Kitchen Staff

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts

Reporting Relationship
The Kitchen Staff reports to the Executive Director. May also receive direct supervision from the Assistant Director.

Job Summary
The Kitchen Staff prepares nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children and staff approved by Little Newtons, Peace of Mind. He/she supports and implements family- style food service. The Kitchen Staff will accurately follow cycle menus in accordance with the schools budget and state and federal nutritional requirements for children. He/she will keep an accurate inventory of food and supplies and orders inventory as needed. The Kitchen Staff maintains a positive, supportive relationship with staff, children, parents, and regulatory officials while adhering to local health department regulations to ensure food safety.

Job Responsibilities and Standards of Performance
Food Service Responsibilities
- Prepares breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily. In some cases, it may be necessary to prepare portions of the meals the prior day.
- Prepares and serves lunch and snacks in amounts based on number of children and staff present that day, allowing for second helpings for children, if needed.
- Portions and serves food in a manner that enables the classroom teachers to successfully implement Family Style Meal Service.
- Meals are served in a timely manner to coincide with each classrooms daily schedule and maintaining holding temperatures of food.
- Serves food in appropriate containers at the appropriate temperature with appropriate serving utensils.
- Posts and follows approved menus. Posts approved, nutritionally sound substitutions, as needed.
- Post all food allergy and food restrictions alerts in kitchen with childs name, classroom assignment, and detailed description of allergy or food restriction.
- Prepares approved substitutes or alternate foods for children, if necessary.
- Stocks shelves and refrigerators food safely and efficiently.

Health and Safety
- Manages the kitchen in compliance with state and local regulations and with company policies and procedures.
- Ensures food products are stored, labeled and discarded in accordance with local regulatory agencies and company policies.
- Keeps kitchen floor, counters, shelves, and related work areas safe and clean.
- Maintains safe refrigeration and storage of food products.
- Must be able to determine food temperatures and ensure that food is served and stored at appropriate temperatures.
- Correctly cleans, sanitizes and stores dishes and utensils.
- Implements all standards necessary to ensure a clean, safe, and healthy environment, including universal precautions.
- Maintains a clean, safe, healthy environment through scheduled cleaning and frequent visual checks.
- Understands and implements policies related to the exclusion of an ill or infected staff member in accordance with licensing and health department protocols.
- Participates in emergency drills in accordance with company and licensing requirements.
- Maintains kitchen equipment to ensure a safe environment that meets company and licensing safety standards.
- Understands and implements emergency procedures in case of emergency situations. When necessary, can administer CPR/First Aid, including lifting and carrying injured children.

Fiscal Responsibilities
- Keeps accurate inventory records and places food orders in accordance with school budget
- Minimizes food waste while ensuring children are provided with minimum portions as well as an additional helping of food if desired.

Customer Relations
- Maintains positive communications with families and staff.

Physical and Mental Requirements
Childcare demands physical fitness and mental acuity as staff care for children who cannot care for themselves. The Kitchen Staff:
- Must be capable of lifting and moving provisions averaging 10-50 pounds, up to 50 times daily.
- Able to stand approximately 95% of the workday, including the time spend on food preparation and cleaning responsibilities
- Capable of safely handling knives and other sharp objects needed to prepare food.
- Able to stoop and bend to clean, store and retrieve food and utensils.
- Able to physically and mentally react immediately to unexpected circumstances and emergencies.
- Able to count, record information, and follow recipes and instructions.

GENERAL
- Completes and maintains all required paperwork and record keeping on a timely basis and maintains same in an organized, up-to-date manner. Prepares and forwards
reports and forms required by the company.
- Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Works well with others.
- May at times be needed in the classroom and will be required to meet all state licensing qualifications/ ongoing training for this position.

Qualifications
The Kitchen Staff must meet the state licensing requirements, as well as all other requirements of state and local regulatory agencies for the position, which include, CPR and First Aide certification, Yearly State In-Services Hours and Food Managers Certification. The Kitchen Staff must have good personal hygiene, knowledge of proper food preparation and kitchen safety, and good interpersonal skills.

Essential Job Functions
All the above italicized duties are designated as ADA Essential Job Functions and must be performed in this job. All other duties are secondary functions.
32-40 hours weekly