Childcare Center Cook

**Hours Needed: Monday-Friday 8:00-2:00**

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary job duties and responsibilities for the Cook include but are not limited to:

Meet Nutritional Needs

1. Plan and provide nutritious meals and snacks
2. Prepare and provide child nutrition
3. Promote healthy eating
4. Accommodate for allergies, special dietary and nutritional requirements
5. Protect children from physical and emotional harm

Equipment and Facilities

1. Maintains cleanliness in the kitchen and storage areas
2. Develops and complies with a regular sanitization schedule for ovens, refrigerators and other appliances and areas
3. Ensures a safe and healthy environment
4. Assesses risks and uses emergency procedures as required
5. Responds to facility emergencies
6. Works safely around stoves and chemicals
7. Maintains accurate, timely and complete records for menus, temperatures, controls, child allergies
8. Follows DHS and CACFP guidelines

Finance

1. Creates and maintains all food-related purchasing, inventory and turnover records
2. Estimates requirements and expenses
3. Ensures compliance with established budget

Family and Community Relations

1. Supports a family-friendly environment
2. Supports a culture of respect for all families
3. Establish a positive image as a role model for our children and families.
4. Be nurturing to all children throughout the center.
5. Respects and follows the policy of the children’s and family’s confidentiality.

Responsibilities to Administration

1. Reliable in attendance (On-time and gives ample notice for absence)
2. Careful and conscientious in performance of duties; including the use of positive words and actions towards children, parents, and staff
3. Responsible in job duties
4. Flexible with assignments
5. Flexible with schedules
6. Remains calm in tense situations
7. Maintains a positive attitude and professionalism.
8. Follows policies and procedures of Little Endeavors, Department of Human Services and Quality Rating System
9. Communicate in a professional manner with parents, staff and management.
10. Maintain communication with the director.
11. Approaches criticism with learning attitude.
12. Come to work with a positive attitude.
13. Looks for ways to be helpful around the center.
14. Communicates directly, avoids gossip.
    

Professional Relationships

1. Friendly and respectful.
2. Work as a member of a professional team.
3. Creates partnership with colleagues.
4. Strives to assume a fair share of work.
5. Is tactful with negative information.
6. Maintain communication with staff of menu changes, policy changes, and classroom enrollments.

Education, Qualifications and Certifications

1. Certificate in Cooking from a recognized college is preferred but not essential
2. Universal Precautions Certification required 30 days upon hire
3. Essentials Preservice Certification required 30 days upon hire
4. Current First Aid and CPR Certificate required within 30 days upon hire
5. Child Abuse Certification required within 30 days upon hire
6. 6 hours annual on-going training after 1st year of hire
7. Gain certification for Medication Administration after employment.

Skills and Abilities

1. Time management, organizational skills
2. Ability to work independently
3. Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, children, and administration
4. Flexible to work different schedules when needed
5. Valid driver’s license and able to drive 13 passenger van

Personal Characteristics

1. Proactive, flexible, patient, professional, prompt and reliable attendance at work
2. Neat and appropriate personal appearance and attire
3. Patient and calm under pressure

Working Conditions

1. The Cook works in a noisy and busy environment with varying temperatures
2. Working around moving objects
3. Slippery or uneven working surfaces

Physical Requirements

1. Lifting to 50 lbs
2. Able to stand for extended periods of time