Assistant Cook

About the role

The Assistant Cook/Food Transporter will assist in ordering, preparing, serving and documenting meals and snacks for children served in the Head Start and/or Early Head Start program, following menus and all phases of kitchen operations including inventory control. You will contribute to smooth flow of operations in the assigned kitchen, and to the functioning of the kitchen in adherence to health and food safety codes and the strict cleanliness of the kitchen and food service and storage areas.

Responsibilities

• Prepares food to meet the needs of children with special needs, restricted diets, medical issues or disabilities; ensures that specifications are met in accordance to Save the Children policies, State Regulations, OHS and CACFP/USDAPreapares and serves food and assists in any food related activities as directed and menus as approved by registered dietician/nutritionist.
• Prepares and serves all meals as planned, paying attention to food presentation and freshness
• Assists Head Cook with overseeing full kitchen operations and may supervise volunteer assistants (depending on size of workload)
• Assists with maintenance of inventory for food service operations
• Assists with the processing and storage of food and food related items as they are delivered
• Aids in ensuring that standardized recipes are followed and appropriate quantities of food and serving proportions are prepared and served in accordance with the CACFP meal requirements
• Aids in ensuring production books for CACFP and documents are completed accurately daily
• Attends child nutrition meetings and required program meetings
• Receives, inspects and verifies delivery of food, food related items and all kitchen/food inventory in absence of Head cook
• Implements a cost-effective food service program, according to federal, state and local regulations that is a financially successful operation by helping to control food and labor costs
• Performs any other relevant duties as assigned by manager
• Delivers meals to satellite Head Start Program sites
• Keeps in close contact with the site office while in the field
• Conducts pre- and post- inspections of vehicle daily
• Ensures health and safety standards are followed at all times of deliveries (to and from vehicle and to and from classrooms), by maintaining and monitoring the food temperatures before and after deliveries
• Reports all accidents or incidents to the supervisor immediately
• Provides a clean and safe environment inside and outside of the transporter vehicle
• Maintains and follows delivery schedule as set by program management
• Aids in maintaining inventory for food service operations
• Aids in the processing and storage of food and food-related items as they are delivered
• Prepares food to meet the needs of children with special needs, restricted diets, medical issues or disabilities; ensures that specifications are met in accordance to Save the Children policies as well as state and federal regulations
• Aids in serving all meals as planned, paying attention to food presentation and freshness
• Aids in overseeing full kitchen operations
• Attends child nutrition meetings and required program meetings
• Receives, inspects and verifies delivery of food, food related items and all kitchen/food inventory in absence of Head Cook
• Implements a cost-effective food service program, according to federal, state and local regulations that is a financially successful operation by helping to control food and labor costs
• Performs any other relevant duties as assigned by manager

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent, plus at least two (2) years of related experience
• Demonstrated experience working in a food service environment
• Proven teamwork and successful customer service orientation
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
• Demonstrated organizational skills, self-management of time and overall cleanliness
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate with individuals and teams at all levels, both internal and external
• Demonstrated ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions
• Valid driver's license
• At least 21 years of age

Qualifications

• Proven relevant knowledge of basic food preparation and kitchen operations, including food safety requirements is a plus
• General bookkeeping skills are a plus
• Previous experience having met Health Department Regulations, USDA and Head Start Standards is preferred
• Previous experience working with CACFP is preferred
• Certification in SERV Safe is preferred