Head Start Chef

Description

Are you seeking more than a paycheck in your career?

Do you want to see children succeed in school because they are consuming nutritious food?

Would you love to cook and prepare food on a consistent schedule?

Do you love to collaborate with a variety of people with various expertise ?

Jefferson County is currently hiring a Head Start Chef . This position provides you the opportunity to work for a county that thrives on working collaboratively and overcoming challenges.

We are seeking a game changer, someone who loves what they do and is motivated to share their knowledge with those they work with.

Head Start is a no cost, comprehensive, child-focused and family-centered preschool program for children ages 6 weeks-5 years old.

A range of individualized services in the areas of education, early childhood development, medical, dental, mental health, nutrition, family support, and parent education and training provided to children and families.

The Head Start Chef reports to the Kitchen Manager and is responsible for facilitating the from-scratch preparation of whole, fresh, delicious and nourishing foods, while maintaining a harmonious, clean, safe and orderly work environment.

This position is responsible for coordinating, together with the Sous Chef, the daily tasks of the Arvada-site kitchen, including meeting with the Kitchen Manager to review menu plans and developing daily project lists for a team of kitchen aides.

This includes training and collaboratively coordinating kitchen aides to ensure the efficient and proper delivery of food to approximately 275 Head Start children per day across two locations.

This position is also responsible for partnering with the Sous Chef to ensure proper meal service records are kept, such as production records, cleaning lists, and food temperature records.

This is a full-time position, with full-time work over the summer. Generally, there are no weekends and occasional evenings;

hours are typically 6 : 00 am to 2 : 30 pm.

Anticipated Hire Range : 19.00 20.00 USD Hourly

Compensation will be determined based on education, experience, and skills.

Benefits : Jefferson County offers a generous benefits package that supports your personal and professional life. Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and more.

For more information, click here for our Total Rewards summary.

Essential Duties :

The Chef will be responsible for :

• Collaborate on school menu and developing Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) compliant recipes using a variety of whole foods that are geared towards children ages 6 weeks-5 years old.
• Preparing breakfast, lunch and snack for 275 children and approximately 40 teachers.
• Following the CACFP guidelines and Jeffco Health Department guidelines for food safety while prepping, cooking, organizing, weighing and packing out planned menu items for all classrooms and satellite sites per prescribed recipes and preparing temperature, production and transport records.
• Planning for and providing substitutions as necessary to accommodate children with special dietary needs under direction of Nutritionist.
• Organizing production of large-scale recipes to best utilize the time allotted and equipment and space available, including preparing production schedules per menu and transport needs.
• Providing instruction and training to staff on safe and sanitary food handling and the safe and proper operation of kitchen and culinary equipment.
• Together with the Kitchen Manager, coordinating all daily kitchen activities, including communicating a daily plan of action, following up with kitchen staff to ensure established job duties and policies are being followed, collaborating with the Kitchen Manager to develop team building activities and reviewing weekly menus and production records.
• Meeting with the Kitchen Manager to discuss the kitchen system, including suggesting and implementing improvements.
• Ensuring foods and supplies are accurately received, properly stored and rotated to ensure maximum freshness and minimize waste;

identifying and determining quality, maturity and ripeness of produce and ensuring that production recipes will utilize stock per recipe and following FIFO in pulling product to prepare recipes.

• Ensuring cleanliness and sanitation of kitchen, and storage areas including, but not limited to, walk-ins, refrigeration, freezers, dry storage.
• Ensuring proper care and maintenance of equipment and appliances.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications :

Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups tend to apply only when they check every box in the posting.

If you are reading this and hesitating to click apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! A true passion and excitement for making an impact is just as important as work experience.

Minimum Qualifications :

• High school diploma or GED,
• Culinary training and
• 1 year of work-related experience.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must have a valid driver's license by hire date.

Preferred Qualifications :

School food or industrial food service experience.

Additional Information :

• A valid Driver's license is required at hire and a valid Colorado Driver's License is required within 30 days.
• Offer of employment contingent on criminal history check (including fingerprints, TRAILS check, and sex offender registry),
• Pre-employment Tuberculosis (TB) screening and pre-employment physical required.
• Please note that supplemental questions requiring a written response will serve as a writing sample.

How to Apply :

Applications will be accepted electronically at Jefferson County Colorado Career Opportunities.

Applicants complete an online form and have the option to provide a resume and detailed cover letter that describes why you are the best candidate for the position.

Applications are reviewed for minimum qualifications listed in the qualifications section of the job bulletin, and applicants are contacted directly by the hiring team regarding next steps.

To view the status of your application or direct communication from the hiring team, please log into your candidate portal.

For more details on the recruitment process, please visit

Questions :

• County Recruitment Team : 303-271-8400 or
• Library Recruitment Team : 303.275.6168 or
• Sheriff Recruitment Team : 303.271.5332 or o.us

Preferred - Culinary training.

Required -

Annual certification in Child and Adult Care Food Programs.

Colorado Driver's License within 90 days of date of hire.

Pre-employment physical.

Education :

GED, High School Diploma, Specialized Training - non degree

Experience :

Work Experience : Minimum one year

Certifications : Languages :

Languages : Category :

Category :

Health & Human Services