The center cook prepares and serves high quality meals to children enrolled in the Burlington Children’s Center. The Burlington Children’s Space food program focuses on locally sourced ingredients, and teachers children the importance of what they put in our bodies. The children are often involved in cooking projects and experimenting with new ways to work with food. The individual will work in an out-comes oriented, team environment under the supervision of the director. This individual must ensure program compliance with Vermont Child Care licensing Regulations, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) requirements, active supervision, and other applicable regulations, best practices, and program policies and procedures, and maintain standards of professionalism.
A. Food Service
· Develop the monthly menu which might include researching recipes, and applying food program standards to create a fully reimbursable CACFP requirements.
· Prepare shopping lists and purchase food within the parameters of food program budgets.
· Prepare meals from monthly menus.
· Set up and clean-up meal services in each classroom.
· Adhere to sanitation and safety procedures to maintain a safe, hygienic environment for food preparation and consumption.
· Maintain organized, accurate records as required by the CACFP.
· Organize food storage areas.
· Participate in all required trainings and supervisory meetings.
· Support ongoing nutrition education activities in the center.
· Model good health, safety, and hygienic food and nutrition practices for children and families.
· Awareness of all allergies in the center, and ensuring meals are safe for all children.
B. Center Maintenance
· Assure a healthy, safe, clean, and hygienic environment for the center and center activities.
· Support the teaching team in maintaining center cleanliness by following a daily and weekly cleaning procedure provided by the program per state, federal and program requirements.
C. General Duties
· Attend staff meetings, team meetings, individual meetings with director and other meetings with collaborative partners, community partners, or service providers, as needed.
· Assist team in planning and practice of classroom safety and emergency preparedness.
· Oversee, track, and maintain accurate records of budget, as assigned.
· Participate in professional development requirements.
· Perform all other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Requirements, Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes:
· High school diploma or GED
· 1-3 years of related experience, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
· ServSafe certified or certification must be obtained within sixty calendar days of receipt of this description.
· Knowledge of nutritional requirements and nutritional content of food.
· Basic knowledge of cleaning and maintenance supplies and required usage as needed.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills required; bilingual abilities are a plus.
· Excellent organizational, math, and recordkeeping skills.
· Must be able to work independently and uphold program confidentiality.
· Valid Vermont driver’s license, clean driving record and reliable personal means of transportation required.
· Ability to uphold health and safety standards.
Must hold a work visa prior to applying, if from out of the US
Experience with the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Experience in an early education center or working with young children. Experience with business management.
This position is 25 hours a week, with the possibility of increasing to 32 hours