Community Kitchen Officer

AMURT Lebanon Background:

AMURT’s mission is to help improve the quality of life for the poor and disadvantaged people of the world, and those affected by calamity and conflict. It aims to assist individuals and communities to secure life’s necessities and to gain greater social and economic fulfillment, while honoring individuals’ customs, language, and religious beliefs.

AMURT Lebanon registered in 2012 as an independent charitable organization and is affiliated with the AMURT Global Network, headquartered in Washington, USA.

Since 2012, AMURT has been addressing the Syrian crisis and its effects, as well as hardships the Lebanese community is experiencing. Its programs have ranged from disaster relief and emergency response, to psychosocial support, diverse education programs, child protection, social stability, and is currently focusing on the livelihoods sector.

Vocational Opportunities for Youths in Chouf and Aley - Community Kitchen:

As part of the Vocational Project, AMURT, in collaboration with Moukhtara Municipality, is launching a community kitchen in which youth/adults living in surrounding areas will be offered the chance to produce home-made products using a fully-equipped facility to ease the production process and encourage the marketing and selling of their items in the local market.

Job Description

With the support and supervision of the Vocational Project Coordinator, the Community Kitchen Officer is responsible for coordinating and supporting kitchen activities and opportunities for learning in the kitchen, ensuring a positive and healthy environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure the kitchen is fully compliant across all food safety standards
• Implement creative ways to recruit, coordinate with, and train participants to engage in the kitchen
• Identify potential barriers to participation and seek to implement solutions where appropriate using empowerment as the key principle
• Be present during most times of kitchen use in a professional and supportive manner to all participants
• Be responsible for managing kitchen facilities and equipment, for creating an inventory system for the storage of food, and for developing and monitoring health/safety policies and procedures
• Facilitate community cooking sessions ensuring that all participants learn kitchen skills while responding to the specific needs of client groups
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with the diverse community and community kitchen partners
• Coordinate kitchen workshops/trainings and explore new community kitchen projects
• Develop and maintain sustainable food and waste initiatives in the kitchen (such as composting)
• Monitor the community kitchen implementation process and be open to change responsibilities as people and programs grow and change
• Maintain consistent and reliable reporting of activities and budget to the Vocational Project Coordinator
• Promote the project through activities such as the distribution of program brochures and posters, media advertising, and marketing presentations to community groups or organizations
• Participate in fundraising initiatives (grant writing, community kitchen fundraising activities)
• Attend weekly Focal Points meetings and monthly staff meetings
• Others as required and agreed upon with the Vocational Project Coordinator.

Personal Characteristics:

• Experience working with people from different backgrounds
• Experience working within a community-based environment
• Experience in project and/or team management
• Oral and written communication skills in English and Arabic languages 
• Good MS Word and MS Office skills
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal capabilities
• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to make sound decisions and know when to seek help or advice 
• Commitment to equality and social inclusion
• Driving license needed and willingness to drive to remote areas when needed