Food Service Cook - Erin Elementary School (Houston County)

Reports to: Cafeteria Manager

Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Food Service Cooks assist in implementing the assigned school meal program.
• Under general direction, the Food Service Cook plans, prepares, cooks, and serves meals to students, clients, and staff in a cafeteria setting; performs other job-related duties as required.
• Follows the cafeteria manager's instruction in producing and serving food to meet federal and state nutritional standards.
• Operate, maintain and clean equipment, machinery and appliances (i.e., chopper, grinder, slicer, mixer, oven, stove, tilting skillet, steamer, freezer, food warmer steam table).
• Maintains high standards of safety and sanitation in the work environment; follows the guidelines of our HACCP policy. Checking and recording temperatures as required.
• Prepares food according to planned menus and follows standardized recipes closely.
• Ensures cafeteria areas are clean, sanitized, and ready for the next day's activities. Ensures leftover food is discarded or dated, and clean-up and sanitation work is completed.
• Assists in receiving items ordered; inspects food for freshness, quality, and quantity; rotates food in storage before stacking in refrigerator and storage areas; and notes dates on food received.
• Supports lunch through such activities as batch cooking, working on the serving line or cashiering. Must be familiar with computer software. In the absence of a manager or assistant manager, you could be used as a backup cashier.
• Must attend in-services when notified by the manager.

Qualifications

General Knowledge

• Knowledge of the care and preparation of food.
• Knowledge of policies/procedures pertaining to food service programs.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics and measuring conversions.
• Knowledge of the safe and sanitary operation of kitchen equipment.

Basic Skills

• Manual skills for cleaning and sanitizing food preparation equipment.
• Cooking skills to prepare food safely and attractively.
• Practical communication skills to interact with staff, students, and parents.
• Mechanical skills to safely operate kitchen equipment.

Equipment Knowledge

• A computer is used for recording student purchases.
• Commercial kitchen equipment is used in the operation of a commercial food preparation establishment.

Other Requirements

• The candidate must be able to tolerate sustained standing, lifting items up to 50 lbs., and carrying moderately heavy items.
• The candidate must have a certificate of good health signed by a licensed physician.
• The candidate must pass a background check

Safety Statement

Kitchen staff have a considerable responsibility for the safety of others in assuring food is prepared in a safe and sanitary manner. All staff must perform their tasks with the well-being of students at the forefront of their decision-making.

Working Conditions Statement

• Work is conducted in a school cafeteria.
• Employees should expect to be exposed to loud noise from students and kitchen equipment.
• Employees should be able to tolerate heat from ovens and steamers.
• Employees must follow the required safety rules and guidelines, and wear the necessary protective equipment.

It is the policy of the Houston County School System not to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, national origin, creed, age, religion, marital status, or disability in its educational programs, activities, or employment policies as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.