership With EJI:

Located in Montgomery, Alabama, the Equal Justice Initiative began as a law office in 1989 providing free legal services to the poor, incarcerated, and condemned. EJI is also committed to changing the narrative about race in the U.S. which led them to create the Legacy Sites as places for people to learn about and reckon with our history of racial injustice, in the hopes that together we can shape a more just future.

The Legacy Sites draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Montgomery each year, and it is necessary for visitors to have convenient and quality food options to stay engaged in the multi-day Legacy Sites experience. Hence why EJI has invested in creating restaurant and hospitality infrastructure in Montgomery, to provide plenty of choice to Legacy Sites visitors. These hospitality spaces also serve as important places for Legacy Sites visitors to decompress and process what they have learned at the sites.

Plaza Pizza is the newest expansion of this effort and it is opening as a summer pop-up, with support from the Brigaid team. As the EJI Program Chef, you will focus primarily on transitioning the space to a long-term, fully operational restaurant that consistently offers guests delicious food and an exceptional hospitality experience, exemplifying EJI’s highest standards. You will be instrumental in bringing deep knowledge of culinary excellence and operational best practices to EJI’s newest hospitality venture.

What the Position Entails:

Your work will depend on the needs of the program. You may be asked to fulfill any of the following responsibilities:

Develop, implement, and maintain systems

• Lead the creation and implementation of new systems and protocols (such as kitchen organization, service setup, food storage, HACCP programs).
• Ensure compliance with the highest operational standards for the kitchen and overall restaurant.
• Roll out kitchen signage and tools across the kitchen from our catalogue of training materials to support systems and best practices. Facilitate the creation and implementation of new materials as needed.
• Consistently evaluate the effectiveness of kitchen and overall restaurant systems.

Hiring, training, and team development

• Develop and implement an effective and efficient labor model to staff Plaza Pizza, expanding upon the initial model Brigaid instituted.
• Participate in interviews for prospective Plaza Pizza staff and offer hiring recommendations to the EJI team.
• Conduct regular staff training on culinary skills, food safety, and operational best practices in accordance with Brigaid and EJI standards.
• Create a culture of excellence, team work, and open communication between kitchen and front of house staff and the broader EJI team.
• Model and encourage collaboration amongst Plaza Pizza and EJI staff.

Culinary development and execution

• Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring the highest standards of food quality, organization, and food safety are maintained at all times.
• Work closely with EJI leadership to evolve and improve the menu consistently.
• Manage procurement and sourcing, ensuring that high-quality products are being sourced properly and in a cost effective manner.
• Conduct recipe R&D.

Relationship building and management

• Establish a strong working relationship with the EJI leadership team. Participate in meetings with EJI leadership and/or other stakeholders.
• Serve as a representative of Brigaid, EJI, and Plaza Pizza, being sure to communicate with guests and staff members about each organization’s mission and work.
• Document your progress in a daily journal and discuss with your Brigaid regional chef during regular Zoom calls.
• Adhere to all Brigaid protocols and standards as well as those of EJI as outlined in each organization’s respective employee handbooks.
• Adhere to all Department of Health guidelines and regulations.
• Assist with any other job-related tasks, including, but not limited to, receiving and storing food and supplies, setting up and breaking down the kitchen, scaling recipes, preparing, packing and serving food, cleaning the kitchen, and doing dishes.

How You’ll Be Successful:

• Model the highest standards for food quality and safety, organization, and professionalism.
• Demonstrate a genuine passion for foodservice and forming community through food.
• Remain open to different visions of “good food.”
• Exhibit excellent leadership and teaching abilities.
• Work effectively and patiently with teammates and colleagues of different professional backgrounds. Be eager to collaborate.
• Understand how to develop, organize, and drive projects forward while working with multiple stakeholders.
• Exhibit expert knowledge of foundational cooking techniques as well as an ability to train people of various experience levels on them.
• Demonstrate basic computer literacy, including Microsoft and Google programs and Zoom.
• Be flexible in accommodating changes in schedule.
• Understand how to prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively.

Professional Requirements:

• At least 7 years of professional cooking experience, including at least 3 years in a kitchen supervisory role
  • Experience cooking pizza in a restaurant setting is a plus but it is not required
• ServSafe Manager certified or the ability to take a Brigaid-sponsored 8-hour ServSafe Manager course and pass the exam during your initial training period
• Successful completion of two to three background checks prior to your start date

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel within the area, as needed, in an efficient manner (with the possibility of carrying kitchen/culinary equipment during this travel)
• Ability to lift and carry objects up to 50 pounds
• Ability to walk around and stand for long periods of time

Why Us:

Our goal is for every team member to feel empowered and excited by their work. We cheer each other on, celebrate big and small wins, and foster professional growth through a comprehensive leadership training series.

We’re proud to offer:

• 100% company-paid health insurance for you and your family—a gold level plan through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield with a platinum level plan buy-up option as well
• 100% company-paid dental insurance for you and your family through Guardian
• 100% company-paid vision insurance for you and your family through Guardian
• 100% company-paid short- and long-term care insurance through Guardian
• Paid vacation and company holidays
• 6 paid sick days
• A 401k with a 4% company match and immediate vesting

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume. We’ll contact qualified candidates to participate in a first-round, 30-minute Zoom interview. After that, selected candidates will be invited to Montgomery, AL for two days, to visit the Legacy Sites and to participate in a multi-hour, in-person practical interview. To be considered, you must be able to attend this in-person interview. A travel stipend of $500 will be offered to each candidate living more than 120 miles away from Montgomery. Should you live farther than 120 miles from Montgomery and get offered the position, we will support your relocation to an area commutable to Montgomery by providing you with a one-time, lump sum $5,000 moving stipend (subject to tax).

Please note: We read every application! However, due to the high volume of applicants, our team is only able to contact qualified candidates. Although we appreciate your excitement, we kindly ask that you refrain from emailing or calling us about your application status. Thank you!

We’re an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, socio-economic status, marital status, national or ethnic origin, age, religion or creed, disability, political or sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic under state or federal law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities as defined by the ADA to perform the essential functions of the job.