Lead Cook (Continuous)

KIPP Capital Region is a part of a national network of high-performing public Charter Schools committed to creating joyful, academically excellent, and prepared students with the skills, ability, and confidence to pursue their paths to college, career, and beyond.

Located in both Albany and Troy, NY, KIPP Capital Region serves 2,500+ students in grades K-12 across seven schools. We believe every individual walks through the doors of schools bearing gifts. Talent. Perspective. Drive. Inspiration. So at KIPP Capital Region, we support every student and educator to see those gifts, then build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

We are committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all of our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students, together.

KIPP Capital Region is accepting applications for the two opportunities below:
- Full-Time Lead Cook (assigned to one school)
- Full-Time Floater Lead Cook Floater (travels between schools)

Position Overview

The Lead Cook is responsible for preparing and cooking large batches of food that will be served to students.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Prepares all menu items for breakfast and lunch with staff based on prior production as needed.
• Uses standardized recipes to ensure proper preparation, nutritional values, and portion sizes.
• Takes hot and cold temperatures of all foods at each serving period and logs in production record.
• Manages food prep so that there is enough food and little waste.
• Responsible for breakfast and lunch tick sheets (if directed by a manager)
• Completes production records daily.
• Serves students on the line during service times, or remains in kitchen to cook, as manager directs.
• Always maintains a clean working environment.
• Follows Serv-Safe procedures at all times.
• Prepares orders as requested by Food Service Director/ Food Service Manager
• Assists in stock rotation and putting orders away.
• Ensures that inventory sheets on freezer are filled out correctly and are updated daily.
• Responsible for maintaining organization, including proper storage, labeling, and dating in freezers, coolers, and dry storage.
• Assists with utility, including dishes, cleaning work areas, sweeping and mopping floors.
• Ensures that food for the next day's menu is taken out of freezer as needed and ready to prepare.
• Assists Food Service Manager with training of other employees at school location as directed.
• Manages other employees so that everyone is clocked out at the end of the shift as soon as all work is completed, within scheduled hours.
• Any other duties as requested by the Food Service Director/ FS Manager.
• Must be available to work occasional catered school functions as needed.
• Responsible for the cooking, serving, and documenting meals and snacks for a K-8 school program.
• Oversees and directs workers assisting with the preparation and serving of meals.
• Arranges food and beverage items (e.g., placing in steam tables, a la carte trays, filling racks, mobile carts, etc.) to make items available to students and staff.
• Create and follow menus and handle all phases of kitchen operations, including inventory control.
• Ensures smooth operations and functioning of the kitchen in adherence to health and food safety codes.
• Cleans utensils, equipment, storage, food preparation, and serving areas to maintain sanitary conditions.
• Maintains strict cleanliness of the kitchen, food service, and storage areas.
• Collects payments for food items from students and staff to complete transactions and secure funds for reimbursement of costs.
• Inspects food items, work areas, etc. (e.g., personal hygiene, proper food temperatures, etc.) to prevent cross contamination of food-borne illnesses.
• Loads carts, food warmers, trays, etc., to ensure that food and beverage items are available for transporting to other sites (by assignment).
• Serves one or more food items to meet mandated nutritional requirements and requests and students and school personnel.
• Uses proper body mechanics and cleaning procedures to prevent accidental injuries to self and others.

KIPP Capital Region

• Perform other duties as outlined by School Leadership.
• Committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students together.
• Complies with all charter, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including the NYS Department of Education, Department of Health, and NYS Office of Children and Family Services.
• Adheres to organization policies and procedures; promotes and supports mission, vision, and values, including developing and participating in internal surveys and data collection for continuous improvement initiatives.

Education/Experience

• High School Diploma/GED required.
• Vocational school coursework in kitchen basics, such as food safety, preferred.
• Cooking experience along with menu and food preparation in a cafeteria setting, preferred.
• Prior experience working in schools and urban communities is preferred but not required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule outside of regular business hours.
• Aptitude to create and work within an inclusive environment that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Prolonged periods were spent sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the school and other facilities as needed.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee needs to read, write, and speak English fluently.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use fingers to type, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance; stoop/bend and reach, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear.
• Dexterity requires writing and operating standard office machines such as computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, phones, and calculators.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds.

Work Perks
When you join KIPP Capital Region, you are joining in on our promise to families that their children will enter college and the professional world able to thrive academically due to their literacy, numeracy, and core knowledge in science and social studies. We also promise that our students will develop a passion for learning and the drive necessary to persevere as they climb the mountain to and through college and career. Our graduates will be prepared to return to their community as teachers, leaders, and architects of continued growth in the Capital Region. And while the biggest perk to working at KIPP Capital Region is doing work that makes a lifelong difference in the lives of our students, you'll find that's not the only benefit we offer:

• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Aggressive employer 403(b) contribution match
• Childcare benefits
• Unparalleled work/life Integration
• Casual dress code
• Relocation stipend (conditions apply)
• And so much more! For more information on the benefits of joining KIPP Capital Region, please view our Employee Benefits Summary .

Learn More:
KIPP Capital Region offers a competitive salary ranging from $33,205 - $63,984.

Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience relevant to the role and longevity within the KIPP network. KIPP Capital Region will evaluate and determine the step/level a new hire will be placed within our food service salary scale at point of hire.

All staff and educators at KIPP Capital Region are committed to anti-racism and inclusion, are part of a close-knit diverse community, and are encouraged to show up authentically, inspiring our children to do the same. Learn more about what it's like to work at KIPP Capital Region: kippcapital.org/join-our-team/

This role is located at KIPP Capital Region schools in Albany and Troy, NY.