Cook - Early Learning Center

Help fuel healthy minds and growing bodies at the South Shore YMCA!

The Prep Cook prepares nutritious, well-balanced meals and snacks for children at the State Street Early Learning Center. This position leads daily food preparation while helping plan menus, maintain inventory, order and shop for supplies, and keep the kitchen, pantry, equipment, and classroom dining areas clean and organized.

The Prep Cook also maintains the records and reporting required by the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to support reimbursement for eligible meals served.

WHY JOIN THE Y?

At the YMCA, your work makes a difference every day. You will join a supportive community of educators and staff who share a commitment to helping children learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

What You’ll Do

• Follow monthly menus prepared by the South Shore YMCA State Street Early Learning Center and approved by the state.
• Prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks in an appealing, efficient, and inviting manner.
• Inspect food throughout the preparation process to ensure appropriate quality, quantity, handling, and portioning.
• Plan for meals, maintain inventory, and order or shop for necessary food, supplies, and kitchen goods.
• Maintain high sanitation standards throughout all food preparation and dining areas, including the kitchen, pantry, classrooms, stove, refrigerators, and freezers.
• Properly label, date, store, and rotate food products and ingredients in the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.
• Safely store and use leftover ingredients and prepared food while minimizing unnecessary waste.
• Clean and properly maintain kitchen utensils, equipment, workspaces, and food-storage areas.
• Complete required CACFP meal counts, records, reports, and supporting documentation accurately and on time.
• Follow all food-handling, personal-hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, and safety requirements.
• Communicate supply needs, equipment concerns, and food-service issues to the appropriate supervisor.
• Assist with the supervision of children in a classroom when additional support is needed.
  
  

What We’re Looking For

• Knowledge of food preparation practices, nutrition, food values, sanitation, and kitchen safety.
• Experience with large-scale or institutional food preparation preferred.
• Ability to use and properly care for kitchen utensils and equipment.
• Ability to manage food inventory and maintain the supplies needed for scheduled meals and snacks.
• Strong organizational, record-keeping, and report-preparation skills.
• Dependable, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple responsibilities efficiently.
• Ability to develop positive and effective working relationships with children, families, staff, volunteers, members, school administrators, community leaders, and partner organizations.
  
  

Qualifications

• High School diploma is required. Completion of a higher degree or in the process of completing a higher degree from an accredited college or university in Early Education, or related field is preferred.
• Experience working with children
• Must meet EEC Educator Professional Development requirements per QRIS standards and the Early Learning Center’s goals. Professional Development must include at least one third of required trainings that address diverse learners. PQ Registry must remain current and reflect all PD hours, trainings and college level courses
• Willingness and ability to be part of the ELC educator team and attend staff meetings as scheduled.