Cooking Assistant Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Location: Various locations throughout 5 counties in southern AZ

Level: Entry

Position Type: 40 hours/week

Education Level: High School Diploma or GED

Travel %: In Town

Job Shift: Day (M-F), 7:00am-3:00pm, work is in-person and has limited eligibility for remote work, may require working some evenings and weekends.   

Job Categories: Education

 Classification: Hourly

Supervisor: Center Manager

Supervises: None

Job Summary:

Child-Parent Centers prides itself on serving delicious and nutritious meals that our Cook Assistant helps to prepare in our Head Start center kitchens, and we are looking for an experienced and passionate Cook Assistant to join our team. The ideal candidate for this position has previous experience with food service. The Cook Assistant enjoys the convenience of a semi commercial kitchen environment, yet the feeling of home with "family style" meals served in the classrooms. The Cook Assistant will support the Cook with all aspects of food service at the center including food orders, food storage, sanitary practices, meal prep, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) compliance, dish washing, and kitchen clean up.  The Cook Assistant is responsible for cleaning the kitchen. This position requires effective communication and organizational skills, the ability to work in a time sensitive environment, and strong math skills to keep costs within acceptable standards. Reporting to the Site Supervisor, the Cook Assistant position is an entry-level position funded to work 8 hours per day Monday through Friday and may work a split shift. If you have food service and/or food preparation experience and enjoy preparing healthy meals and introducing children to nutritional activities, please submit an application today!

Benefits:

• Paid Leave - 25 paid holidays, 5 days paid vacation after one year and up to 10 days each year thereafter, and 5 days paid Personal leave first year, 8 days each year thereafter, up to 5 days paid Sick leave each year.
• Insurance benefits - Dental, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Reimbursement Arrangements, Health Savings Accounts, PPO medical (3 plans), Vision, and Supplemental Life coverage for self, spouse, and child ($25,000 basic life and Accidental Death and Disability provided by employer). Supplemental coverages (Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Accident Insurance), and pet insurance.
• Retirement Plan - Agency contribution after years of services and hours eligibility criteria are met. Employee 401k deferral once eligibility is met.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Possess a High School Diploma or GED
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Prior experience in one or more of the following food service activities: direct responsibility for preparing nutritious meals, scheduling meals, proper food handling and storage, food inventory, food ordering, and working with the Child and Adult Care Food Program requirements.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Submit a current AZ Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card prior to start date.
• Possess a valid Arizona driver's license and excellent driving record.
• Able to pass a company paid physical exam prior to starting work.
• Able to pass a DES Centralized Background Check prior to starting work.

Competencies:

• Accountability and Dependability
• Accuracy
• Safety Focus
• Teamwork
• Self-Management
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Technology

Other Requirements (post hire):

• Must be able to travel to and from various sites as needed. 
• Provide proof of immunizations: MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Tdap (adult Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis), and a Tuberculosis Self-Assessment.
• Ability to maintain a valid level fingerprint clearance card and annual DES Centralized Background Check. 
• Must be able to prove the right to work in the USA by providing appropriate documents to complete the Federal I-9 form.
• Must possess or have the ability to possess and keep current certification in First Aid Training/CPR training including Infants and Children.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain the Food Safety Manager Certification and Food Handler’s Certificate issued by the Arizona Health department within 30 days of employment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand Spanish.
• Three (3) years’ experience working with the Child and Adult Care Food Program or School Lunch Program.
• Three (3) years’ experience working with Head Start.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Office 365 (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, Word, Excel. PowerPoint

Work Environment:

• Indoor environment
• Exposure to heat exceeding 85 degrees
• Exposure to hazardous cleaning chemicals
• Exposure to sharp knives and slicers.
• Exposure to very hot foods, equipment and metal objects used in cooking and baking

Physical Requirements:

Frequently

• Stooping, bending, crouching, kneeling
• Reaching, pulling, pushing
• Climbing up step stool
• Carrying/lifting heavy objects 0-25lbs
• Operating appliances and small kitchen equipment
• Works with commercial gas range

Occasionally

• Picking up and dropping off supplies
• Push, pull, move furniture or equipment {20 to 50lb}
• Exposure to sharp knives and slicers
• Clerical duties (computer, typing, copying, etc.)

Job Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Cook Assistant Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate sanitary practices in relation to preparation of food and personal hygiene.
• Assist in meals preparation and afternoon snacks for children.
• Assist in maintaining kitchen to meet sanitation requirements; cleans dishes, stoves, carts and work surfaces after meal preparation.
• Maintain daily record of number of snacks served.
• Prepare quantity of food to meet CACFP and Head Start Standards
• Work independently and cooperatively with the cook.
• Assist cooks in calculating and ordering food from vendors to prepare planned meals using centralized ordering system.  Limits shopping for approved items and errands to center workday and/or before or after preparation and clean-up times.

Supervision:

• Identify self-growth, development goals, and strategies for achievement with support and input from supervisor.
• Commit and participate in consistent and planned meetings with supervisors to further professional growth by seeking feedback, reflecting on and assessing own practice, and taking advantage of opportunities to improve skills and knowledge.

Recordkeeping, Monitoring and Reporting:

• Assist in maintaining daily Inventory of food and food service supplies.
• Assist in completing/submitting kitchen/disposable and maintenance supplies order forms to Procurement when needed.
• Assist cooks in maintaining inventory of kitchen appliances and equipment.
• Assist in maintaining daily records of number of meals served by the Child and Adult Care Food Program menu production worksheets, cycle menus and recipes.
• Receive food orders, sign bills and submit paperwork and bills to accounting on the established schedule when needed.

Leadership, Management and Teamwork:

• Actively participate in the center team and contribute to the decision-making process for compliance, strategic initiatives, professional development, budget, governance, and agency self-assessment
• Assume the lead role in food services with other staff that includes one substitute and volunteer when the cook is absent.
• Participate in developing Accommodation /Special Care Plans for children requiring special diets whenever requested by the Registered Dietician.
• Assist with recruitment of volunteers and substitutes for the kitchen.
• Train and support volunteers, substitutes and center staff with kitchen procedures, routines, and the proper use of equipment. 
• Work cooperatively with the cook and center team and communicate need to know information on a daily basis.

Responsibilities for all Child-Parent Centers, Inc.:

• Understand and model the agency's vision, mission, and philosophy within the agency and the community.
• Demonstrate approachability, ownership, accountability, and life-long learning.
• Use the agency's communication and problem-solving approach.
  • Seek perspective of others.
  • Identify emerging issues and contribute new knowledge.
  • Work to de-escalate when emotions and stakes are high.
• Maintain professional behavior and relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Use agency systems and technologies to accomplish work.
• Maintain a high level of attendance to support ongoing service delivery.
• Recognizes children's safety as the first responsibility of all staff and acts swiftly to ensure no child is unsupervised.
• Implement agency policies and procedures for safeguarding confidential or sensitive information about employees and/or program participants. Restrict access to paper or electronic documents for those with a need to know.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Please Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This job opening is intended to provide information about the position for employee recruitment purposes only and is not intended to be the basis of any employee contract.

Child-Parent Centers, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.