Cook (Part-time)

Are you interested in meaningful work?

Be a part of our child development team.

 The City of La Habra Child Development Division is looking for a part-time Cook who is interested in meal planning and preparing foods for a large number of children enrolled in child care programs. This is a part-time position working approximately 25 – 28 hours per week Monday through Friday.  

ABOUT THE CITY:

City of La Habra is located at Orange County's northernmost corner; La Habra today is 7.3 square miles, with a population of nearly 62,000. A quiet bedroom community, it is conveniently located within an hour's drive of many beaches, mountain, and desert recreation areas. The City is known for the Tamale Festival, Corn Festival, Citrus Fair, and the Children’s Museum and Depot Theatre.

ABOUT THE DIVISION:

La Habra Child Development holds firmly to its mission, goals and philosophy. We strongly believe that each program for our children are created to inspire and foster individuality and creativity within a safe and healthy environment provided by professional and caring staff. City of La Habra, Child Development Division believes that children are capable and competent people. We believe that all children are individuals of equal worth and value, who come to the program at their own developmental level and bring with them a unique mixture of family background, language, culture, personality, and learning styles. Our teachers are committed to maximizing children’s potential and their enjoyment of life. Our Program develops children’s disposition for life-long learning. Curiosity, resourcefulness, persistence, problem solving, and creativity are encouraged. These dispositions enable children to be active participants in education throughout their lives. 

Our staff creates a community or learners, children and their teachers, who explore the world together. Children gain knowledge and develop skills in a play-type of environment. A play-based Curriculum, High/Scope, inspired by the educational and developmental theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, Dewey, and Erickson encourages children to explore, experiment, and construct knowledge from their play. We strive to serve all children and constantly seek ways to accommodate the unique needs of the populations served by the program.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Under supervision of the Program Specialist and/or Lead Teacher, the Cook prepares breakfast, lunch and and/or snacks for children enrolled in child care programs in accordance with Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) food guidelines; completes required record keeping; completes food and supply orders; and maintains a sanitized and clean kitchen; and ensures the kitchen is organized and adequately stocked. 

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following):

• Implements the cycle menu.
• Prepares and serves breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks following CACFP food guidelines to ensure proper components and quantities are served.
• Monitors food control to ensure low food waste.
• Substitute food items, when necessary, with the approval of the supervisor.
• Prepares a shopping list and orders adequate food and supplies, on a weekly basis.
• Maintains a clean and healthy environment for food preparation.
• Cleans appliances and refrigerators, weekly.
• Cleans and maintains cupboards for proper rotation of food.
• May perform simple laundry tasks.
• Completes all required documentation for CACFP audits including monthly inventories, meal counts, menu production sheets, and other recording forms needed for CACFP compliance.
• Posts list of allergies, in a confidential location, and prepare meal substitutes, as appropriate.
• Performs other related duties, as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of: 

• Meal planning and preparation for a large number of children. 
• Basic food groups. 

Ability and Skill to: 

• Prepare meals and comply with all CACFP guidelines and regulations. 
• Prepare foods that are palatable to young children. 
• Monitor food use efficiently, inventory, and reorder when necessary. 
• Maintaining a clean and sanitized working environment. 
• Prepare shopping lists and complete required documents and maintain appropriate records.
• Interpret and apply common sense understanding to carry out a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form
• Make appropriate decisions in a variety of kitchen and meal preparation related situations where standardization exists.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of: 

• Meal planning and preparation for a large number of children. 
• Basic food groups. 

Ability and Skill to: 

• Prepare meals and comply with all CACFP guidelines and regulations. 
• Prepare foods that are palatable to young children. 
• Monitor food use efficiently, inventory, and reorder when necessary. 
• Maintaining a clean and sanitized working environment. 
• Prepare shopping lists and complete required documents and maintain appropriate records.
• Interpret and apply common sense understanding to carry out a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form
• Make appropriate decisions in a variety of kitchen and meal preparation related situations where standardization exists.

Training and Experience:

Experience or combination of experience and education providing the qualifying knowledge, skills and abilities.

Health Requirements:

• A completed physical examination and will be updated every two years.
• Physical including a drug/alcohol screening. 
• A verification of T.B. clearance at time of employment (issued within 6 months prior to employment). It is to be renewed every 2 years after employment.
• Proof of required immunizations, as required by SB 792. 

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES:

Must complete and maintain a Food Handler’s Safety Certification.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties in the kitchen, an employee performs moderately heavy work; regularly required to stand, walk, climb, stoop or bend, kneel, push, and pull frequently; talk and hear both in person and by telephone; and use hands to operate, finger, handle or feel a variety of equipment and controls; and reach with hands and arms. Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds to move objects. Vision and hearing:  Must have high levels of eye/hand coordination, ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using various types of equipment

Must pass a pre-employment physical including a tuberculosis test and required immunizations (SB 792).

MENTAL DEMANDS:

Regularly required to work on multiple concurrent tasks with constant interruptions, read and interpret documents and information; use oral communication skills; interact with City staff, and others encountered in the course of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is typically performed indoors. Work may require exposure to noise, dust and dirt. Usual kitchen environment; some exposure to heat and cold.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all La Habra city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a City application online through the Human Resources Department webpage at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lahabraca. Completed applications will be accepted until 5:30 p.m., Thursday, June 18, 2026. Applications will be screened and those applicants deemed best qualified will be invited for an oral interview.  The final candidate must successfully complete a medical exam, drug screening, employment history verification, DMV check and will also be fingerprinted.

If any accommodation is needed during the interview, please notify the Human Resources Department at least five days in advance of your scheduled appointment so that we may be able to provide a reasonable accommodation. 

This bulletin is not a contract, neither expressed nor implied.

Any provision herein may be modified or revoked.

Salary : $17 - $21