Food Service Assistant

Food Service Assistant

Pearl River Head Start, Pearl River, LA, USA, Full Time

Nature of Work: To ensure support for the food service team in the areas of food preparation, dishwashing, clean-up, kitchen, and sanitation.

Education: Minimum of high school degree or GED with 1 year of food service experience.

Essential Functions:

• Be familiar with and adhere to the Head Start Program Performance Standards, State of Louisiana licensing requirements, the RCCDC written work plan, and agency's policies and procedures.
• Maintain an open, friendly, professional relationship with all staff and families, to include respect for culture, diversity, and ethnicity.
• Participate in annual program self-assessment and continuous quality improvement initiatives of the overall program.
• Ensure that safety, sanitation, and health standards are met by food service staff.

Position Specific Essential Functions:

• Kitchen Operation/Food Prep/Clean up:
• Is the primary cook in preparing high quality, high quantity nutritional food, following standardized recipes as directed by Food Service Manager & daily menus.
• Adhere to sanitation and safety procedures prescribed for the Head Start kitchens, i.e. proper food temperatures, storage, and preparation guidelines.
• Prepare and sort food for meal preparation for each classroom.
• Assemble food, dishes, utensils, and supplies needed for timely meal preparation.
• Wash dishes, pots, pans, and utensils using approved sanitation methods.
• Return all items to their proper storage site.
• Complete routine maintenance of kitchen and equipment, including weekly deep cleaning.
• Perform weekly a thorough visual safety check and complete checklist.
• Report any needed equipment or kitchen repairs.
• Follows strictly the written recipe as provided by the nutrition specialist using portion control methods, including weighing of meal components.
• Meal Planning & Misc.:
• Determines quantities of food daily to be prepared for each meal.
• Assist the Food Service Manager in the completion of all relevant USDA/CACFP forms (CACFP-6, special diet documentation, summary reports).
• Attend meetings and trainings as required.
• Deliver meals from kitchen to classrooms.
• Assist with generating In-Kind.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong math and clerical/bookkeeping skills related to invoicing, receiving, and administration of other food service/production documentation.
• Strong computer and keyboarding skills, (word processing, data entry, spreadsheets, etc.).
• Thorough knowledge of and experience with bulk food purchasing, large quantity food preparation, and operation of food service equipment.
• Previous experience in a professional food production operation which includes dishwashing.
• Knowledge of approved sanitation methods.
• Basic literacy skills.

Special Considerations:

• Employees within this classification are required to:
• Pass a criminal background check.
• Pass a physical examination and complete Tuberculosis (TB) test every three years.
• Maintain a current First Aid and CPR certification (training provided).
• Valid driver's license with a driving record in compliance with RCCDC's insurance carrier requirements.
• Continuous standing and walking for most of a 7.5 hour work day.
• Frequent daily bending and lifting of bulk foods, food bins; bulk food items are lifted from the floor and weigh 10 – 50 lbs each. Food bins weight 30-70 lbs and are lifted from floor and work tables.
• Regular crouching, kneeling, stooping.
• Frequent lifting of up to 50lbs.
• Regular reaching occurs to retrieve utensils and food items from storage shelves and cupboards up to 8 high.
• Be able to perform duties in an active environment with changes in climate and noise level.

Position Reports to: Center Director

FLSA Status: Hourly/Non-Exempt