Cook

Position Summary:

Prepares, cooks, and serves meals for the elderly according to established nutritional guidelines and daily menu; maintains adequate sanitary conditions in the kitchen and dining areas.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

· Prepares meals from a menu prepared by the Senior Center Manager or his/her designee and approved by a dietitian.

· Serves meals to elderly participants at the Senior Center or at an alternative site.

· Takes weekly inventory of food and reorders food as needed.

· Maintains inventory of kitchen supplies, equipment and reorders as needed.

· Maintains cleanliness in the kitchen, dining area and food storage areas.

· Records meals served and the temperature of the home delivered meals daily.

· Records temperature of refrigeration, pantry, steam table equipment daily.

· Records chlorine levels of dishwater compartments daily.

· Prepares monthly statistical information on number of participants and submits to the Senior Center Manager or his/her designee.

· Prepares and serves breakfast or other meals as requested.

· Prepares and serves substitute foods to elderly with special dietary needs.

· Arranges and organizes meals for special events.

· Performs periodic deep cleaning to kitchen, dining, and food storge areas.

· Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

High School Diploma or GED. Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in food service and possess a Food Handler’s Certification. Must exercise sensitivity and patience with the population to be served. Familiarity with local respective community culture preferred. Must be in good health and free of communicable diseases. Must be willing to submit to health screenings, such as TB testing. Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug/alcohol screen and background investigation including motor vehicle record check. Must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable through the Pueblo of Santa Ana’s insurance.

Knowledge, Abilities, Skills, and Certifications:

· Knowledge of established regulations and guidelines concerning food and meal preparation and service.

· Knowledge of department organization, functions, objectives, policies and procedures.

· Knowledge of Santa Ana Pueblo traditions, language, history and culture.

· Knowledge of the proper care and use of institutional food preparation equipment.

· Knowledge of the principles of healthy eating.

· Knowledge of proper procedures in cleaning institutional food preparation equipment.

· Knowledge of the proper temperature for cooking foods in an institutional environment.

· Knowledge of menu planning following daily nutritional guidelines.

· Knowledge of maintaining sufficient food supplies.

· Skill in the use of standard food preparation and cooking equipment.

· Skill in preparing nutritious and appetizing meals.

· Ability to prepare and serve large quantities of food and/or meals.

· Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee occasionally is required to stand; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

Work is generally performed in a kitchen setting with moderate noise level. Extreme caution must be taken while preparing food using sharp instruments such as knives, cutters, or sharp forks. Extreme caution must be taken while cooking food over a hot surface or open flame. Extreme caution must be taken while moving, carrying, or serving hot food.