Jobs

Local Roots is a minority, female owned small business that believes food can change the world. Our menu features Chinese homestyle dishes using local ingredients. We're looking for hard working, dedicated individuals to join the farm-to-table revolution.

Currently hiring for:
Line/Prep Cook
Farm to table Front of House Associate
Kitchen Manager

LINE/PREP COOK
Be a part of a dynamic culinary team passionate about sustainability and local food as a Line and Prep Cook at Local Roots NYC!! We are seeking a reliable and dedicated individual who will be responsible for preparing and portioning ingredients for the main dishes being cooked in the kitchen of our 3 locations, and prepare catering orders. This is a small team and not a large scale fine dining restaurant, making it ideal for an individual seeking a less stressful work environment or an individual just starting their culinary career path. We are ideally looking for candidates with experience in a professional kitchen, but are open to guiding home cooks or culinary students to work in an operating commercial kitchen. As a member of our team, we also invite you to foster your own passion and host pop ups or events at our BK cafe location.

We are looking for someone who is looking to grow with our company. There are multiple ways to set up your schedule. Prep work is completed in our Brooklyn cafe kitchen, and you can work the line at our Brooklyn cafe location or at our Midtown Kiosk or new Pier 57 food hall in Chelsea as a FOH/line kitchen hybrid role.

Food Preparation: Handle food in a safe and compliant manner. Follow recipes and prepare/cook food to the highest standards. Monitor quality control of each food item throughout preparation and service.

Wash, peel, chop, and slice ingredients quickly as needed for daily recipes
Ensure that food preparation and storage areas are kept clean and organized
Maintain safe food handling and sanitation practices at all times
Maintain accurate inventory of supplies and equipment

Receive and process deliveries. Store fresh produce and goods upon delivery according to food safety standards and maintain organization in the walk in.
Maintain an efficient dish pit and clean kitchen, up to par with food safety standards.
Prepare catering orders for events
Opportunity for recipe development using seasonal, local ingredients from our amazing farms, brainstorm event ideas, host your own events at Local Roots BK cafe

We’re a small team, our ideal candidate is:

Hours, Availability, and Compensation
- This is a full time position ranging from 35-40 hrs/week. Part time hours are available as well.
- Schedule for prep work can be flexible
- The Market and Café is located in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn with seating for approx 20 guests and offers take out options
- Our Midtown kiosk is located on 55th and Madison and our new Pier 57 location will be in Chelsea
- You will receive complimentary local veggies+fruit each week, PTO, and the opportunity to learn more about local agriculture and seasonality
- You receive 1 complimentary meal per shift and 20% off products in our store
- Pay is based on experience, $17-22/hr
- $300 joining bonus after 6 months of employment
To apply, please email your resume and short cover letter to wenjay@localroots.nyc ASAP with subject line "LINE/KITCHEN PREP"

FARM TO TABLE FRONT OF HOUSE ASSOCIATE
Join the culinary revolution as a Front of House Associate at Local Roots! We are seeking a vibrant and outgoing individual passionate about local food and sustainability who is excited to learn more about local food and share this knowledge with New Yorkers. As a Front of House Associate, you will be responsible for creating a welcoming experience for our guests, prepare matcha and drinks, and do simple plating of dishes during PM hours.

If you have a love for people and hospitality, and a desire to grow, then this is the perfect job for you. We have positions open at our Brooklyn cafe, Pier 57 Chelsea food hall, and Midtown Kiosk.

The Role

Customer Service: Work the front counter and ring up orders using Square POS systems. Provide excellent customer service and foster a sense of community among guests. Our menu dishes might be unfamiliar to some people since are serving Chinese homestyle cooking; your job is to help customers pick out dish items and to explain each dish's flavor notes.
Food Preparation: Prepare coffee, tea, and mixed drinks. You will also do simple plating of hot dishes. You must be able to handle food in a safe and compliant manner
Open + Close: You will be responsible for opening or closing duties
Assist with events at the venue
Opportunity to contribute ideas to community building events or host your own event at Local Roots

Qualifications

Punctual, reliable and responsive: You are a self starter and a real team player. You show up on time consistently, respond to slack (our online communication platform), and you're eager to step in and help out - we are a small, lean business.
Attention to detail and comfortable in fast paced environments
Empathetic and outgoing with strong communication skills: Able to represent Local Roots as a thoughtful and passionate advocate for local farmers and fellow New Yorkers - you are committed to learning the ins-and-outs of the Local Roots mission and share it with the community. Your friendly personality can offer food and drink suggestions to customers.
Versatile and flexible - comfortable with multi-tasking across a variety of detailed tasks at once and able to maintain a calm demeanor even during busy times
Able to lift and carry 40lb boxes to successfully receive deliveries
Able to work on your feet while on-shift
Experience preparing drinks and taking orders in a fast paced environment
3+ months minimum prior kitchen, culinary, or retail experience preferred***
Food handlers license preferred

