Kitchen Assistant

Bright Horizons • Northfield, IL

5d • $14 - $19 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Kitchen Assistant at Bright Horizons, you will support the catered kitchen of a child care center, preparing nutritious, family-style meals that support children's health, growth, and learning. Your work will help create a warm, predictable routine for children, educators, and center staff. This is a Monday–Friday, full-time position, with preferred hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The employee works in person in an early education or preschool child care center and provides food service in accordance with Bright Horizons policies, procedures, guidance, and applicable laws and regulations.

The role requires compliance with applicable immunization, employment physical or screening, and health and safety training requirements. Physical demands include lifting and carrying food and supplies (typically 10 to 40 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds), standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, pushing carts, and performing repetitive kitchen and cleaning tasks. Employees must maintain mental and physical alertness and respond immediately and appropriately to unexpected situations or emergencies.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have a high school diploma or GED.
• Have previous experience in a role involving cooking or working in a domestic or commercial kitchen.
• Have a passion for nutrition and inspiring others to eat healthily.
• Demonstrate sound knowledge of managing dietary requirements, particularly food allergies.
• Have strong communication skills with colleagues, children, and parents.
• Be able to work under pressure.
• Pass required state and company background checks and meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements.
• Meet the physical demands of the position, including lifting and carrying food and supplies, standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, pushing carts, and performing repetitive tasks.

Nice To Haves

• Have or obtain a food handler certification within 30 days of hire.
• Coursework or certification in nutrition.
• Food service experience in a child care center, school cafeteria, commercial kitchen, or high-volume food service setting.

Responsibilities

• Support food service in a catered kitchen at a child care center.
• Prepare nutritious, family-style meals that support children's health, growth, and learning.
• Manage different dietary requirements, particularly food allergies.
• Communicate with colleagues, children, and parents.
• Perform kitchen and cleaning tasks, including lifting and carrying food and supplies, standing, bending, reaching, and pushing carts.
• Comply with applicable immunization, employment screening, health and safety training, and food-service requirements.
• Respond immediately and appropriately to unexpected situations or emergencies.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid vacation, sick, holiday, and parental bonding leave.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Money-saving discounts and financial planning tools.
• Career development opportunities and free college degrees through the Horizons CDA & Degree Program.
• Caregiving support and resources for children and adults in the employee's family.
• Employee Referral Bonus Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED