Sunday Café Chef & Food Service Manager

Sunday Café Chef & Food Service Manager

Kingdom Christian Church
Location: 5832 Freedom Drive, Charlotte NC  28214
Position Type: Part-Time / Sunday Operations
Primary Workday: Sundays
Meal Service: Approximately 11:00 AM
Reports To: Operations Manager / Elder of the church

Position Summary

Kingdom Christian Church is seeking a dependable, professional, and service-minded Sunday Café Chef & Food Service Manager to oversee the operation of our church café.

This position is ideal for a graduating culinary or hospitality student, recent graduate, or food-service professional who is ready to take ownership of a small food-service operation and gain hands-on management experience.

The Sunday Café Chef & Food Service Manager will be responsible for planning weekly meals, purchasing groceries and supplies, preparing and cooking food onsite, supervising café staff and volunteers, maintaining food-safety standards, managing food costs, and ensuring that Sunday meal service is organized, welcoming, and professionally executed.

The successful candidate should be comfortable working independently, leading others, managing a budget, and operating within a church environment focused on excellence, hospitality, stewardship, and service.

Primary Responsibilities

Menu Planning & Food Preparation

• Develop appropriate weekly menus for Sunday meal service.
• Plan meals that are appealing, consistent, cost-conscious, and practical for the number of guests being served.
• Prepare and cook meals onsite in the church kitchen.
• Establish appropriate food portions and serving quantities.
• Coordinate food preparation so meals are ready for service at the designated time.
• Maintain consistent quality, presentation, and taste.

Grocery Purchasing & Inventory

• Purchase groceries, ingredients, beverages, and approved kitchen supplies necessary for weekly service.
• Work within the church’s established food budget.
• Maintain receipts and appropriate documentation for all purchases.
• Monitor inventory and use existing products before purchasing unnecessary additional supplies.
• Minimize food waste through proper planning, storage, and portion control.

Café Operations

• Oversee the complete Sunday café operation from preparation through cleanup.
• Ensure the kitchen and serving areas are prepared before service begins.
• Organize the serving line and food presentation.
• Ensure meals are served efficiently and professionally.
• Maintain an orderly, clean, and welcoming café environment.
• Address operational problems quickly and professionally.

Staff & Volunteer Leadership

• Direct and coordinate church café volunteers.
• Assign responsibilities for food preparation, serving, setup, and cleanup.
• Provide clear instructions and expectations to team members.
• Create a positive, respectful, and team-oriented working environment.
• Notify church leadership of staffing or operational concerns.

Food Safety & Sanitation

• Maintain high standards of cleanliness and sanitation.
• Follow appropriate food-handling and food-storage procedures.
• Monitor proper cooking, holding, and refrigeration temperatures.
• Ensure kitchen equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas are properly cleaned.
• Ensure food is stored and labeled appropriately.
• Follow applicable health, safety, and sanitation requirements.

Budget & Cost Management

• Manage weekly food purchases within the approved budget.
• Monitor food costs and recommend opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Reduce unnecessary waste and over-purchasing.
• Maintain accurate records of purchases when required.
• Work with church administration regarding menu costs and operating needs.

Qualifications

Preferred Candidate

Kingdom Christian Church is particularly interested in candidates who are:

• Graduating seniors or recent graduates from Johnson & Wales University Charlotte or another accredited culinary, hospitality, or food-service management program.
• Studying or trained in Culinary Arts, Food Service Management, Hospitality Management, Food & Beverage Management, or a related field.
• Interested in gaining practical experience managing a complete food-service operation.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Culinary or commercial food-preparation experience.
• Understanding of kitchen operations and food-service management.
• Ability to prepare meals for approximately 50 or more people.
• Experience purchasing food and managing food costs.
• Strong organization and time-management skills.
• Ability to supervise staff or volunteers.
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently without constant supervision.
• Ability to remain organized and calm during busy meal-service periods.

ServSafe certification or similar food-safety certification is preferred. Candidates who are willing to obtain appropriate certification may also be considered.

Schedule

The primary workday will be Sunday, with the individual arriving sufficiently early to prepare the kitchen and complete meal preparation before approximately 11:00 AM meal service.

Preparation, menu planning, grocery shopping, or administrative work may be completed during the week as necessary.

The final weekly schedule will be established with church leadership.

Physical Requirements

The position may require:

• Standing for extended periods.
• Working in a commercial kitchen environment.
• Lifting and carrying food products, cookware, and supplies.
• Moving items weighing approximately 25–50 pounds when necessary.
• Working around ovens, ranges, refrigeration equipment, and other kitchen equipment.

What This Position Offers

This position provides a unique opportunity for an emerging culinary or hospitality professional to gain responsibility for an entire food-service operation.

The selected individual will have the opportunity to gain experience in:

• Menu development.
• Food purchasing.
• Budget management.
• Kitchen management.
• Staff and volunteer supervision.
• High-volume meal preparation.
• Inventory management.
• Guest service.
• Food-cost control.
• Operational leadership.

For the right graduating student or young professional, this position can provide significant hands-on management experience while serving the local community.

Professional Expectations

The Sunday Café Chef & Food Service Manager represents Kingdom Christian Church while working with members, guests, staff, volunteers, and vendors.

The individual is expected to demonstrate:

• Professionalism.
• Dependability.
• Integrity.
• Excellent stewardship of church resources.
• Respect for the church environment.
• Strong hospitality.
• Positive leadership.
• Appropriate communication and conduct.

Because the position operates within a Christian church environment, candidates should be comfortable working in and supporting a faith-based workplace and interacting respectfully with church members, guests, pastors, leaders, and volunteers.

Compensation

Competitive part-time compensation, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Compensation structure and expectations will be discussed during the interview process.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit to mbranham@kingdomchristianchurch.org:

• Résumé.
• Brief statement of interest.
• Culinary, hospitality, or food-service management experience.
• Current school/program and anticipated graduation date, if applicable.
• Availability for Sunday work.
• Relevant food-safety certifications, if applicable.

Position Title: Sunday Café Chef & Food Service Manager
Organization: Kingdom Christian Church
Location: Charlotte, NC