Cook Assistant

Description

This position must be able to provide opportunities for the development of positive attitudes toward healthy foods, decision‑making, sharing, communicating with others, and for the development of muscle control and eye‑hand coordination. As the Cook Assistant, he/she will provide nutritious meals and snacks for enrolled children and those who attend special events. The food prepared should emphasize appropriate eating patterns and mealtime behavior when children observe adult behavior at family style meals.

• Promotes and models the organization’s Core Values.
• Prepares meals and snacks for children enrolled.
• Ensures a small amount of one new food is offered along with a meal of familiar foods.
• Ensures food is not used as punishment or reward, and each child is encouraged, but not forced, to eat or taste his or her food.
• Allows sufficient time for each child to eat.
• Encourages all staff, toddlers and preschool children assigned to the classroom to eat family style (when appropriate) and share the same menu to the extent possible.
• Works with all staff to set good examples by demonstrating a positive attitude toward all foods prepared and served.
• Ensures and follows registered dietitian substitutes of meals for children with special medical diets.
• Works in conjunction with cook, child nutrition specialist or a registered dietitian, to help plan meals for children with special diets.
• Works with cooks and home visitors to assist parents in developing food preparation techniques and increase their knowledge about nutrition‑related skills - taking into account their child’s nutritional needs.
• Knowledgeable in USDA/HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the USDA Food Guide Pyramid and Nutrition Facts Labels, on commercially prepared foods.
• Assists cooks with serving nutritious food at parent activities.
• Assist cook of compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws on food safety and sanitation laws are posted including those related to storage, preparation and service of food and the health of the food handlers.
• Maintains kitchen safety and health standards according to licensing standards, USDA Regulations, and Health Department.
• Ensures cleaning materials, detergents, aerosol cans, pesticides, and chemicals used in the daily maintenance of kitchen are properly stored in their original labeled containers, entirely separated from food products.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• A high school diploma or GED.
• Current Food Handler certification.
• Food Manager Certification (depending on location) or ability to obtain one within 30 days from the date of hire.

• At least six (6) months working in a related field and familiar with Safety Rules and Regulations.

• First Aid and CPR training.
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office software.
• Spanish fluency helpful, but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including parents and staff.
• Emotional maturity.
• Highly resourceful team player, with the ability to be extremely effective independently with the capability of managing numerous simultaneous projects.
• Forward‑looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.
• Strong analytical, presentation, verbal and written communication, problem solving and decision‑making skills.
• Ability to travel to various training sessions.
• Must have dependable transportation daily, valid driver’s license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, San Antonio, Inc.

This is not necessarily an all‑inclusive list of job‑related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to…