Cook

Job Title

Job Overview

This position is responsible for providing nutritious meals and snacks for enrolled children and those who attend special events, including development of positive attitudes toward healthy foods in terms of decision-making, sharing, communicating with others, and development of muscle control and eye-hand coordination. The food provided should also emphasize appropriate eating patterns and mealtime behavior when children observe adult behavior at family style meals.

Job Responsibilities

• Promotes and models the organization's Core Values.
• Prepares appropriate meals, in conjunction with our Nutrition Manager, for program children (and adults) on a daily and weekly basis.
• Prepares shopping list and submits purchase requests for food, kitchen and maintenance supplies for proper authorization and approval.
• Maintains receipts and documents listing numbers of meals/snacks served; donated food served and stored.
• Maintains inventory of kitchen equipment, all food items, paper supplies, utensils, cleaning products and any other supplies used in the kitchen.
• Assist in preparing monthly food service USDA reports by due date.
• Ensures cleaning materials, detergents, aerosol cans, pesticides, and chemicals used in the daily maintenance of kitchen are properly stored in their original labeled containers, entirely separated from food products.
• Supports teaching staff in preparing children for new food through activities in the program setting or through a home visit, such as reading stories about the food, shopping for the food, helping in its preparation and, perhaps actually growing food or seeing it grow in a garden.
• Ensures food is not used as punishment or reward, and each child is encouraged, but not forced, to eat or taste his or her food.
• Allows sufficient time for each child to eat.
• Encourages all staff, toddlers and preschool children assigned to the classroom to eat family style (when appropriate) and share the same menu to the extent possible
• Will notify center directors and teaching staff immediately of menu change.
• Insures medically based diets or other dietary requirements.
• Ensures and follows registered dietitian substitutions of meals for children with special medical diets.
• Maintains up-to-date training on how to feed children with food allergies or other special dietary concerns, as well as how to handle emergency procedures.
• Understands USDA/HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the USDA Food Guide Pyramid and Nutrition Facts Labels, on commercially prepared foods.
• Serves nutritious food at parent activities.
• Maintains kitchen safety and health standards according to licensing standards, USDA Regulations, and Health Department.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education

Required :

• High School Diploma or GED
• Food Handler Certificate upon hire.
• Food Manager Certification, or ability to obtain one within 30 days from the date of hire.

Work Experience

Required :

• At least six months working in a related field and familiar with Safety Rules and Regulations.

Preferred :

• One (1) year in a public-school cafeteria as a cook or cook assistant or related field.

Additional Skills Required

• First Aid and CPR training.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Knowledgeable in proper and safe meal preparation.
• Budget planning.
• Good verbal and written communication skills to maintain records and communicate with any agency or representative from an agency regulating the program operations.
• Accurate, detail-oriented, and able to meet deadlines.
• Able to handle multiple tasks at one time.
• Must have dependable transportation daily, valid driver's license, clean driving record, current auto liability insurance and insurable by AVANCE, San Antonio.

Disclaimers

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. Nothing in this job description forms or is intended to form a contract of employment. Neither shall the content in this job description be interpreted to conflict with, or to eliminate or modify in any way, the "at will" employment status of AVANCE San Antonio employees. Employment remains on an "at-will" basis.

Travel

0-10% annually on average, mostly local; to assist other centers upon program needs.

Equipment

Computer, computer software programs and peripherals, resource materials and equipment, copier, fax, and other equipment applicable to the position.

Working Conditions

Mental and Physical Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors

Occasional exposure to biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional exposure to weather related conditions when working in outside environment/neighborhoods and events.

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities regarding application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE's policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE's business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.

EEO/AAP Statement

AVANCE values diversity and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. It is also our goal to employ and advance in employment women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, and to treat qualified individuals without discrimination on the basis of their physical or mental disability or veteran status.