Child Care Center Cook

Little People's Education Center; Soldotna (AK); On-site; USD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Little People's Education Center in Soldotna is seeking an individual to operate a one-person kitchen, preparing simple, comforting meals for children. Daily dependability is essential, with a focus on cooking that meets CACFP requirements.

The ideal candidate must have experience cooking for large groups, excellent food safety skills, and must be 21 or older. Responsibilities also include documentation for meals served and maintaining a clean kitchen. Join us in providing nourishing food to the kids!

Qualifications

• Experience in childcare, healthcare, or dietary settings.
• Must be 21 or older to apply.
• Reliable and efficient in a busy environment.
• Familiarity with CACFP and DEC regulations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare home-style meals that meet CACFP requirements.
• Complete CACFP documentation for meals served.
• Wash dishes and sanitize the kitchen.
• Online grocery shop twice weekly.

Skills

Cooking for large groups

Food safety skills

Basic math for portioning

Effective communication

Job description

We’re looking for someone who cooks like a parent or grandparent - simple, comforting, kid‑friendly meals. Not a chef. Not a line cook. Just real food made with real care. This is a one‑person kitchen, so daily dependability is essential. Perform math for portioning and calculations related to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Hours 6.5-8 hrs p/day. Serving 30–90 children daily | Small, home‑style kitchen.

What You’ll Do:

• Breakfast 9:00 AM.
• Lunch 11:00
• PM 2:00–2:15.
• Prepare home‑style meals that meet CACFP requirements.
• Complete CACFP documentation (menus, production records, portions).
• Wash dishes, sanitize, and reset the kitchen.
• Use DEC‑aligned communication with staff (calm, respectful, team‑minded).
• Online grocery shop twice weekly; one pickup (your transportation), one delivery.
• Work efficiently in a small, once‑a‑home kitchen.
• Perform basic math for portioning and calculations related to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Qualifications:

• Experience in childcare, healthcare, or dietary settings, and cooking for large groups regularly.
• Must be 21 or older to apply.
• Regular cooking for large groups or cafe/restaurant kitchen experience.
• Strong home‑style cooking & food‑safety skills.
• Familiarity with CACFP and DEC regulations is a PLUS.
• Reliable, friendly, flexible, efficient in a busy environment.
• Steady on feet 6‑8 hours at a time.
• Efficient and accurate with measurements, documents, inventory, and shopping.
• Must have own transportation to pick up supplies weekly.

Who You Are:

• Extremely reliable — this role depends on you every day.
• Warm, steady, and kid‑friendly.
• Comfortable on your feet all day.
• Organized and able to switch gears quickly.
• Enjoy cooking simple, nourishing meals.
• Willing to learn CACFP + DEC (if new).

A Day Here:

Greet families, settle kids, then head to the kitchen to get breakfast rolling 8:30. Lunch flow at 11:00 & :11:30, dishes get done, documentation, snack goes out mid‑afternoon, clean down and prep for next day. It’s a steady rhythm — cozy, busy, meaningful — and your cooking becomes part of the children’s daily comfort.

If you want a job where your food truly matters, we’d love to meet you.