Culinary Specialist

Position Title: Culinary Specialist
Classification: RSSSA
Position Range: Range 6
Reports To: Director of Food Services

Position Goal: Support the daily operations of the Food Service Department by providing cost-effective preparation of nutritious meals and managing the catering program for students, staff, and the community through training, supervision, and administrative responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The essential functions of this position include but are not limited to the following fundamental duties: Other duties may be assigned.

1. Follows the Reading School District, City of Reading Board of Health, and USDA Nutritional Guidelines, rules and regulations pertaining to efficient and sanitary food preparation and service.
2. Assist in supervision of overall food service operations that provide meals for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Sponsor to Sponsor Programs, Summer Food Service Program, A la Carte, and Catering programs, CACFP program, or assigned by Director.
3. Respond to related concerns/issues to ensure efficiency of high standard of food quality and service.
4. Develop innovative approaches to providing high quality food offerings with new recipes and menu development, with emphasis on fresh foods, scratch cooking and recipes.
5. Develop and execute training plans per school site to implement new recipes and menus.
6. Communicate, train, and assess production records and plans per school cafeteria site. Provide training in food production as necessary.
7. Develop a system for gathering student feedback on current menu and new ideas for future menus.
8. Train and assist the Food Service Supervisors and Stock Clerks in ordering, receiving, and inventory of food and supplies. Ensure that appropriate levels of supplies are maintained.
9. Assist the Food Service Supervisors and Assistant Director in training for meal service set-up for cafeteria Unit Leaders and staff.
10. Design, train and implement systems for monitoring food quality and safety, operational efficiency, and financial accountability of cafeteria sites.
11. Plan, coordinate, staff, and execute district catering events as needed.
12. Coordinate any Nutritional Services Summer Programs, as needed.
13. Primary function will be at the Reading High School production kitchen, however required travel to and between all school district buildings and other sites as needed to complete job functions.
14. Assume other duties as assigned by the Director of Food Services or appointee.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervises all food service staff as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
1. High School Diploma. Associate’s degree in food service or a related field preferred.
2. Three (3) years’ experience as a chef or food production manager in K-12 School Food Service preferred, or five (5) years’ experience in a position of comparable responsibility within a food service setting.
3. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, (bi-lingual) preferred, including the ability to relate effectively with staff and the community.
4. Strong organizational skills.
5. Catering experience preferred.
6. Serv Safe Certified, or other approved food safety and sanitation certification
7. Any additional or alternative qualifications as deemed appropriate by the Board of School Directors and/or Director of Food Service.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
1. Serv-Safe Certification
2. Valid driver’s license with a safe driving record

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
1. Ability to read and interpret documents such as food safety rules, union contracts, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
2. Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
3. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
1. Ability to apply basic arithmetic calculations using units of American money, weight measurements, volume, and distance.
2. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions and percentages.
3. Ability to apply financial concepts.


REASONING ABILITY:
1. Ability to apply simple understanding to conduct detailed but basic written and/oral instruction.
2. Ability to deal with problems involving multiple variables in standardized situations.
3. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or scheduled form.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:
1. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
2. Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks and make work related decisions.
3. Ability to use a personal computer with a database.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, and walk.
2. The employee is frequently required to talk and listen.
3. The position requires the employee to use hands to handle or feel, and to reach with hands and arms.
4. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
5. This job requires close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Full time, 12-month non-exempt position.

EVALUATION: The performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the Board’s Policy on evaluation of personnel.

The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform the school district administrator designated as immediate supervisor of the position of all reasonable accommodations that will be required. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

The Reading School District is an equal opportunity for employment, educational and service organization.