Assistant Cook

Elizabeth Carter Brooks Elementary School; New Bedford (MA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Elizabeth Carter Brooks Elementary School in New Bedford, MA is seeking an Assistant Cook to prepare and serve nutritious meals for students, staff, and guests. You will follow a monthly menu under supervision, assist in food prep, dishwashing, sanitation, and daily kitchen operations as part of the Cafeteria team.

Responsibilities include portion control, ensuring USDA reimbursable meals compliance, proper serving temperatures, and maintaining cleanliness.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required or equivalent.
• Current Safe Serve or similar approved Food Safety certificate preferred, or ability to obtain.
• Current Food Allergy Awareness Certification or ability to obtain.
• Current Choke Safe Certification preferred.
• Employment is based on CORI background check.
• Must follow fingerprint regulations for school employees.

Responsibilities

• Cook and serve meals to students and staff while maintaining portions.
• Ensure proper serving temperatures and food palatability.
• Follow USDA reimbursable meal guidelines and offer‑vs‑serve requirements.
• Maintain sanitation and cleanliness of kitchen and equipment.
• Assist with restocking, deliveries, and daily logs as required.
• Work as part of the Cafeteria team and support the Cook/Manager.

Skills

Safe Serve

Food Safety

Allergen awareness

Communication

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

POS System

Job description

New Bedford Public School District Elizabeth Carter Brooks Elementary School - New Bedford, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

Assistant Cook

New Bedford Public School District Elizabeth Carter Brooks Elementary School - New Bedford, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in New Bedford Public School District

Job Details

Job ID: 5898153

Application Deadline: Posted until filled

Posted: Aug 22, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Aug 27, 2026

Job Description

Assistant Cook

We are deeply committed to an inclusive curriculum and school community that reflects the diversity of our student population. We strive to have the highest quality educators and encourage applications from candidates representing a broad range of skills and diverse backgrounds. We seek candidates who are dedicated to inclusion and have a clear interest in being part of the richness of diversity that the New Bedford Public Schools community has to offer.

Position

• Assistant Cook

Summary

• To serve the students, staff, and guests nutritious, safe, and attractive meals in a friendly and efficient manner.
• Responsible for the preparation and service of meals for students and adults following a monthly menu under the direction of the Cook and/or the Cafeteria Manager. Tasks may include, but not be limited to, food preparation, meal service, manual and automatic dishwashing, overall sanitation of the kitchen and relief of the cafeteria staff in their absence.

Responsibilities

• Cook and serve meals to students and staff as efficiently as possible, maintaining adequate portion controls.
• Ensure proper portioning of food.
• Ensures that all reimbursable meals include the required food items on the tray.
• Proficient in “offer vs. serve” and USDA reimbursable meals.
• Knowledge and awareness of food allergens.
• Ensure proper serving temperatures and palatability of food prior to serving.
• Use proper food handling techniques (hand washing methods, gloves, and hair restraints).
• Batch cook foods as needed between lunches, ensuring all lunch shifts have proper quantities of food.
• Perform all tasks, as assigned by the Cook and/or the Cafeteria Manager, related to end of day clean up, including but not limited to; washing/sanitizing pots, pans, dishes, tables, and all other equipment as necessary
• Performs the daily preparation of food, as determined by the menu, for meal service using standardized recipes and production sheets with direct input of the Cook and/or the Cafeteria Manager
• Under the direction of the Cook and/or Manager, assists in completing all daily food logs (temperature logs, cooking, holding, cooling logs, etc.) as required and submits them to the manager.
• Operating equipment in a safe manner (equipment includes, but is not limited to, convection ovens, steamers, steam-jacketed kettles, steam tables, tilting skillets, microwave ovens, ranges, and slicers)
• Following food safety and sanitation guidelines:
  • Ensure that all food, dry goods, and chemicals are handled and stored appropriately.
  • Date, rotate and discard all appropriate food items.
  • Monitor the temperature of food as it passes through storage, production, and service.
  • Ensure that the kitchen and cafeteria is cleaned, sanitized, and organized.
  • Make sure that the kitchen, dishware, and utensils are cleaned and sanitized.
• Assist the Cook with any supplies needed for restocking and/or complete the supply order.
• Assists in receiving, rotating, dating and storing all deliveries.
• Assists with the projected planned menu, to ensure products are readily available for meal preparations.
• When needed, covers various positions, as directed by the manager in the event of an absence to ensure daily meal service operations are met.
• Interact in a professional and courteous way with the students and staff. Report any problem to the 1 st Cook and/or cafeteria manager.
• Performs any/all tasks as assigned by Cafeteria Manager and/or Food Service Director

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Current Safe Serve or similar approved Food Safety certificate preferred, or ability to obtain.
• Current Food Allergy Awareness Certification or ability to obtain.
• Current Choke Safe Certification preferred.
• Employment is based on successful completion of a CORI background check.
• Adhere to State Fingerprinting Regulation for school employees.
• Willing and able to be trained in the following areas: basic nutrition, sanitation, and use of equipment.
• Mathematical and clerical ability to record the amount of food produced, inventory and to operate Point of Sale Computer System for accurate meal counting as required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Office of Nutrition Programs
• Ability to work in an efficient, courteous, and cooperative manner in a fast-paced environment, with a diverse population.
• Ability to work and communicate positively and effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to stand, reach, lift, carry, bend, kneel, climb, push, and pull items weighing up to 40 lbs. Ability to stand or walk 95% of the workday in varying environment temperature ranges.
• Maintain the minimum training requirements under the USDA Professional Standards Regulation

Terms of Employment

• Reports to: Director of Food Services or Designee
• Hours:
• Rate: In accordance with the AFSCME contract foundhere

The New Bedford Public Schools do not discriminate on account of age, race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, genetics, or disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions in employment for potential employees. New Bedford Public Schools encourages people with multilingual skills, particularly in Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese and/or Spanish, to apply. Every available opportunity will be taken in order to ensure that each applicant is selected on the basis of qualifications, merit and ability.

Position Type: Full-Time

Job Requirements

• High School/Trade School degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• Catherine Henriques , Director of Food & Nutrition Services
• PRAB - Food Service - Central Kitchen
• Phone: [phone] ext 14120
• Email: [e-mail]