Child and Youth Program Cook

This position performs a variety of food preparation and food service tasks for the Child and Youth Program (CYP) at a Child Development Center (CDC) and may assist with food preparation for the School Age Care (SAC) Program.

Responsibilities

• Performs various food preparation and service tasks, including:
  • Prepares meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, fruit sauces, and gravies according to menus.
  • Follows standardized recipes to prepare, cook, season, and portion food for all meals, adjusting for different levels of difficulty.
  • Plans, regulates, and schedules cooking procedures to ensure food is ready at the appropriate temperature and time.
  • Prepares entire meals, including menu items requiring complex recipes with numerous steps, ingredients, and lengthy preparation time.
  • Uses various cooking methods (e.g., cooling, chilling) to prepare a range of menu items.
  • Monitors temperatures, steam pressures, and food conditions during cooking; turns and bastes meat to ensure even cooking and prevent drying.
  • Modifies recipes based on ingredient quantities, serving sizes, and available equipment.
• Maintains kitchen and food service areas:
  • Cleans serving carts, food preparation areas, cupboards, drawers, and dishwashing areas.
  • Operates mechanical dishwashers and performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks (e.g., cleaning ceilings, exhaust hoods, spaces under/behind equipment, floors, and walls).
  • Sanitizes garbage rooms and maintains cleanliness in walk-in refrigerators and freezers.
  • Adheres to NAVMED P5010 and local policies for sanitation and hygiene.
• Manages food storage:
  • Labels and dates items in refrigerators and freezers; stores leftovers according to sanitation and health standards.
  • Organizes canned, boxed, and frozen items in food storage areas.
  • May unload food and supplies from delivery trucks.
• Additional responsibilities:
  • Complies with security, fire, and sanitation rules, policies, and procedures.
  • Ensures compliance with U.S. Agriculture (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) standards.
  • Serves as a mandatory reporter for suspected child abuse or neglect to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services.
  • Performs other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Obtain and maintain a valid food handler’s card.
• Pass the E-Verify employment verification check; discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
• Pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, and be free of communicable diseases.
• Complete required training certificates and maintain certifications/credentials for Federal, State, and/or national accreditation institutions.
• Satisfactorily complete background checks, including a National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (NACI).
• Participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment.
• Starting May 7, 2025, non-affiliated individuals must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification to access CNRMA installations.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of food handling techniques, personal hygiene standards, and safe work procedures.
• Thorough understanding of food preparation principles, including techniques for developing or revising recipes and cooking food in large quantities.
• Working knowledge of sanitation standards to prevent contamination (e.g., cleaning equipment, using chemical sanitizers, maintaining proper water temperatures).
• Skill in performing multi-step tasks for large-quantity food preparation and cooking.
• Ability to troubleshoot production problems, evaluate final food products, and initiate corrective actions for quality control.
• Skill in developing standardized recipes for quantity cooking, including adjusting recipes for equipment capacity and serving sizes.
• Ability to manage multiple cooking processes simultaneously, ensuring food is served at peak quality with minimal holding time while meeting safety and temperature standards.
• Ability to coordinate complex food preparation activities involving varied cooking methods, timing, ingredients, and interrelated steps.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English, both oral and written.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent required. Applicants must provide a copy of their H.S. diploma, GED, or college transcripts (showing degree awarded/conferred) at the time of application. If a degree has not been awarded, a copy of the H.S. diploma or equivalent is also required.