Head Cook

About The Accelerated School

The Accelerated Schools, located just south of Downtown Los Angeles, serves a vibrant community of over 1,700 TK–12 students. We are dedicated to preparing them to excel in college, career, and life. Our approach blends innovation, equity, and compassion, creating an empowering environment for students.

Job Summary

The Head Cook performs a variety of duties to support the food services program of The Accelerated Schools. This role leads meal preparation and service operations, ensures compliance with health and safety guidelines, maintains kitchen sanitation, and supports all aspects of food service from purchasing through delivery.

What You Will Do

• Prepare, cook, and serve meals.
• Participate in food service operations from purchasing, delivery, storage, and food preparation through meal service in accordance with established health and safety guidelines and procedures.
• Support meal service to students, teachers, and other staff; ensure compliance with meal preparation requirements.
• Ensure food preparation, catering preparation, and food setups adhere to standardized menu recipes and established preparation methods.
• Ensure proper sanitation and maintenance of food preparation areas, kitchen equipment, and food service supplies.
• Wash, dry, clean, and properly store dishes, pots, pans, utensils, trays, and other kitchen equipment.
• Maintain kitchen, work, and serving areas in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition in accordance with health and safety regulations.
• Receive, inspect, verify, and accept deliveries of food and supplies; store items using appropriate food storage procedures.
• Aid in maintaining reports and records, including inventory, requisitions, menu planning, and production worksheets.
• Operate and maintain a variety of commercial food service equipment and kitchen machinery used in food preparation and meal service.
• Attend required in-service trainings and professional development activities related to food service operations, food safety, and nutrition programs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma, GED/or equivalent.
• Food handling certificate.
• Knowledge of core cafeteria and food service business and operations; customer service principles and procedures; routine record keeping techniques.
• Effective communication in oral and written forms; understanding and carrying out oral and written instructions.
• Knowledge of required food safety laws and procedures.
• Ability to read and understand recipes, food labels, safety information, and work-related documents in English.
• Food service work experience in school nutrition or in the private food service setting (preferred).
• Bilingual Spanish language fluency (preferred).

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed primarily in a commercial kitchen and food service environment.
• Requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.
• Frequent bending, stooping, reaching, twisting, kneeling, and repetitive hand and arm movements.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to push and maneuver loaded carts, food containers, and kitchen equipment.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to safely operate commercial kitchen equipment and utensils.
• Ability to work in environments with varying temperatures, including exposure to heat from ovens and stoves and cold temperatures in refrigerators and freezers.
• Sufficient visual and auditory ability to safely prepare food, operate equipment, and communicate effectively with staff and students.

Compensation And Benefits

• $23.22 / Hourly.
• Medical, Dental, Life, and Vision Coverage.
• Full-time 10 Month Classified Hourly work calendar.
• 180 Work Days.