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A little about us… Kidango (kidango.org) is an early learning nonprofit committed to setting every child on a path to thrive in kindergarten and in life. We believe that all children can reach their full potential if they and their families have access to the right opportunities and resources. As the largest child care provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, we provide thousands of children, especially those from low-income families, with safe, healthy, nurturing environments and relationships. Through our policy work, we aim to take our expertise beyond the children and families that we serve, and drive change in early childhood education at the local, state and federal levels. Our goal is to make sure all children have the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to learn, grow and realize their potential.
Nutrition Chef Consultant (Part- Time Contract Position)
Location: Fremont,CA
Department: Nutrition
Reports To: Director of Nutrition
Employment Type: Independent Contractor/Consultant
Pay Rate: $160/hour
Job Summary:
Kidango is seeking a qualified Chef Consultant to provide expert guidance and hands-on support to our kitchen team in delivering high-quality, nutritious, and culturally relevant catering services for family engagement events. This consultant will play a key role in enhancing our program’s ability to serve fresh, healthy meals and snacks prepared by our on-site nutrition kitchen, supporting our broader goals around wellness and whole-child development. Our Head Start program is committed to promoting healthy eating habits and providing families with resources that empower them to make nutritious choices. Through this consultation, we aim to strengthen our family engagement events by aligning them with our wellness goals and the Head Start standards for physical health and nutrition.
The average expected hours of work per month will range flexible, based on project needs and event schedule. between Approximately 6 months through June 30, 2026.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide menu planning support to ensure nutritious, appealing, and culturally diverse meals for family engagement events.
- Develop and document catering protocols that promote efficiency, food safety, and consistency in food preparation.
- Train kitchen staff on menu preparation, presentation, food safety, and healthy cooking methods.
- Offer on-site support during events and kitchen operations as needed to ensure quality and consistency.
- Collaborate with program staff to align food offerings with Head Start standards and our organization’s wellness and nutrition goals.
- Provide guidance on special diets, including allergies, cultural food preferences, and other dietary restrictions.
- Recommend strategies for incorporating locally sourced, seasonal, and minimally processed ingredients where feasible.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Culinary Arts Degree/Diploma
- Certified Culinary Professional (CCP), Registered Dietitian (RD), or comparable nutrition credential
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in the food service or culinary industry
- Experience working in a school-based, early childhood, or community program setting
- Proven experience developing catering menus for children and family-oriented events
- Demonstrated experience training and supporting kitchen line staff
- Familiarity with Head Start and/or Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) nutrition standards
- Must live locally in the bay area
Preferred Skills
- Ability to assess kitchen layouts, equipment needs, and workflow processes to optimize staff movement and production
- Strong skills in creating training programs, managing kitchen teams, and fostering a positive, high-performance culture
- In-depth knowledge of HACCP, sanitation, and local health regulations
- Strong understanding of healthy meal planning and special dietary needs (e.g., allergies, vegetarian, gluten-free)
- Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills
- Ability to design creative, cost-effective, and nutritious menus
- Culturally responsive approach to menu development and family engagement
Additional Documentation Needed Upon Job Offer:
- W-9 Form Fully Completed
- Certified Culinary Professional (CCP), Registered Dietitian (RD), or comparable nutrition credential
- Proof of General Professional Liability Insurance and Wrokers Compensation Insurance
- Resume/CV
Additional Requirements
- Must pass a health screening and TB test
- Must pass background fingerprint clearance
- Valid Driver License
- Must be 18 years or older
- The ability to lift up to 30lbs may be needed during some job duties
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions
Perks
- An opportunity to improve real lives, solve hard problems, and change the world
- Friendly, supportive, and adventurous environment with a team of engaged colleagues
- A comprehensive, industry-leading benefits package
- Opportunities to connect with and learn from colleagues and partners around the world
Drug-Free Workplace
We believe every employee has the right to work in an environment that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. Consistent with applicable laws, Kidango makes all decisions involving any aspect of the employment relationship without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, citizenship, the presence of any physical or mental disability of someone otherwise qualified, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law, other than those positions which are deemed ministerial in nature. Discrimination and/or harassment based on any of those factors are inconsistent with our philosophy of doing business and will not be tolerated. This policy of non-discrimination applies to all aspects of application procedures, hiring, advancement, transfers, reductions in force, discharge, compensation, training, or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.
EEO
A diverse and inclusive workplace where we learn from each other is an integral part of Kidango’s culture. We actively welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives. We are an equal opportunity employer and a great place to work. Join us and help us achieve our mission!
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