What are the responsibilities and job description for the Nutrition Assistant- Hayward position at YMCA of the East Bay?
Join the Y, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. As a Nutrition Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting our early childhood centers by helping provide safe, high-quality meals to children every day. You will help ensure that all meals and snacks meet Head Start standards and California regulations, while creating a positive, welcoming environment for children and families.
You will support food service operations through activities such as preparing and delivering meals, assisting with mealtime in the classroom, and maintaining a clean and safe kitchen environment.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Full-time employees are eligible for heavily subsidized coverage with several plan options.
- Basic Life and AD&D Insurance, with options for Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care expenses.
- Long-Term Disability Insurance for added financial protection.
- Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs to support mental health and work-life balance.
- Commuter Benefits available for eligible employees.
- 12 Designated Holidays.
- Paid Time Off for vacation and sick leave.
- Professional Development Opportunities and ongoing training to support your career growth.
- YMCA Membership Benefits and discounts on programs for you and your family
Qualifications
- High School Diploma or equivalent; ECE coursework or Child Development Permit preferred.
- Must enroll in at least 3 units of Early Childhood Education per semester until 12 units are completed with a grade of C or better (if not already completed).
- Experience in Early Childhood classrooms preferred but not required; volunteer or paid experience considered.
- Cooking or food preparation experience preferred.
- Experience working with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Ability to work effectively in high-energy, fast-paced environments.
- Physical examination and TB clearance are required.
- Proof of immunizations for Measles and Pertussis; flu vaccination recommended.
- Live Scan fingerprinting and criminal record clearance required.
- English proficiency required; bilingual or multilingual candidates preferred.
- Current Pediatric First Aid and CPR certifications required within 90 days of hire.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Specific Essential Function from the Job Description for this role
- Prepare food based on what is indicated on the daily menu utilizing health and sanitation procedures including washing hands, using gloves, and sanitizing food preparation areas properly.
- Deliver food for each classroom in correct proportions and from central kitchen to site(s).
- Provide food, dishes, utensils, and other supplies to each classroom in time for meal service. Clean and sanitize dishes and utensils after every use.
- Create warm and welcoming relationships with children and families.
- Review transportation sheets and other required paperwork, to be sure that they match what is indicated on the daily menu. Log changes when necessary.
- Communicate efficiently and in a timely manner with supervisors if/when issues arise.
- Fill out Meal Incident Reports to communicate issues related to food quality and quantity.
- Reheat food safely, if/when it falls out of proper temperature.
- Ensure accurate documentation of refrigerator and freezer temperature logs twice daily.
- Clean and sanitize thermometers before and after every use.
- Clean and maintain refrigerator and kitchen areas, recycling as appropriate.
- Attend staff meetings and required professional development opportunities.
- Perform duties under the direct supervision of the Head Cook and indirect supervision of the Assistant Cook.
- Perform other duties as assigned, including supporting general classroom supervision needs, as appropriate, and per availability.
Work Environment & Physical Demands
- Ability to walk, stand, sit, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, and lift up to 40 pounds.
- Must work outdoors regularly and respond quickly to emergencies.
- Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Why join the Y?
- Make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development in Early Childhood Education.
- Work in a supportive, community-focused environment.
