Company description

About the Head Start Program

Neighborhood House’s Head Start program provides an opportunity for participants to learn, grow, and thrive in an environment that emphasizes parents as primary teachers, a co-operative environment between families, teachers, family advocates, home visitors, and other staff, connection to community resources, and learning through child-led play. Our program is designed to meet the needs of and to provide school readiness skills to all eligible children, including those with special needs and disabilities, so our community’s children and families are stronger for life.  

Job description

Reports to: Health and Nutrition Services Manager

Status: Non-exempt, 40 hours per week

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am - 4:30pm

Compensation: $20.96 hourly

Location: SW Portland – Stephens Creek Crossing (Hillsdale)

Purpose of this role

The Assistant Cook plays a pivotal role in fostering a healthy and positive environment for children through a passion for connecting them to nutritious meals. As a key member of our nutrition services team, the Assistant Cook will support the preparation and delivery, of scratch cooked meals by leveraging their culinary expertise to help create engaging, diverse menus that not only meet nutritional requirements of children but also reflect the cultural preferences of the communities we serve.  Further, they will incorporate food sourced from local farms whenever feasible, aligning with our commitment to supporting farm-to-early childcare initiatives. The Assistant Cook is expected to fill in as the Head Cook in their absence.

This position requires a dynamic high energy individual who thrives in a collaborative setting, demonstrating leadership in the kitchen and a dedication to promoting healthy eating habits among our Head Start participants. The successful candidate will contribute to the overall well-being of children by providing them with nutritious, delicious meals and instilling a lifelong appreciation for wholesome, culturally diverse foods.

Primary Responsibilities

The successful Assistant Cook partners closely with our Head Cook and assists with all activities required to operate a commercial kitchen in an education environment. This includes accurately completing recipes, preparing meals and snacks, prepping food and dividing servings based on head count, labeling containers, cooking, and baking, and ensuring proper temperature controls. This role transports meals to each site daily. The Assistant Cook will help with purchasing, maintaining equipment inventory at all sites, daily cleaning and sanitizing, and monthly cleaning of large equipment. 

This role ensures all adults in the kitchen know and follow safety, health and emergency management policies and procedures; the Asst. Cook attends CACFP, and other trainings as needed and required. May also participate in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) that includes Education, Inclusion, Nutrition, Health and Family Services staff. 

Minimum Required Qualifications

• At least 1-year professional experience cooking or baking for large groups, preferably in a commercial setting.
• Must be able to move and stand for long periods of time and lift 50lbs. regularly.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Basic Proficiency of Microsoft Office: Outlook, Calendar.
• Must be enrolled in the Oregon Childcare Division Central Background Registry (CBR) and maintain enrollment during employment.
• Adult and Pediatric CPR & First Aid Certification (must obtain within 30 days of employment).
• Food Handlers Card (must obtain within 10 days of employment).
• Successfully complete a pre-start physical exam.
• Must have a valid driver's license and maintain car insurance acceptable to Neighborhood House's insurance provider.
• Ability to stay organized in a fast- paced environment, self-manage and work as a team player.
   

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) requirements
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures and communicate effectively with those whose English language skills are limited.
   

What we offer

Neighborhood House offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package including:  

• 26 days of PTO per year
• Affordable health insurance with 95% of employee premium paid by NH
• Company-paid Life Insurance
• Voluntary long-term disability insurance, additional life insurance, and accident insurance
• 403b retirement plan
• FSA
• Employee Assistance Program at no cost to employees
• Employees are eligible for credit in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline