SALARY RANGE: $17.69-$20.42 DOE, non-exempt

JOB SUMMARY:   Plans menu, prepares and serves food, orders and shops for food and kitchen supplies. Maintains kitchen in accordance with applicable sanitation guidelines. Responsible for record-keeping tasks related to food and nutrition programs. Participates in classroom activities, as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal sanitation and safety regulations and Center Policies and Procedures.

2. Plans and implements menus in accordance with USDA Dietary Guidelines and in cooperation with children’s individual dietary requirements.

3. Maintains good sanitation and safety practices, including personal hygiene, appropriate dishwashing procedures, and proper disposal of garbage and waste; cleans all appliances on a regular basis.

4. Writes weekly shopping list, purchases, picks up, and maintains proper receiving of foods to assure quality and cost control.

5. Maintains proper food and supply storage and use to control waste.

6. Keeps accurate records, including purchases, food and supply inventories, production records, meal counts, etc.

7. Participates in food-related learning activities such as classroom participation in introducing new foods, modeling good table manners, and encouraging children to help set up and clean eating areas.

8. Trains and supervises kitchen volunteers.

9. Follows Child Care Center confidentiality and Child Abuse & Neglect Policies.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Works in classrooms when needed under the direction of classroom teachers in accordance of MOA and NAEYC accreditation standards.

2. Required to attend all monthly staff meetings.

3. Responsible for daily, weekly, and monthly housekeeping tasks.

4. Performs other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. Gives full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made and asking questions as appropriate.

2. Ability to perform mathematical calculations accurately.

3. Speaks clearly and communicates information and ideas effectively so others will understand.

4. Reads and understands information and ideas presented in writing, and communicates information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

5. Possesses sound judgment and decision making abilities to evaluate the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

6. Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

7. Ability to read, comprehend, and follow established policies and procedures.

8. Ability to manage work time well, prioritize and meet deadlines.

9. Ability to establish good rapport with people of diverse cultures and belief systems.

10. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.

11. Must demonstrate sound judgment, professional boundaries, ethics, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/JOB CONDITIONS:

1. Agency is a mandated tobacco, drug and alcohol free workplace.

2. General home kitchen and early childhood classroom environments.

3. Occasional work outdoors, may be exposed to various weather conditions.

4. Ability to respond quickly to children’s needs and emergency situations.

5. Long periods of standing, frequent bending and lifting; exposure to household cleaners and detergents.

6. Must be flexible in work schedule and able to work occasional hours outside of normal business hours, includes occasional overtime.

7. Ability to endure work fluctuation, deadlines, and interruptions

8. Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.

9. Uses computers and computer programs effectively to enter data, create spreadsheets and process information, and to develop documents, and program and training materials.

10. Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work.

11. Communicates with others outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, and other external sources in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail in keeping with current policies & procedures.

12. Possible exposure to a wide range of children’s illnesses.

13. Must have the ability to operate the following equipment: desktop computer, telephone, copier, PC printer, and fax machine.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly to grasp, type, see, talk, hear, and lift and carry 40 pounds of weight by utilizing proper lifting techniques and working in a safe manner. This position will also be performing physical activities such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, bending, and handling materials.

2. Occasionally performs sedentary activities that require sitting for long periods and repetitive use of hands, wrists and arms for handling, positioning, moving materials, and manipulating things.

3. Must be in good general health and free from serious physical, mental health and/or substance abuse problems.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK: This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or hours vary with location. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

TRAVEL: Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED EDUCATION:

1. Must be at least 18 years of age.

2. High School Diploma or GED.

3. Must clear Interested Persons Report aka: IPR prior to contact with children at employee’s expense.

4. Must clear criminal justice report for both state and federal background check in addition to IPR. This will be paid for by MOA within 2 weeks of receipt of fingerprint packet, or thereafter at employee’s expense.

5. Must provide a TB screening and basic physical exam within thirty (30) days of hire with follow-up every three (3) years at employee’s expense.

6. Must complete and maintain CPR and First Aid Training certification at employer’s expense.

7. Must obtain Alaska Food Worker’s Card within thirty (30) days of hire with follow-up every three (3) years at employer’s expense.

8. Must complete a new employee orientation within three months from date of hire.

9. Must complete the State of Alaska Health and Safety requirements within three months from the date of hire.

10. Must pursue an ongoing professional development plan including formal training certification or college degree as recommended by the program.

11. Must participate in a minimum of 20 hours of recommended training programs conferences, course and other aspects of professional growth as defined as required by MOA Child Care Licensing Code.

12. Experience in menu planning, food preparation, serving, meeting sanitation guidelines, use of food scales, thermometers, and ordering supplies.

13. Familiar with Dietary Guidelines and Food Pyramid.

14. Basic math skills (add, subtract, multiply, divide) and ability to operate calculator.

15. Possess a high degree of professionalism with an ability to maintain confidentiality.

16. Responsible work ethic with reliable attendance.

17. Proven ability and willingness to be self-directed in problem solving and decision-making and perform basic assignment with little or no direct supervision while also working effectively as a team member.

18. Demonstrated intermediate level of computer skills necessary in order to use and create documents and reports, spreadsheets, workshop materials and slide presentations, and to enter data into intricate database programs.

19. Must keep all matters concerning participants in strictest confidence as required by HIPAA privacy and the 42 CFR, Part II confidentiality regulations.

20. Must be able to provide own transportation to meet work schedule requirements.