Kitchen and Classroom Support Specialist

JOB TITLE: Kitchen and Classroom Support Specialist

REPORTS TO: Director of Programs and Impact

STATUS: Full-time,  40-hrs/week (100% Program)

SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday, 9:30 am - 6:00 pm (some evenings required and schedule would shift later)

PAY: Starting $15.00-$17.00/hour, DOE

BENEFITS: Paid time off, reduced tuition child care, paid professional development, complimentary lunch

JOB DESCRIPTION

The specialist will help meet the nutritional needs of the students enrolled in Fortress’s preschool, after school, and summer programs while ensuring the cleanliness and maintenance of the kitchen and its equipment. The specialist is responsible for ensuring compliance with Texas HHS Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines for nutrition and food service. The specialist may also provide classroom support for Fortress's after school program for school-aged students.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepare and serve scheduled meals and snacks for all children enrolled in Fortress’s programs, ensuring compliance with USDA and CACFP regulations.


• Follow menus and recipes as specified by the Director of Programs and Impact.


• Maintain a keen awareness of children who have allergies and food restrictions and prepare substitute items as needed.


• Support family-style dining guidelines as outlined by CACFP regulations, including providing cafeteria support as needed.


• Prepare and serve scheduled meals and snacks for adults as scheduled, including for staff lunches and evening special events and parent classes.


• Manage inventory and stock the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer according to FIFO methods and in compliance with health department requirements.


• Weekly shopping trip to pick up supplies and groceries as directed by the Director of Programs and Impact.


• Properly label and date all food items in compliance with health department requirements, and ensure the timely disposal of food that is spoiled or out-of-date.


• Maintain an orderly, organized, and safe kitchen area at all times through the safe and proper usage of equipment.


• Complete daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning checklists of the kitchen and cafeteria.


• Maintain positive interactions with staff, children, and families of Fortress.


• Occasionally provide supervision of school-aged students in Fortress's after school program to ensure student-teacher ratios are met.


• Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to completing a three-step sanitation of plastic toys; preparing and delivering iced water to the playground on hot summer days; and providing occasional supervision of children for special occasions.
  

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Personal Qualifications
  
  
  
  • Mature Christian with a passion for the mission and goals of Fortress.
  
  
  • Meets the Texas Health & Human Services (HHS) qualifications, which requires that caregivers:
    
    
    
    • Be 18 years of age or older;
    
    
    • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent;
    
    
    • Pass a criminal background check; and
    
    
    • Comply with Texas HHS Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Valid Texas Driver’s license and personal insurance.
  
  
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with leadership, staff, parents, children, community partners, and a variety of volunteers.
  
  
  • Demonstrate dependability through good attendance, resourcefulness and ability to take initiative in development and completion of projects in adherence to timelines and schedules.
  
  
  • Show good judgment while working independently and with minimal oversight.
  
  
  • Demonstrate self-motivation, strong initiative, and a go-getter attitude.
  
  
  • Bonus: Personal and professional pursuit of racial and economic justice, or lived experience facing those injustices.
  
  
  
  


• Educational & Experiential Qualifications
  
  
  
  • Professional experience performing some or all of the duties listed in the job description.
  
  
  • Experience using commercial kitchen equipment or the ability to learn quickly and independently.
  
  
  • Must have or obtain a food handler’s certification and be FARECheck certified.
  
  
  • Bonus: Experience working with diverse or low-income populations.
  
  
  • Bonus: Experience driving a 15-passenger bus or van or other larger vehicle.
  
  
  
  


• Skills & Abilities Qualifications

• Strong culinary skills, including understanding the steps of food preparation and the ability to safely and effectively use kitchen tools and equipment.


• A passion for introducing new healthy and nutritious foods to children with creative preparation and presentation.


• An interest in multicultural cuisine and a desire to explore different flavor pallets in order to deliver high-quality meals to children and families.


• Effective reading and math skills, with the ability to follow, adapt, and scale recipes.


• Excellent organization and time management skills, with the ability to meet regular deadlines.


• Bonus: Working knowledge of the maintenance of commercial kitchen appliances.


• Bonus: Bilingual in English and Spanish.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The majority of this role is physical in nature, and includes preparing and serving bulk quantities of food, cleaning and sanitizing, stocking, and other duties as assigned.


• An important function of this role involves meeting moderate physical demands, such as frequently lifting and carrying items weighing up to 40 lbs. These demands are typically required on a daily basis for stocking the pantry and transporting bulk quantities of food.


• The majority of this role occurs on-site and in Fortress’s kitchen. Some off-site work may be required while picking up orders or making food deliveries, and this role is responsible for their transportation to perform off-site duties.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Candidates with lived experience facing economic or racial injustice are strongly encouraged to apply. Fortress does not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. We reserve the right to inquire about and screen for religious affiliation and faith practices as a bona fide occupational requirement, as allowed by federal law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

CORE VALUES

Our team is dedicated to upholding a core set of values which define our organization and align with our overall mission. At Fortress, we are:

• United in Christ


• Equity Oriented


• Learning Centered


• Trauma Informed


• Unflinchingly Bold


• Rooted in Empathy


• Entrepreneurial yet Disciplined

To learn more about our work culture, core values, and faith practices – and to apply! – visit www.fortressfw.org/hiring.