Hours, Availability, and Compensation

$17-20/hr based on experience, plus shared tips
Part time and full time positions available at our Carroll Gardens, Midtown kiosk, and/or Chelsea James Beard curated food hall
This position is paid hourly, earns up to 40 hours annually accrued PTO (after 120 day of employment) and receives cash and square tips.
Other perks:

$300 Bonus for working with us for 6 months.
Weekly farm produce *approx 3-5 vegetable or fruit items*
20% off any additional subscriptions, add-on items and retail items in cafe
Team visits to partner farmers and purveyors, when available
Credit for daily meal during your shift

Opportunity to learn more about local food and seasonality

To apply, please email your resume and short cover letter to wenjay@localroots.nyc ASAP with subject line "FOH"

Kitchen Manager

Join our growing cafe as Kitchen Manager and help lead the charge in developing our catering department! We are seeking a driven and dedicated individual with a strong culinary background who is excited about working with a small team. You will be responsible for managing the daily operations of our new Pier 57 James Beard food hall in Chelsea and Midtown Kiosk, as well as assist and guide our culinary team.

We are looking for someone who is committed to building a long-term career with Local Roots with opportunities to grow. Our ideal candidate will have a proven track record of success at a small business with excellent leadership skills, and a passion for guiding a kitchen team that is just starting their culinary careers. If you are a strategic thinker with a drive to continuously improve and seeking a less stressful job environment than a fine dining restaurant, this is the ideal role for you. You will work closely with the CEO and assistant general manager.

Responsibilities include:

Train new staff and continually help current staff grow in their roles. You believe in a two-way feedback loop, and strongly believe in supportive, strong, and firm leadership. You are comfortable delegating tasks and improving systems.
Create seasonal dishes with kitchen staff and cost out dishes
Identify opportunities to negotiate cost savings, enforce portioning standards, and closely monitor inventory to reduce waste and monitor spends.
Create an organized system to monitor inventory of food and paper goods
Oversee quality control and consistency of food on the line and prep kitchen
Organize prep lists, create a system so team members ensure a fully stocked kitchen, oversee kitchen inventory
Assist the CEO in launching the new PIer 57 food hall kiosk
Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
Ability to think creatively and develop innovative solutions
Experience expanding a food operation or opening a new kiosk preferred

Qualifications

2-3+ years in a food service setting
6 months in a leadership role in a kitchen
Strong culinary background with experience in developing and executing catering menus
Excellent leadership and people management skills
Strong organizational and time management skills
Ability to manage a team and delegate effectively
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Passion for providing outstanding customer service and hospitality
Passion for teaching and guiding a kitchen staff that is just starting their culinary careers
Financial acumen, with experience in budgeting and cost control
Experience and knowledge of catering and event planning
Proactive problem solver, resourceful, reliable
Equally strong in the day-to-day management of a kitchen as creating streamlined processes
Friendly personality that can represent Local Roots well. Empathetic and thoughtful leader for your team.
Enthusiastic about wearing multiple hats and jumping in when needed
Comfortable using software-based applications such as Square Point of Sale, Google Sheets, and Slack
New York Food Handlers card or ServSafe food handlers certification required
Able to routinely lift and carry 50lb boxes
Able to work on your feet while on-shift
The part-time version for this position is approx. 25-35 hours/week (with opportunity for additional hours as they become available)
Ability to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays required
Experience opening a new food serving location preferred

Timeline, Compensation, and Benefits

Candidates are required to be on site at all three locations. The prep team is based at our Carroll Gardens location, and you will oversee the staff at our Midtown Kiosk and Pier 57 Food Hall kiosk in Chelsea.

This position is paid a starting rate of $25-30/hour based on experience with a 40-50hr work week
$600 joining bonus after 6 months and 10% commission on new catering accounts you bring in
40-hours paid vacation (begins after 190 days of employment)
40-hours accrued Sick Time (accrual begins after 190 days of employment)
30-minute paid lunch breaks, five days a week
This position receives a complimentary weekly share of organic vegetables
This position enjoys a daily comped entrée ($16 of value) and unlimited coffee and tea from the Market & Cafe
This position enjoys a 20% discount on any items at the Market + Cafe

To apply, please email your resume and short cover letter to wenjay@localroots.nyc ASAP with subject line "KITCHEN GM"