Assistant Kitchen Manager

Who We Are

The Northside Economic Opportunity Network's (NEON) mission is to build wealth for low-to-moderate-income entrepreneurs in North Minneapolis and surrounding communities. Our vision is to transform North Minneapolis and the surrounding area into a prosperous, visible, sustainable, and highly diverse multi-cultural community of entrepreneurs. We work with individuals at various stages of entrepreneurship - from "information seekers" to existing business entities, providing a roadmap to start, grow and thrive as scalable businesses.

Why You'll Love Working Here

NEON promotes economic equity by identifying business ownership as a path toward income generation and long-term asset building. NEON will increase work to start, support, sustain, and expand the number of culturally diverse businesses owned and operated in North Minneapolis. We strive for the best customer service in the world, the relentless pursuit of excellence, and respect for the individual. Working with our team provides an opportunity to utilize our collective power to improve and expand programs for the benefit of the North Minneapolis community where entrepreneurs can start, grow and thrive.

Wages & Benefits

$19.23 - $21.63 hourly; NEON is proud to offer an incredibly robust benefits package to employees. Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) starting at 18 days per year, plus ten paid holidays, two floating holidays and a seasonal paid office closure for a week at the end of the year; 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families; Health Savings Account (HSA) fully-funded by NEON for individual or family coverage. There is employer paid basic life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employee. The employer pays for Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and long-term disability insurance. NEON sponsors a retirement plan with a 6% employer match and immediate vesting.

What You'll Do

The Assistant Kitchen Manager plays a vital role in advancing NEON's mission by helping oversee daily operations of NEON's shared-use commercial kitchen while supporting local food entrepreneurs as they launch, grow, and scale their ventures. You'll ensure the kitchen runs safely, efficiently, and in compliance with health regulations, while fostering a welcoming, collaborative environment. Working closely with the Kitchen Manager and NEON's Business Development team, you'll provide guidance, mentorship, and technical assistance to food-based businesses, helping them strengthen operations, navigate kitchen systems, and access resources that support sustainable growth. Responsibilities include:

• Conducting periodic tours of the kitchen for potential users.
• Ensuring potential users and members have required certifications, licenses, and insurance.
• Assisting users and members with onboarding and kitchen reservations on the Food Corridor platform.
• Ensuring kitchen spaces are left clean and ready for the next users.
• Scheduling and managing special events.
• Reading and maintaining refrigeration temperatures and other records according to schedule.
• Monitoring the facility for safety and security.
• Assisting the Kitchen Manager in training, coaching, and supporting kitchen users on techniques, safety, and efficient systems, and reinforcing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Fostering a collaborative, respectful, and high-performing team environment.
• Assisting with ordering, receiving, inventory tracking, and proper storage of supplies.
• Supporting improvements that reduce waste and streamline kitchen operations.
• Ensuring compliance with health codes, sanitation standards, and proper food handling.
• Maintaining cleaning schedules and ensuring equipment is used and maintained correctly.
• Identifying and resolving safety or maintenance issues promptly.
• Assisting with NEON community events, marketing efforts, and special projects.
• Representing NEON at external events or meetings to promote the commissary kitchen and NEON programs.
• Communicating effectively with chefs, partner businesses, and internal teams to support smooth operations.
• Supporting the Kitchen Manager with administrative or operational needs as assigned.
• Contributing to a culture of innovation, inclusion, and community impact.

Who You Are

• You have a high school diploma or equivalent, plus 2+ years of experience in a commercial kitchen; supervisory, lead, or shared-use kitchen experience is a plus.
• You have strong knowledge of high-volume food preparation, food safety standards, and commercial kitchen systems.
• You hold a ServSafe or equivalent certification or are willing to obtain one upon hire.
• You have excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills, and can manage multiple priorities effectively.
• You are experienced in leading, training, and supporting teams, staying calm, adaptable, and solutions-focused in fast-paced environments.
• You have strong interpersonal skills and enjoy building positive, professional relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• You are comfortable presenting and training in both small and large group settings.
• You work effectively both independently and collaboratively, consistently delivering high-quality service and maintaining professional standards.
• You have a valid driver's license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet NEON's driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit.

Photography and Videography Participation: As a condition of employment or engagement with NEON, staff members may be photographed or recorded in the course of their work. This includes but is not limited to:

• Professional headshots for NEON's website, reports, or internal directories
• Candid or posed images during events, programs, or community engagements
• Interviews or feature segments for media, promotional videos, or social media

These images and recordings will be used solely to support NEON's mission and enhance public awareness of our work.

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of NEON. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements. Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

NEON participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See E-Verify's official poster at https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf. See E-Verify's Right to Work poster at https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf.