Chef/Cook

The Learning Experience•Hackensack, NJ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Learning Experience is hiring a Chef/Cook to prepare nutritious meals and snacks for children at its early childhood education center in Hackensack, New Jersey. The role manages daily food preparation, kitchen sanitation, inventory, and meal service while meeting applicable nutrition, food-safety, and childcare requirements. Pay is $17.00–$20.00 per hour, depending on experience, certifications, and qualifications. The Chef/Cook prepares age-appropriate food according to approved menus and nutrition guidelines, manages quantities, supplies, and records, and follows procedures for allergies and dietary accommodations. The role works with teachers, center leadership, and families to support positive, smooth mealtimes. It also maintains a clean, organized, safe, and compliant kitchen, manages purchasing within the established budget, and may support center events and special meal needs. This active role requires standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, moving throughout the kitchen, and safely lifting up to 40 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be available.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, unless otherwise permitted by state requirements.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Knowledge of food preparation, sanitation, and safe food handling.
Ability to follow menus, recipes, portion requirements, and nutrition guidelines.
Strong organization and time-management skills.
Food Handler or equivalent certification where required.
Must meet applicable licensing, background screening, health, and training requirements.
Ability to stand for extended periods; bend, reach, and move throughout the kitchen; and safely lift up to 40 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Food-service experience in a childcare center, preschool, school, restaurant, cafeteria, catering, or commercial kitchen.

Responsibilities

Prepare nutritious, age-appropriate meals and snacks according to approved menus, recipes, portions, and nutrition guidelines.
Provide consistent, timely meal and snack service and help make mealtimes positive for children.
Monitor attendance and prepare appropriate food quantities.
Manage food inventory, supplies, ordering, purchasing, and kitchen operations within the established budget.
Monitor food quality, expiration dates, temperatures, and storage practices.
Maintain required meal and snack records, including CACFP records when applicable.
Follow procedures for food allergies, dietary restrictions, and accommodations.
Communicate menu, supply, meal-service, and kitchen needs to center leadership and the center team; work cooperatively with teachers and staff.
Follow food handling, preparation, storage, cooking, and serving procedures, as well as applicable food-service, sanitation, health, safety, and licensing requirements.
Clean and sanitize dishes, cookware, equipment, counters, and food preparation areas; keep the kitchen organized and food and supplies properly stored.
Prepare and serve food consistently and to quality standards.
Support center events and special meal needs when appropriate.
Maintain professional and dependable working relationships with center leadership, teachers, and families.