Job Description: Childcare Center Cook

Little Endeavors Child Development Center, located in Ankeny, IA, is seeking a dedicated and experienced Childcare Cook to join our team. The Childcare Cook will be responsible for preparing and serving nutritious meals and snacks for children in our care, ensuring compliance with all food safety regulations.

Responsibilities:

• Plan and prepare healthy and balanced meals for children in accordance with USDA guidelines, CACFP, and dietary restrictions
• Follow proper food safety and sanitation procedures at all times
• Maintain inventory of food supplies and place orders as needed
• Collaborate with childcare staff to accommodate any special dietary needs or preferences
• Create a welcoming and inclusive dining environment for children

The ideal candidate for this position will have a passion for cooking and a strong understanding of child nutrition. Previous experience in a childcare setting is preferred.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Culinary training or related experience
• Knowledge of USDA guidelines for child nutrition
• CACFP Certified or willingness to attain
• SERVSAVE Certified or desire to attain
• Ability to work well in a team environment
• Excellent communication skills
• Must pass a state and national background check
• Willing to do mandatory training and attend monthly meetings
• Physically able to work in a quick-moving environment and able to lift, push, pull, stand, walk, and bend.
• Able to work closely with the center director on menus and ordering

The primary job duties and responsibilities for the Cook include, but are not limited to:

Meet Nutritional Needs

• Plan and provide nutritious meals and snacks
• Prepare and provide child nutrition
• Promote healthy eating
• Accommodate for allergies, special dietary and nutritional requirements

Equipment and Facilities

• Maintains cleanliness in the kitchen and storage areas
• Develops and complies with a regular sanitization schedule for ovens, refrigerators and other appliances and areas
• Ensures a safe and healthy environment
• Assesses risks and uses emergency procedures as required
• Responds to facility emergencies
• Works safely around stoves and chemicals
• Maintains accurate, timely and complete records for menus, temperatures, controls, child allergies
• Follows DHS and CACFP guidelines
• Creates and maintains all food-related purchasing, inventory and turnover records
• Estimates requirements and expenses
• Ensures compliance with the established budget

Family and Community Relations

• Supports a family-friendly environment
• Supports a culture of respect for all families
• Establish a positive image as a role model for our children and families.
• Be nurturing to all children throughout the center.
• Respects and follows the policy of the children’s and family’s confidentiality.

Responsibilities to Administration

• Reliable in attendance (On time and gives ample notice for absence)
• Careful and conscientious in performance of duties, including the use of positive words and actions towards children, parents, and staff
• Responsible for job duties
• Flexible with assignments
• Flexible with schedules
• Remains calm in tense situations
• Maintains a positive attitude and professionalism.
• Follows policies and procedures of Little Endeavors, Department of Human Services, and Quality Rating System
• Communicate in a professional manner with parents, staff, and management.
• Maintain communication with the director.
• Approaches criticism with learning attitude.
• Come to work with a positive attitude. Communicates directly with the director, avoids gossip.

Professional Relationships

• Friendly and respectful.
• Work as a member of a professional team.
• Creates a partnership with colleagues.
• Is tactful with negative information.
• Maintain communication with staff of menu changes, policy changes, and classroom enrollments.

Skills and Abilities

• Time management, organizational skills
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work with the director on inventory, ordering, and menus
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, children, and administration
• Flexible to work different schedules when needed
• Valid driver’s license

Personal Characteristics

• Proactive, flexible, patient, professional, prompt, and reliable attendance at work
• Neat and appropriate personal appearance and attire
• Patient and calm under pressure

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

• The Cook works in a fast paced, noisy, and busy environment with varying temperatures
• Working around moving objects
• Slippery or uneven working surfaces
• Lifting up to 50 lbs
• Able to stand for extended periods of time
• Physically able to lift, push, pull, stand, walk, and bend

Full time hours Monday through Friday

No Nights, weekends, or holidays!

About Us:

Little Endeavors Child Development Center is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for children to learn and grow. Our center offers a variety of programs designed to support the development of each child's social, emotional, and cognitive skills. We believe in the power of early childhood education to shape the future leaders of tomorrow.

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