Kitchen Aide

About the Role

The Kitchen Aide works collaboratively with the Cook to provide and plan nutritious meals and snacks for the children enrolled at the centers. This includes assisting with all paperwork expectations required by the USDA food program as well as programmatic paperwork requirements. May schedule janitorial services and assist in the classrooms as needed for coverage.

Responsibilities

• Assists with planning, preparing, transporting, and serving large quantities of nutritious and balanced meals that meet program standards, in coordination with Nutrition and Health Program Coordinators.
• Assists in serving palatable and attractive meals that meet USDA and Early Care and Education requirements; assist in ensuring that supplemented and substituted foods for children with special considerations are strictly adhered to; and assist with ensuring that developmentally appropriate foods are prepared according to age of the children.
• Ensures that meals are transported to pilot sites in coordination with the cook.
• Adhere to state and federal guidelines for kitchen sanitation and food storage; keep equipment in good repair and report any deficiencies to the Cook immediately to meet all health and safety expectations.
• Assist in recording and maintaining reports to ensure payment of bills is in compliance with state and federal regulations; assist the cook in maintaining feed service records, maintain grocery and non-grocery account and mail to central office in a timely manner.
• Assist the cook in keeping inventory of equipment and supplies up to date and accurate.
• Continue to expand nutrition knowledge through courses, workshops, and related resources.
• Support the cook in providing nutrition education activities to the children and staff.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

Experience and Skill Requirements

• 1 year of experience working with preschool children.
• Recordkeeping skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to communicate with and relate to young children.
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Ability to handle frequent disruptions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and other computer software as applicable to the position.

Education and Knowledge Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Knowledge of preschool health issues.
• First Aid and CPR certification required.
• Must hold current C.H.R.C.

Other Requirements

• Must pass required background checks.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, an acceptable driving record per the program, have reliable transportation, provide proof of insurance, and must be insurable under agency policy.

General Expectations

• Maintains and promotes the highest level of understanding of the Agency's Mission, Vision, and Goals.
• Maintains confidentiality; protects the Agency by keeping information concerning employees, those we serve, and the Agency itself confidential.
• Follows all safety policies and procedures with a "safety first" approach to all job duties.
• Exhibits a positive, professional, and collaborative attitude with others inside and outside the Agency.
• Exhibits teamwork through effective internal communication and working relationships.
• Is punctual for scheduled work and uses time appropriately.
• Performs required amount of work in a timely fashion with a minimum of errors.
• Participates in trainings, conferences, and meetings as necessary.
• Possesses and exhibits the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity.
• Represents the Agency in the community as appropriate to the role.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by the incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk and hear.
• The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and taste or smell.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the incumbent encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed primarily in the kitchen and occasionally in the classrooms.
• Frequent exposure to outside weather conditions.
• The noise level is usually moderate.
• Occasional local travel may be required, sometimes in inclement weather.
• There may be limited exposure to blood borne pathogens and other bodily fluids.