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 tasks or a sequence of tasks in food service preparation, including:
  • Food Preparation and Service:
    • Prepares all types of meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, fruit sauces, and gravies for menus.
    • Prepares, cooks, seasons, and portions food for all meals following standardized recipes at varying difficulty levels.
    • Plans, regulates, and schedules cooking procedures to ensure food products are ready at the appropriate temperature and time.
    • Coordinates the preparation of entire meals.
    • Prepares menu items using complex recipes requiring numerous interrelated steps, many ingredients, and lengthy preparation time.
    • Uses multiple preparation methods such as cooling or chilling.
    • Monitors temperatures and steam pressures, evaluates food conditions during cooking, and turns/bastes meat to ensure even cooking and prevent drying.
    • Modifies recipes based on ingredient quantities, number of servings, and available equipment.
  • Kitchen Maintenance:
    • Cleans serving carts, food preparation areas, cupboards, drawers, and dishwashing areas.
    • Sets up and operates mechanical dishwashers.
    • Scrapes, soaks, scours, and scrubs heavy cooking utensils such as mixing bowls and pots.
    • Performs heavy-duty cleaning tasks, including cleaning ceilings, exhaust hoods, spaces under/behind equipment, floors, and walls using powered cleaning equipment.
    • Cleans walk-in refrigerators, freezers, and sanitizes garbage rooms.
    • Maintains a clean and orderly work area, adhering to NAVMED P5010 and local policies.
  • Food Storage:
    • Labels and dates all items in refrigerators and freezers, storing leftovers according to sanitation and health standards.
    • Stores canned, boxed, and frozen items in designated food storage areas.
    • May unload food and supplies from delivery trucks.
• Ensures compliance with security, fire, and sanitation rules, policies, and procedures.
• Adheres to U.S. Agriculture (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) standards and related policies.
• Serves as a mandatory reporter for suspected incidences of child abuse and neglect to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services.
• Performs other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Must obtain and maintain a valid food handlers' card.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check; discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunizations.
• Ability to complete and maintain required training certificates and credentials as mandated by Federal, State, and national accreditation institutions for DoD Child and Youth Programs.
• Must satisfactorily complete all background checks, including a National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (NACI).
• Participation in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment is required.

Qualifications

Resumes must demonstrate experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) relevant to this position. A qualified candidate possesses:

• Knowledge of food handling techniques, personal hygiene standards, and safe work procedures.
• Thorough knowledge 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, including proper cleaning of equipment and use of chemical sanitizers.
• Skill in performing multi-step tasks to prepare and cook food in large quantities.
• Skill in troubleshooting production problems, evaluating final food products, and initiating corrective actions for quality control.
• Skill in developing standardized recipes for quantity cooking, adjusting recipes based on equipment capacity and serving requirements.
• Skill in managing cooking processes to ensure food is served at peak taste, texture, and appearance while meeting safe temperature and time control points.
• Ability to coordinate a full range of food preparation activities involving simultaneous cooking of multiple items with varied methods, timing, and ingredients.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing, with strong interpersonal communication skills.

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Must provide a copy of your H.S. Diploma, GED, or college transcripts (showing degree awarded/conferred) when applying.
• If your degree has not been awarded, you must also provide a copy of your H.S. Diploma or equivalent.