Cook (Early Care & Education)

Cook

Under the supervision of the Campus Supervisor and in accordance with Head Start (HS) Federal Program Performance Standards, California Department of Education (CDE), California Department of Social Services (CDSS), CDSS Childcare Licensing Division (CLD), and Mission Neighborhood Center's (MNC), the Cook will primarily be responsible for preparing, cooking, and serving two meals and one snack daily for one to two campuses as needed.

This Cook position will be following Early Care & Education program.

Hiring Location: MNC Mission Campus

Essential Functions / Responsibilities

• Follow all CACFP guidelines.
• Plan, prepare, and serve meals and snacks for children in accordance with CACFP standards. Ensure meals are nutritionally balanced and appropriate for the age group. Follow established menus and substitute ingredients as needed while maintaining nutritional integrity. Monitor food portions, ensuring they meet CACFP meal patterns and guidelines.
• Assist in planning weekly or monthly menus based on CACFP nutrition guidelines. Ensure a variety of foods are included to meet the dietary needs of children. Adapt menus for children with food allergies or special dietary needs.
• Maintain accurate records of meals prepared and served, including portion sizes and menu changes.
• Prepare and maintain CACFP production records, entering and verifying data in the designated system in collaboration with the Health & Nutrition Manager to ensure ongoing program compliance.
• Prepares meals/snacks in a timely fashion to be delivered by scheduled mealtimes.
• Stock food service carts with appropriate utensils, plates, bowls, food, and beverages, as required for family style dining in the classrooms.
• Transports food from kitchen area to classrooms.
• Keep the kitchen, food preparation areas and all eating supplies clean and sanitary. Adhere to the guidelines of food sanitation and safe food handling practices set by the Public Health Department.
• Washing dishes, pots, pans, and utensils using approved sanitation methods.
• Assist in receiving, dating, and storing all food purchased by the campus.
• Completes necessary paperwork, including cleaning and temperature logs.
• Assist with major clean-up of kitchen, refrigerators, cabinets on non-program days.
• Assist in the implementation of nutrition education activities in cooperation with the teaching staff and participate as needed with the children
• Ensure that the kitchen is fully stocked with items for the next day.
• Monitor food expiration dates and food quality daily.
• Attend and participate in trainings, center pre-service and in-service trainings, and other continuing education, career and professional development opportunities
• Participate in the agency's self-evaluation process and grantee monitoring visits and complies with any applicable Program Improvement Plans developed.
• Participates in general staff meetings, training support for other campuses looking to expand food program and other meetings and events planned by the agency.
• Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

Secondary Functions

• Follow Head Start/CDE/CLD policies and procedures in reporting suspected child abuse in accordance with federal and state laws.
• Attends meetings and/or workshops (e.g. staff/campus meetings, in-service sessions, training, and parent meetings) for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions and/or maintaining their professional development.
• Must follow timekeeping policies and procedures

Customer Service

• Provide exceptional customer service.
• Always represent the Company in a professional manner.

Safety

• Maintain personal safety, use personal protection equipment (PPE) and follow Company policies.
• Report all and any safety issues, accidents or injuries to your manager as a matter of priority.
• Use safety walk and carry one child at a time up and down stairs.

Effective Team Member

Ability to interact positively with team members.

Ability to facilitate positive change.

Partner with supervisor when necessary to address department issues or concerns.

Position Qualification Requirements

Education: Minimum high school level reading and writing skills. High School diploma or GED

Experience: Minimum of six (6) months' experience in the food services field.

Knowledge and Abilities: General knowledge of the principles of cooking and basic nutrition. Ability to work as a flexible team member. Knowledge of and ability to follow established sanitation and safe food handling.

Physical Abilities: Ability to effectively use hands and fingers in the grasping of kitchen equipment and moving of items weighing up to 30 lbs. Ability to move freely around the kitchen and storage areas to perform food preparation and food servicing duties. Frequent walking, bending, reaching, twisting, and prolonged periods of standing. Exposure to noise, heat, and hot and cold surfaces. Requires coordination and dexterity in handling kitchen equipment and preparing food. Good vision and hearing ability in ensuring kitchen safety. Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

Requirements:

• Must wear hairnets, closed-toe rubber sole shoes, and apron.
• Fingerprinting Clearance (DOJ & FBI)
• Clearance of Child Abuse Index (CACI)
• Current Physical Health Screening (every 2 years thereafter)
• Current Immunizations (Influenza, MMR, Pertussis) (every 2 years thereafter)
• Tuberculosis (TB) Clearance
• Current CPR & First Aid Certificate (every 2 years thereafter)
• Current ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification (or equivalent ANSI-accredited Food Safety Manager Certification); if not held at hire, must be obtained within [timeframe] and renewed before expiration
• Must attend trainings that are required by funders (might be an evening or Saturday)

Language(s): Ability to effectively speak, read, and write the English language.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job the employee is required to sit approximately 10% of the time, walk 20% of the time and stand 70% of the time. The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to type or handle, feel, and operate objects. The employee is required to occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to speak and listen. Specific vision abilities of this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

What we offer

• Pay Rate: $28.00 - $36.00 Hourly

• Location: MNC Mission Campus

• Medical Kaiser and Balance / Dental Principal / Vision Vision Care / Life Insurance - $50,000 / 403b 3% match / FSA / Pet Care

• 15 paid sick days / 12 paid holidays / 12 paid vacation days

• EAP (Employee Assistance Program) / WADP (Working Advantage Discount Program)

If you are seeking an organization that values, promotes, and develops leadership by delivering culturally sensitive, multi-generational, community-based services that empower families to build strong, healthy, and vibrant neighborhoods with the vision of a strong, healthier and more vibrant community that respects and celebrates its many rich, cultural traditions, please apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer that welcome diversity in the workplace with a great company culture. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.