Cook

About us: Early Education Services is part of the Windham Southeast School District, offering Early Head Start (birth–3) and Head Start (3–5) services to young children and families. We are also one of the state's 15 Parent Child Centers. We offer competitive salaries, ongoing professional development including free college courses, and an excellent benefit package for full-time employees which includes 10 paid vacation days, 10 paid holidays, 15 paid sick days, 3 paid personal days and 2 additional paid floating holidays, 403(b) plan with up to 4% employer match, 100% paid dental insurance and health insurance with 84% employer-paid premiums.

All candidates must successfully pass a background check, pre-hire health exam, and TB screen.

About the position:

We are looking for a hard-working Cook to work alongside the Lead Cook and Kitchen Assistant in a fast-paced, small kitchen producing 3 meals/day for about 250 children.

Cook Job Description

Responsible to: Lead Cook

Status: Non-Exempt

Minimum Qualifications: A high school diploma or GED. Two (2) years’ experience preparing meals in a childcare, school, institutional, health care, restaurant, or commercial food service setting. Valid driver’s license. ServSafe Food Handler certification within 6 months of hire. All candidates must be able to communicate effectively and work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team in an early childhood setting.

Preferred Qualifications: A high school diploma or GED. Five (5) years’ related experience, preferably in educational or other institutional dining. ServSafe Food Handler certification.

Desired Competencies: Speak, write and understand standard English. Have basic computer knowledge. Be highly organized and detail-oriented. Possess excellent problem-solving skills. Have a collaborative attitude and be a team player. Exhibit flexibility. Maintain professional integrity while working in a high-paced and high-volume environment. Ability to work independently and handle daily food production with minimal supervision.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Work environment: Fast-Paced and High-Volume. Collaborative. Noisy. Indoors and Outdoors. Hot and Cold.

Physical Demands: Standing for extended periods of time. Walking, Frequent Lifting up to 75 pounds, Carrying and Stooping. Pushing and Pulling. Squatting and Reaching. Fine motor skills (hands). Hearing and Vision.

Travel: Occasional food delivery to outlying sites if necessary. Conferences, seminars, external staff meetings as needed.

Essential Functions:

Food Program

• Works a consistent early morning schedule and adjusts priorities as program needs require
• Prepares meals for infants, toddlers and preschoolers to meet strict nutritional guidelines, in accordance with allergy, medical, and dietary accommodation requirements
• Prepares meals according to the guidelines of USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and guidance from teachers, parents/caregivers, and Nutritionist
• Serves meals to multiple childcare centers based on schedules determined by classroom food service times and needs
• Stores and prepares foods following approved methods for maintaining health, safety and hygiene
• Cleans and maintains kitchen, equipment and materials according to ServSafe methods of safety and hygiene as directed by the Lead Cook
• Unloads weekly food deliveries and stores food according to ServSafe guidelines
• Participates in mandatory Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) training
• Interacts professionally and positively with children, families/caregivers, and staff in a close-knit early childhood program environment
• Demonstrates dependable attendance and punctuality to support uninterrupted meal service

EES Practices

• Participates in staff meetings, staff development, and supervision as needed
• Maintains professionalism and boundaries with children, families, and co-workers
• Maintains safety, rights and confidentiality of program participants and colleagues at all times
• Actively promotes and delivers strategies to encourage parent engagement
• Adheres to all EES Policies and Procedures, all applicable Head Start Performance Standards (HSPS), Vermont Early Learning Standards, NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Programs, and Vermont Regulations for Licensed Early Childcare Programs
• Any other duties as requested by the Lead Cook or Executive Director

This job description for the position of Cook provides a detailed overview of expectations but does not cover every activity, duty, or responsibility that is required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice by the supervisor and/or executive director.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

You can apply here through Indeed or our website: https://earlyeducationservices.org/jobs/cook-2/

Please note, if you do apply here, we'll follow up with a request to complete an EES application.

THANK YOU!

Pay: $21.07 - $22.79 per hour

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid training

Work Location: In person

Salary : $21 - $23