Kitchen Assistant

TULSA EDUCARE INC•Tulsa, OK

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direct supervision of the Kitchen Manager, this role assists with meal preparation, dishwashing, equipment and utensil sanitation, and maintaining cleanliness of food preparation and storage areas. The Kitchen Assistant must comply with health and nutrition mandates from Head Start Performance Standards, USDA guidelines, Health Department, DHS, and CACFP regulations. Key responsibilities include assisting with food inventory and control, wearing serving gloves when preparing foods, ensuring food containers are properly covered, preparing meal service dishes and supplies for classroom delivery, checking food portion sizes, and ensuring meals for children with special dietary needs are compliant. The role also involves documenting refrigerator and freezer temperatures daily, checking packaged food items for expiration dates, ensuring proper refrigeration and rotation of food (FIFO), and maintaining a clean and sanitized kitchen environment. The Kitchen Assistant prepares meal amounts based on attendance, communicates kitchen needs to management, and works cooperatively to accommodate changes. They also complete kitchen responsibilities in the absence of the Kitchen Manager and participate in staff conferences and training. Maintaining Food Handler’s Certification is required.

Requirements

HS Diploma/G.E.D required
Ability to establish an effective professional manner in all dealings with clients, the general public, co-workers, and vendors
Must be dependable and flexible with regard to working hours
Bend stoop repeatedly over time, such as when removing items from oven, steamer, refrigerator, freezer, storage shelves, etc.
Move objects 25 pounds over short distances
Remain in standing position for extended periods of time
Food Handler’s Certification credentials

Nice To Haves

Computer skills a plus
Knowledgeable of meal service patterns of children zero to five years old

Responsibilities

Assist with food inventory and control
Wear serving gloves when preparing foods for the classrooms
Make sure bowls, and other food containers are properly covered before putting them on the food cart
Prepare meal service dishes, utensils and supplies needed for classroom delivery
Check food portion sizes to ensure food quantities comply with Child and Adult Care Food Program regulations
Check foods served to children requiring special diet or have specific food intolerances, to ensure that meals served to them are in accordance with their specific Food Alert
Utilizing the monthly temperature log, document refrigerator and freezer temperatures daily; report climate control issues to Kitchen Manager and/or Resource Coordinator
Check packaged food items and milk for expiration dates to ensure that foods that may be contaminated are thrown away
Ensure that milk and foods are refrigerated properly and rotated according to FIFO (first in, first out)
Keep kitchen, food preparation area, and food service utensils clean and sanitized according to regulations
Prepare meal amounts based on the number of children in attendance in each classroom and report revisions needed to Kitchen Manager and/or Resource Coordinator
Ensure that proper items have been delivered and vendor receipts are given to the Kitchen Manager
Maintain a weekly inventory of foodservice utensils and dishes
Communicate kitchen needs, issues, or problems to Kitchen Manager and/or Resource Coordinator in a timely and professional manner
Work cooperatively with the Kitchen Manager and Resource Coordinator to accommodate temporary changes, and special serving requirements
Complete kitchen responsibilities in the absence of the Kitchen Manager
Participate in staff conferences and training sessions as needed
Maintain Food Handler’s Certification credentials
Perform other duties as assigned or requested