Childcare Cook

Southern Payroll Solutions•Fort Walton Beach, FL

About The Position

The Childcare Cook prepares and/or serves breakfast, hot lunches, and snacks for children enrolled in the Learning Academy. The cook plans weekly work from set menus, calculates and develops orders, follows proper food preparation and pull-thaw procedures, and maintains nutritional requirements identified by CCFP/FDA programs. The role reports to the Center Director and Assistant Director. The cook prepares meals according to planned menus and serves them on time and at appropriate temperatures. The position maintains a safe, sanitary, and organized kitchen in accordance with company policies and health standards, including HACCP systems. It also involves recording food measurements, controlling costs and waste, checking and storing orders, cleaning kitchen equipment and dishes, and completing required training and professional development. The cook is expected to protect confidential information, communicate respectfully with children, families, colleagues, administrators, and vendors, and attend work punctually according to the defined schedule. Work may include evenings, holidays, or weekends depending on deadlines and special events.

Requirements

Must be 18 years of age or older.
Must complete a background verification check.
Must wear a hairnet or hat while in the kitchen.
Must work 40 or more hours per week.
Must be able to lift 40 pounds without assistance.
ServSafe Food Manager Certificate is mandatory.
Must be able to read and follow recipes and menus.
Ability to perform measurements required for cooking for large groups.
Ability to maintain a safe and sanitary food preparation area.
Ability to relate to and work effectively with staff and young children.
Ability to be flexible and adjust to varied situations.
Ability to maintain appropriate and professional behavior at all times.
Ability to work under pressure with multiple interruptions and meet deadlines.
Ability to communicate effectively and courteously with individuals from diverse backgrounds and in a diverse, multicultural community environment.
Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
Must frequently stand and occasionally walk, sit, handle objects, tools, or controls, reach, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk or hear, and taste or smell.
Must frequently lift or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 60 pounds.
Must have close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Responsibilities

Prepare meals according to planned menus for all meals and snacks, serving them on time and at the appropriate temperature.
Record daily distribution of proper food measurements to meet local and state FDA and Food and Nutrition-CACFP requirements, and control costs with minimal to zero waste.
Maintain a sanitary, safe, and organized kitchen in accordance with company and health standards, including FIFO, time and temperature controls, dates, and labels.
Ensure thermometers are working properly and check food items for expiration dates.
Wash and sanitize dishes.
Clean the kitchen and appliances throughout the day according to daily and weekly cleaning lists.
Remove trash and recyclables daily.
Check the accuracy of orders and invoices and put away food and non-food orders.
Complete duties in compliance with Grow With Us Learning Academy policies and guidelines.
Complete required training and professional development sessions.
Support and follow the values and mission statement of Grow With Us Learning Academy.
Participate in developing outcomes, monitoring their assessment, and helping develop improvement plans based on assessment results.
Protect the privacy and confidentiality of information about families, children, team members, administration, and the company.
Build positive relationships and communicate respectfully with families, children, team members, administration, corporate leadership, and community vendors.
Attend work regularly according to the defined schedule and report punctually.