Head Start Cook

JOB SUMMARY: Position is responsible for preparation, cooking, and serving food to the Head Start children, staff, and parents. Complete two weeks in advance the Planning and Production sheets, in accordance with USDA/Nevada State Department of Education guidelines. Under the Direct Supervision of the Teacher Ill.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES including but not limited to:

• Prepare meals in accordance with planned


• Purchases food within budgetary


• Maintains fiscal responsibility for Credit Cards, Purchase Orders, and


• Responsible for the appropriate storage and inventory of food


• Ensures the cleanup of dining and kitchen area after meals are


• Maintains sanitation and safety standards in the kitchen and classroom for any


• Obtain a food handlers card to ensure understanding food


• Ensure that children are served family style meals in a pleasant environment and conversation is suitable for


• Attending training when


• Participates in the lesson planning sessions with teaching


• Works with parents in the planning of special dietary meals for children with allergies, diets, special needs,


• Present nutrition activities to pre-school children through planned activities in the classroom and in the kitchen area


• Works from written menus and recipes to prepare dishes for varying number of


• Operate standard cooking equipment and utensils for quantity food


• Maintains all appliances clean and in good running condition reporting all failures to


• Sit down to eat with child during family style


• Participates in classroom field trip planning to ensure the meal components are met at all


• Trains and guide Assistant Cook in the duties of the


• Performs other duties as required to maintain the Head Start Performance Standards and Regulations.

QUALIFICATIONS: Must possess a valid Driver's License and reliable vehicle with the required state insurance coverage. Must have a High School Diploma or GED. Ability to work on a calculator and solve a variety of math problems. (Addition, subtraction, fractions etc.) Available to travel throughout the state and occasionally out of state training/technical assistance. One year’s experience involving food preparation for groups of individuals and/or successful completion of a vocational training course in food preparation.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Read and interpret documents, regulation, personnel policies, safety rules, CACFP Guidelines and operating and maintenance instructions. Etc. Keep records up to date. React with sensitivity to the emotional needs of children and families. Exercise good judgment, courtesy, and tactfulness in dealing with coworkers, parents, and community. Responds positively and constructively to common inquiries or complaints from parents, community, coworkers, and supervisors. Responds to conflicting situations creatively and positively. Obtain CPR Certification. Travel.

Work Environment:

Work is primarily performed in a standard office setting that is well lit, temperature controlled with low to moderate noise levels. Work is also performed in a variety of early childhood education centers with moderate to loud noise levels, in well-lit and temperature-controlled environments. May require some exposure to anti-bacterial hand sanitizers and standard household cleaning products as well as uneven terrain when carrying supplies to and from Head Start centers.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described herein are represented by those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is regularly required to stand, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, sit, and use hands to handle or feel. The employee is regularly required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to forty-five pounds. The employee must have specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Supervisory: None

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, and physical demands required.