ECS Cook

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Cook is responsible for daily preparation of nutritious meals and snacks to children attending Sunbeam early education centers. The Cook is responsible for preparing meals and snacks by sanitary methods that maintain high nutrient levels, adhere to special diets and allergy restrictions. The Cook is also responsible for all kitchen operations, cleanliness, dish washing, collecting of CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) data and coordination of supply orders with the supervising Kitchen Manager.

All employees and volunteers are expected to be sensitive to our clients' cultural and socio-economic characteristics, reflect Sunbeam Family Services core values, and perform at Sunbeam's standards of excellence at all times.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following are the essential functions of the Cook position:

• Prepare meals and snacks in such a way that a minimum of nutrients are lost from foods, that ensure foods taste good and look appealing, and that there are sufficient amounts of foods for children to have as many servings as they need.
• Prepare food that is appropriate for special diets and allergy restrictions.
• Maintain established standards of sanitation, safety and food preparation and storage as set by the local and state health departments
• Maintain an orderly, sanitary, and safe kitchen.
• Deliver foods from the kitchen to the classrooms ready to be served as suitable for the childrens age and development.
• Work effectively with other kitchen and ECS staff for efficient functioning of food service program.
• Cooperate with and participate in nutrition education activities for staff, parents and children.
• Participate in all emergency drills and environmental safety activities.
• Participate in staff meetings and other meetings and events as required.
• Travel locally as required in performance of responsibilities.
• Perform other appropriate and related responsibilities as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Minimally Required

• Education: Experience or course work and training in food preparation and baking, nutrition and/or dietetics
• Certification: Current Food Handler's Certificate
• Experience: Experience in food preparation and baking, nutrition and/or dietetics. Coursework and training in these areas may substitute for experience.
• Previous experience in a large-scale food production operation required.
• Previous experience in child care center and completion of CACFP training.

Preferred

• Education: Coursework and training in food preparation, baking, nutrition, and/or dietetics
• Certification: Advanced computer database and Microsoft Office software skills
• Experience: Previous experience in a large-scale food production operation
• Skills: Knowledge and understanding of Child Plus, NAEYC, and Head Start/Early Head Start performance standards and state and local child care license requirements.
• Bilingual Spanish/English speaking ability to interact with children and families from multilingual homes.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Demands

• The employee is required to frequently communicate with staff and others, and must be able to exchange accurate information when doing so.
• The employee must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time and occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office equipment, attend meetings, etc.
• Must be able to operate and use a computer.
• Must be able to detect, discern, distinguish, observe, inspect and compare.
• Must be able to move needed materials weighing up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment

• The employee will work in a food service environment, may work in close quarters with other staff and small children.
• The noise level in the work environment varies from moderate to loud; frequent chaotic situations will occur, characteristic to working with children ages 0 - 5 years.
• Employee must expect exposure to strong odors such as soiled diapers and clothes, and poor hygiene.
• May come into contact with childhood diseases and blood on occasion.

Other

• The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.
• The qualifications, physical demands, and work environment described herein are representative of those an employee will encounter and must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel or candidate and may be subject to change at any time.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Sunbeam Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to fair and equal in all its employment practices for persons without regard to race, ethnicity, color, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, disability or degree thereof, national origin, domestic/marital status, political affiliation or opinion, veteran status, HIV status, AIDS status, genetic information, and any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.