Cook'S Illustrated Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Type:
Nutrition Services/Lead Cook
Date Posted:
5/18/2026
Location:
East High School
ROCKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #205
Job Description
Job Title: Nutrition Services Lead Cook, 6.5 hours per day
Department: Nutrition Services
Supervisor: Nutrition Services Field Supervisor
Date: September 2024
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Compensation: Lead Cook (Dept. 353) Range $18.42 - $20.55
For more information on range placement please review the Collective Bargaining Agreement: AFSCME Local 3210
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: Oversees the preparation, cooking, and presentation of meals in the school kitchen. This role involves ensuring food safety and quality, following standardized recipes, and supporting the back of house functions to maintain a smooth and efficient operation.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. In addition to the requirements listed below, regular attendance is an essential function of this position.

1. Ensures that all actions are in concert with the Board policies as well as the mission statement, beliefs, objectives, and parameters found in the Board's strategic plan.
2. Participates in job training and professional growth opportunities in order to enhance ability to perform the essential functions of the job.
3. Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment.
4. Follows and accurately completes production sheets for menu items each day.
5. Prepares menu items according to district recipes and menus.
6. Reviews menu items ahead of service day to ensure ingredients are available, thawed, prepped, and of good quality.
7. Prepares the appropriate amount of each menu item depending on school enrollment, past production records and any special events. Batch cooks for the best food quality and waste reduction.
8. Ensures equipment is in good working order and notifies the Kitchen Manager when equipment is not in good working order.
9. Responsible for cleaning and sanitizing prep area and equipment used.
10. Assists with inventory management and receiving orders.
11. Ensures accommodation of dietary modifications and food allergies for students using district reports.
12. Leads other cooks on site, if applicable, in the same duties and responsibilities described above.
13. Follows all Health Department standards to ensure food safety and sanitation standards are met and maintained.

QUALIFICATIONS: Previous experience as a cook in a similar setting preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. Ability to demonstrate qualities aligned to our core values of Character, Communication, Collaboration and Continuous Improvement.
2. Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
3. Ability to learn and use new software systems.
4. Bilingual as required by location.

BENEFITS:

• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• Voluntary life insurance
• Paid Sick and Personal time
• Paid holidays
• Membership in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF)
• Optional 403(b) plan
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

WORK CALENDAR: 9 Months
WORKING CONDITIONS: Occasional in-district travel as well as intermittent in-state and out-of-state travel. Occasional prolonged and irregular hours of work.
OTHER: This job description describes duties and responsibilities which are representative of the nature and level of work assigned to the position. The identified duties and responsibilities are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the school district and employee and is subject to change by the school district as the needs of the school district and requirements of the job change.
Physical Aspects of the Position
1.
X
Climbing - Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
2.
X
Balancing - Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces.
3.
X
Stooping - Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.
4.
X
Kneeling Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
5.
X
Crouching - Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
6.
Crawling - Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
7.
X
Reaching - Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
8.
X
Standing - Particularly for sustained periods of time.
9.
X
Walking - Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances.
10.
X
Pushing - using upper extremities to press against something with steady force order to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
11.
X
Pulling - Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
12.
X
Lifting - Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
13.
X
Finger use - Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with the fingers rather than the whole hand or arm as in handling.
14.
X
Grasping - Applying pressure to an object with the fingers or palm.
15.
X
Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word. Those activities in which you must convey detailed or spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
16.
X
Hearing Perceiving the nature of sounds. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sounds such as when making fine adjustments on machinery.
17.
X
Repetitive Motions - Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
The Physical Requirements of the Position
1.
Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary Work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
2.
Light Work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of force greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rate for Light Work.
3.
X
Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
4.
Heavy Work - Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
5.
Very Heavy Work - Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision
1.
Machine Operations - inspection, close assembly, clerical, administration. This is a minimum standard for use with those whose work deals largely with preparing and analyzing data and figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal, extensive reading, or visual inspection.
2.
Mechanics - Skilled tradespeople - This is a minimum standard for use with those whose work deals with machines such as power tools, lathes, and drills.
3.
Mobile Equipment - This is a minimum standard for use with those who operate cars, trucks, forklifts, cranes, and high equipment.
4.
X
Other This is a minimum standard based on the criteria of accuracy and neatness of work for janitors, sweepers, etc.
The Conditions the Worker will be subject to in this position
1.
X
The worker is subject to inside environment conditions.
2.
The worker is subject to outside environment conditions.
3.
X
The worker is subject to extreme heat or cold for periods of greater than one hour.
4.
The worker is subject to noise which would cause them to have to shout.
5.
X
The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, chemicals, etc.