Cook

General Description

This position is responsible for the preparation of three meals per day for the clients in the residential treatment program. Meals must be prepared as indicated in the approved dietician’s menu, with the flexibility to substitute ingredients in the menu for other available ingredients of the same type. Must comply with health and safety standards and prepares for daily inspection. Must prepare for quarterly county inspections and comply with corrective actions if needed. Maintains equipment including refrigerators, freezers, stove and fire safety equipment in sound and working order. Maintains temperature logs for all refrigerators and freezers.

work experience requirements

- At least one year experience working on a restaurant or group home kitchen.

education requirements

- No special education required, but culinary programs from college or vocational school, and some certifications preferred

ADDITIONAL SKILLS REQUIREMENT

- Physical stamina: Cooks are on their feet in a hot kitchen for several hours at a time. Despite the sometimes tough environment, he or she needs to maintain mental sharpness and focus.

- Manual dexterity: Knife skills are an important part of the job. Whether it’s slicing meat, vegetables, or any other dish, cooks need to be able to do so quickly, accurately, and consistently.

- Poise: New Hope’s kitchen can be hectic problems can easily snowball. Cook need to maintain their composure during the busiest of rushes no matter what obstacles might be in the way. He or she also need to help the rest of the kitchen staff and volunteers navigate problems or busy periods of time.

- Communication: Everyone in the kitchen needs to be able to communicate effectively with one another and with the rest of the staff. He or she also may need to communicate with clients who sometimes are demanding or otherwise unhappy with the meals.

- Attention to detail: Slight changes to recipes can have a significant impact on the outcome of a dish. Cook needs to make sure every dish follows the correct recipe precisely—every night. As well, when creating dishes, based on the ingredients available, chefs need to have a firm grasp of the impact subtle changes can make.