Careers — La Cocina

Careers
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La Cocina graduates and program participants

At La Cocina, our mission is rooted in a commitment to combat the racial and gender wealth gap by resourcing and uplifting aspiring food entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.

We believe food entrepreneurship is a catalyst and force for women, immigrants and people of color to build assets for themselves and their families, shape local economies, transform inequitable industry practices, and create communities that are joyful, connected, and nourished.

Led by our values, we strive to do our work with hospitality, for our community, and in the service of opportunity and inclusivity.

Open Positions

No current openings at this time.

Our Values

Hospitality

We create comfortable and joyful spaces for our staff, businesses and partners to work with each other. We hold nuance for the various manifestations of "hospitality" in this industry, prioritizing the purpose of creating a better world for everyone.

Inclusivity

We approach our work with a lense of intersectionality. We acknowledge that increasing equity in food business ownership requires listening to the needs of others and creating a space where everyone is valued and celebrated for their diversity.

Community

We create community with businesses, our network of supporters, and nonprofit and industry partners to share knowledge and perspective with the goal of advancing our mission to create a more just world.

Opportunity

We believe everyone is deserving of opportunity, despite what the capitalistic, xenophobic, and racist ideologies of the world tell us; and we give our community the opportunity to make mistakes and learn as we work together.

What It's Like Working at La Cocina

Benefits and Perks

We provide a highly competitive and inclusive benefits package that supports overall employee health and attracts the best talent from diverse backgrounds.

$0-deductible Kaiser medical plan; dental, vision, and life insurance coverage
Coverage effective 1st of the month following date of hire
100% of employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums paid by La Cocina
401(k) retirement savings plan with an automatic 3% contribution
Unlimited paid time off with manager approval
All federal holidays observed; summer closure the week of July 4
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave, medical leave, and mental health leave
Hybrid remote / in-person work policy (at least 3 days in person each week); up to 4 consecutive weeks of fully remote work a year
Pre-tax commuter benefits
Monthly mobile phone and Internet stipend
Professional development, which staff have used to get language lessons, travel to conferences or receive mentoring and training within their expertise.

Our Work Culture

La Cocina is an in-person organization, and currently requires its employees to come to one of our two incubator kitchen locations (Mission District and Tenderloin) for at least three days a week. Being an in-person-focused organization enables us to leverage the energy and collaboration made possible from us being in the same place. We have a no-meeting policy every Thursday.

We enjoy coming together for a staff breakfast catered by a La Cocina entrepreneur every first Wednesday of the month. Our drop-in market events enable staff to meet prospective applicants, sample food, and provide feedback. And twice yearly, we host a community gathering with La Cocina entrepreneurs and their families, staff, and board members. Throughout the year, there are many opportunities to support events hosted by La Cocina or entrepreneurs – from pop-up dinners to restaurant launches.

Since our core work is mentorship, everyone's job description considers the best way the person in that role can dedicate time to directly working with and supporting entrepreneurs.

Employee Testimonials

“La Cocina is an organization that takes building community seriously. At organizations I've worked at before it's often been hard to find connection amongst coworkers particularly in a post-Covid world. But at La Cocina, I can confidently say I know everyone and I've shared a meal with them. My colleagues are warm with a breadth of experience in various fields. They are passionate about the community we serve. And we all have a deep love for food.”

Karen Garcia, Incubator Program Coordinator

I love working for La Cocina. There is such a strong sense of community between the staff and our talented clients. Being a part of the entrepreneurs' success is an incredible feeling. I have never experienced the level of satisfaction at a job that I do at La Cocina.

Walter Miros, Culinary Program & Facilities Manager

“Each day at La Cocina is an opportunity to tackle some of the most important challenges in our world today. My colleagues are incredibly talented, determined, patient, and adaptable. We’re not strangers to uncertainty and getting messy because we each have an entrepreneurial mindset and have experienced firsthand our collective power to creatively figure it out and forge ahead.”

Michelle Magat, Director of Communications + Innovation

Working at La Cocina has allowed me to explore developing a work/life balance in a way that I have not experienced. The benefits are a great bonus, but the opportunity for professional development is truly something that can change a career. I feel fortunate to be a part of such a rewarding mission, and to have an investment made into my personal growth is invaluable to me.

Jezreel Rojas, Commissary Kitchen Manager

Creating and maintaining a good work culture is a real task; it will not just happen successfully on its own. The professional growth and happiness of employees matters to the leadership team. We create multiple outlets for receiving regular and open feedback about our organization, so individuals feel heard and empowered. We continue to find ways to let them know their value and the impact of their work — from regular check-ins with HR to providing opportunities for professional development.”

Sarah Lau, Director of People + Culture

My favorite part of La Cocina is working side by side with such a talented community of entrepreneurs from all over the world. Every day, I learn about them through their food, their stories, and the shared laughs in the kitchen or hustling together at events. It’s a work environment like no other and one that bring me so much joy.

Arielle Helffrich, Catering Sales and Event Coordinator

“Food people are the best people, and we are all drawn to this organization because of our deep commitment to making the world around us more delicious and more just. The connections that I have forged with entrepreneurs, staff, and their families have woven a richly textured web of support around me as a Bay Area transplant. I love working around people whose languages, spices, and traditions have pushed me to understand perspectives and experiences very different from my own.”

Leticia Landa, Executive Director

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We know it’s important that our staff have deep connections and experience with the diversity of people, organizations, and movements our work supports. As such, we seek creative problem solvers from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds who roll up their sleeves, put their heart into what they do, and can enrich our ability to deliver human-centered solutions for the communities we serve.

Equal Opportunity Employer

La Cocina is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We believe that diversity enriches our organization and enhances the quality of our work. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.