Child Care Kitchen Cook

About This Role

We are seeking a dedicated and reliable Child Care Kitchen Cook to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for preparing nutritious, well-balanced meals and snacks that fully comply with the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines. You will ensure that all food preparation adheres to Wisconsin state licensing, local health department regulations, and program component requirements, creating a safe and healthy environment for our center.

Sandbox is licensed for 100 children between the ages of 6 weeks through 12 years. Year round, full-day care and flexible scheduling options are available for all age groups. School-age programming is available during early release, no school days, and summer break.

What You'll Do

General Responsibilities:

Examples of duties are interpreted as being descriptive and not restrictive in nature.

• Inspects food being prepared to ensure proper quantity, quality, and handling; cooks, prepares, and handles food;
• Operates mixers, ovens, choppers, shredders, steamers, grills, grinders, steam kettles, fry kettles, and other food equipment;
• Preparing menus and determining amount of food to meet USDA CACFP menu requirements; keeps records; makes reports;
• Prepares food items according to standard menus, recipes, and verbal instructions; prepares and cooks vegetables, meats, soups and cereals; prepares salads, desserts and beverages, quick breads, etc.;
• Leads and participates in the cleaning of the kitchen and equipment; assures that standards of sanitation and safety are met;
• Adjusts recipes to volume of demand;
• Inventories and maintains necessary supplies and goods for assigned meals;
• Leads and participates in the storage and utilization of leftover ingredients and products; rotate stock;
• Operates standard cooking equipment;
• May be asked to assist and/or supervise children in a classroom if teacher is needed outside of the classroom.
• Help unload grocery weekly
• Clean staff baths, hallway, and entry way daily, sweeping and mopping, cleaning glass doors
• Complete 4 hour of hours of training in kitchen sanitation, food handling, and nutrition
• Take school age student to the bus in the AM and pick students up from the bus stop in the PM
• Additional duties as required/assigned
  
  

Skills and Ability to:

• Provide effective and appropriate oral and written communication.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
• Demonstrate effective communication skills in conflict resolution.
• Provide ongoing child and adult observation and assessment.
• Work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Work cooperatively with others and value working as part of a team.
• Demonstrate effective time management skills.
• Work in the high stress environment that is unique to a childcare setting.
  
  

Physical Efforts

• Hearing and speaking to exchange information with children, staff and parents;
• Bending at the waist for lifting children and/or equipment up to 50 pounds;
• Standing for extended periods of time;
• Moving quickly and easily from sitting to standing;
• Working outdoors on a daily basis;
• Visual scanning to insure child safety indoors and out.
  
  

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• At least 18 years of age and have High school diploma or equivalent.
• Must be able to perform physical activities such as, but not limited to, lifting heavy items (up to 50 lbs. unassisted), bending, standing, climbing or walking.
• Additional training as required by the State of Wisconsin, such as CPR/First Aid, etc.
• Proven experience working as a cook or food service worker, preferably in a regulated group or institutional setting. Practices, methods and procedures of large-scale food preparation; food values and nutrition; personal hygiene, food handling, sanitation, and safety precautions; care and use of kitchen utensils and equipment; record keeping; report preparation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of CACFP guidelines, meal components, and required documentation tracking.
• Successful completion of a comprehensive Wisconsin child care background check and fingerprinting process.
  
  

Nice To Haves

• Current ServSafe or equivalent food manager certification.
• Previous experience managing a CACFP-funded kitchen within a child care center or preschool.
• Experience with local vendors and budget tracking for state-reimbursed food programs.
  
  

Benefits

Benefits:

• Employee Child Care Discount
• Paid Time Off