Child and Youth Program Cook

About the Role

The Child and Youth Program (CYP) Cook performs a variety of food preparation and food service tasks for the CYP, located in a Child Development Center (CDC), with potential assistance in food preparation for the School Age Care (SAC) Program. Duties involve food preparation and service, kitchen maintenance, and food storage.

Responsibilities

• Food Preparation and Service:
  • Prepares meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, fruit sauces, and gravies according to menus.
  • Cooks, seasons, and portions food using standardized recipes of varying difficulty, ensuring timely completion.
  • Plans and coordinates the preparation of entire meals, including complex recipes with multiple steps, ingredients, and methods (e.g., chilling, basting).
  • Monitors temperatures, steam pressures, and cooking conditions to ensure food quality and safety.
  • Modifies recipes based on ingredient quantities, serving sizes, and available equipment.
• Kitchen Maintenance:
  • Cleans serving carts, food preparation areas, cupboards, drawers, and dishwashing areas.
  • Operates mechanical dishwashers and performs heavy-duty cleaning (e.g., ceilings, exhaust hoods, floors, walls, refrigerators, and garbage rooms).
  • Maintains a clean and orderly work area in compliance with NAVMED P5010 and local policies.
• Food Storage:
  • Labels and dates items in refrigerators and freezers, storing leftovers per sanitation standards.
  • Organizes canned, boxed, and frozen items in storage areas; may unload deliveries.
• Additional Responsibilities:
  • Complies with security, fire, and sanitation rules, policies, and regulations.
  • Ensures adherence to USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) standards.
  • Serves as a mandatory reporter for suspected child abuse or neglect.
  • Performs other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Obtain and maintain a valid food handlers' card.
• Pass E-Verify employment verification and resolve any discrepancies.
• Pass a pre-employment physical, provide immunization records, and be free of communicable diseases.
• Complete required training certificates and maintain credentials for DoD Child and Youth Programs.
• Satisfactorily complete background checks, including National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (NACI).
• Participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment.
• Automatic disqualification for convictions involving sexual offenses, child victims, or felony drug offenses, as well as negligence in civil/administrative proceedings involving child injury or death.

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of food handling techniques, personal hygiene, and safe work procedures.
• Thorough understanding of food preparation principles, including recipe development and large-quantity cooking.
• Working knowledge of sanitation standards to prevent contamination.
• Skill in multi-step food preparation, problem-solving, and quality evaluation.
• Ability to develop standardized recipes, adjust for equipment capacity, and manage simultaneous cooking processes.
• Effective oral and written communication in English, with strong interpersonal skills.

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent (GED/college transcripts).
• If degree is pending, a copy of the High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

Benefits

• Leave: 13 days annual leave and 13 days sick leave per calendar year (prorated by pay period; 90-day waiting period for annual leave use).
• Paid Holidays: 11 per year.
• Insurance: Medical (including vision) and dental coverage with immediate enrollment.
• Retirement: NAF Retirement Plan and 401K with up to 3% employer match.
• Additional Benefits:
  • Basic life insurance with optional coverage for self/spouse/dependents.
  • Medical Savings Account (FSA).
  • Access to Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) programs (e.g., golf courses, gyms, discounted tickets, travel options).
  • Navy Exchange shopping privileges and daycare discounts.