Childcare Center Cook

Job Description

Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary job duties and responsibilities for the Cook include but are not limited to :

Meet Nutritional Needs

• Plan and provide nutritious meals and snacks
• Prepare and provide child nutrition
• Promote healthy eating
• Accommodate for allergies, special dietary and nutritional requirements
• Protect children from physical and emotional harm

Equipment and Facilities

• Maintains cleanliness in the kitchen and storage areas
• Develops and complies with a regular sanitization schedule for ovens, refrigerators and other appliances and areas
• Ensures a safe and healthy environment
• Assesses risks and uses emergency procedures as required
• Responds to facility emergencies
• Works safely around stoves and chemicals
• Maintains accurate, timely and complete records for menus, temperatures, controls, child allergies
• Follows DHS and CACFP guidelines

Finance

• Creates and maintains all food-related purchasing, inventory and turnover records
• Estimates requirements and expenses
• Ensures compliance with established budget

Family and Community Relations

• Supports a family-friendly environment
• Supports a culture of respect for all families
• Establish a positive image as a role model for our children and families.
• Be nurturing to all children throughout the center.
• Respects and follows the policy of the children’s and family’s confidentiality.

Responsibilities to Administration

• Reliable in attendance (On-time and gives ample notice for absence)
• Careful and conscientious in performance of duties; including the use of positive words and actions towards children, parents, and staff
• Responsible in job duties
• Flexible with assignments
• Flexible with schedules
• Remains calm in tense situations
• Maintains a positive attitude and professionalism.
• Follows policies and procedures of Little Endeavors, Department of Human Services and Quality Rating System
• Communicate in a professional manner with parents, staff and management.
• Maintain communication with the director.
• Approaches criticism with learning attitude.
• Come to work with a positive attitude.
• Looks for ways to be helpful around the center.
• Communicates directly, avoids gossip.

Professional Relationships

• Friendly and respectful.
• Work as a member of a professional team.
• Creates partnership with colleagues.
• Strives to assume a fair share of work.
• Is tactful with negative information.
• Maintain communication with staff of menu changes, policy changes, and classroom enrollments.

Education, Qualifications and Certifications

• Certificate in Cooking from a recognized college is preferred but not essential
• Universal Precautions Certification required 30 days upon hire
• Essentials Preservice Certification required 30 days upon hire
• Current First Aid and CPR Certificate required within 30 days upon hire
• Child Abuse Certification required within 30 days upon hire
• 6 hours annual on-going training after 1st year of hire
• Gain certification for Medication Administration after employment.

Skills and Abilities

• Time management, organizational skills
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, children, and administration
• Flexible to work different schedules when needed
• Valid driver’s license and able to drive 13 passenger van

Personal Characteristics

• Proactive, flexible, patient, professional, prompt and reliable attendance at work
• Neat and appropriate personal appearance and attire
• Patient and calm under pressure

Working Conditions

• The Cook works in a noisy and busy environment with varying temperatures
• Working around moving objects
• Slippery or uneven working surfaces

Physical Requirements

• Lifting to 50 lbs
• Able to stand for extended periods of time

Full time hours Monday through Friday

No Nights, weekends, or holidays!

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