Child Development Kitchen Lead - Menu Planning & Nutrition

College of the Desert (CA); Palm Desert (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

College of the Desert in California is seeking a temporary/substitute cook to plan menus, prepare meals for children, and manage kitchen operations in a safe, sanitary environment.

The role requires high school completion and experience in large-scale cooking, plus a valid Food Handler’s Certificate. Responsibilities include inventory, record-keeping, and collaboration with staff and students.

Qualifications

• Appropriate methods for cooking and serving food in large quantities.
• Portion control techniques and accurate measurement.
• Menu planning and adjustment; safe use of utensils and equipment.
• Sanitation and safety requirements in food preparation.
• Nutritional needs of school‑age children.
• Record-keeping techniques and basic computing.
• Laws and regulations related to child development food programs.

Responsibilities

• Plan and create menus per California Child Food Program specs and post weekly menus.
• Determine recipes, weigh ingredients, adjust quantities, and prepare meals.
• Prepare breakfast, lunch, and snacks; maintain proper temperatures and event prep.
• Sanitize utensils and kitchen areas; inspect and maintain equipment.
• Set up carts, serve meals, and record food items, weights, and meals served.
• Manage inventory, rotate stock, and verify deliveries against orders.
• Operate kitchen equipment and basic office devices as needed.
• Maintain attendance and daily counts; prepare production worksheets.
• Assist ECE lab students with cooking activities and demonstrations.
• Plan maintenance of community/kitchen gardens and composting tasks.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and district guidelines.

Skills

Menu planning

Portion control

Sanitation and safety

Record-keeping

Basic computer operation

Education

High school diploma

Valid Food Handler’s Certificate (Riverside County Health Dept)

Job description

Plans and prepares meals and snacks for children of the Child Development Center; operates and maintains kitchen, supplies and equipment in a clean and sanitary condition; prepares food inventory and order supplies and equipment; calculates and maintains food preparation and proportion records; ensures compliance with federal and State Child Nutrition guidelines.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Receives general supervision from the Director, Child Development Center or area supervisorREPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

1. Plans, and creates menus according to California Child Food Program specifications; develop and post weekly menus on parent bulletin boards.
2. Determines recipes to be used; interprets and converts converts standardized; measures, calculates, weighs and prepares ingredients for cooking and baking; adjust quantities as necessary.
3. Prepares breakfast, lunch and snack items from menu; prepares ingredients for cooking and baking and adjust quantities as necessary; cooks and bakes food foodservice including meats, vegetables, salads, fruit, breads and desserts; ensures proper temperature requirements are maintained; prepares food for special events as assigned.
4. Sanitizes and maintains utensils, serving areas and equipment; cleans and inspects oven vents, floors, sinks, dishwasher, carts, refrigeration and freezers; stores left over food; ensures proper operation and perform minor maintenance on equipment as necessary.
5. Sets up and delivers carts to classrooms; posts food amounts on food carts; serves food to children, students and staff as assigned. Perform record-keeping responsibilities, including food items prepared, liquids, weights, amounts and mealsserved, and logs; ensures compliance with federal, State and District guidelines.
6. Maintains food inventory and storage; conducts physical inventory of supplies and food; orders food supplies; verifies deliveries for compliance with orders; checks for damaged and spoiled products and report as necessary; rotates stock according to established procedures.
7. Utilizes and operates a variety of kitchen equipment and utensils, such as knives, slicers, mixers, graters, blenders and stoves; operate office equipment such as computers, calculators and others.
8. Maintains daily morning attendance count and physical count of number of children served by age group; prepares daily menu production worksheets as required.
9. Assists Early Childhood Education lab students with cooking activities, instructional, and tutorial situations as assigned.
10. Plans maintenance and usage (planting, harvest) of the community/kitchen gardens; coordinates the centers composting agenda.
11. Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Appropriate and correct methods for preparing, cooking, baking and serving food in large quantities;
2. Portion control techniques;
3. Menu planning and adjustment; Care and safe use of basic kitchen utensils and commercial food preparation equipment;
4. Sanitation and safety requirements in food preparation;
5. Nutritional requirements of school-aged children;
6. Record-keeping techniques;
7. Basic computer operation;
8. Laws, rules and regulations related to assigned activities

Ability to:

1. Plan balanced menus that meet California Child Food Program guidelines, cook and bake skillfully to accommodate a children's meal program operation;
2. Read menus and recipes;
3. Maintain complex records and recipe files;
4. Interpret and apply District, State and federal laws related to child development food programs;
5. Understand the food regulations in order to earn a Food Handler's Permit;
6. Operate mechanical equipment and utensils used in the kitchen;
7. Understand and follow oral and written directions;
8. Work independently with little direction;
9. Provide lead direction to temporary staff and/or student workers.
10. Demonstrate evidence of sensitivity and understanding of the diverse academic, socio-economic, disability and ethnic backgrounds of students, staff and the community.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Graduation from high school and two (2) years’ experience in cooking and baking in large quantities including record-keeping experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.

Licenses and Certifications
Valid Food Handler's Certificate issued by the Riverside County Health Department

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be able to lift, carry, push or pull moderately heavy objects including food trays, carts, materials and supplies; stand or walk for extended periods of time; reach overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally; bend at the waist, kneel or crouch.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Environment: Food service environment. Exposure to hot foods, equipment and metal objects.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS:

• Temporary/Substitute Position
• Classified Bargaining Unit Position (applicable for current classified staff)
• Classified Staff Salary Range8
• Retirement System:CalPERS(upon meeting eligibility criteria)
• Salary placement is contingent on education, experience, and department budget.
• Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of grant funds.

SCHEDULE & LOCATION:

Child Development Centers Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Locations & Schedule
  • Indio Campus, schedule will vary
  • Palm Desert Campus, schedule will vary

• The schedule and location are subject to change based on District need.

REQUIRED APPLICATION AND REQUIRED UPLOADED DOCUMENTS:

To be considered a candidate for this position, the following materials must be electronically uploaded:

• Online Application:All sections of the College of the Desert District online application must be completed including education and experience.
• Resume:Must include length of employment (month/year start and end dates) for each employer.
• Cover Letter:Please address how you meet the minimum requirements for this position and any special qualifications you possess.
• Licenses/Certificates:Valid Food Handler's Certificate issued by the Riverside County Health Department
• College Transcripts:For consideration of college level education, academic transcripts must contain all college level coursework or show date degree awarded from an accredited institution. For consideration, degree(s) must be awarded at the time of application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application. Successful candidate must provide official transcripts upon hire. Non-U.S. transcripts must include a certified U.S. evaluation (i.e., NACES agency: www.naces.org) at the time of application. Diplomas will not be accepted in lieu of the required transcripts.

REQUIRED IN YOUR APPLICATION:

• List of References: References should include at least two supervisors and one colleague. Please include name, title, email and current phone numbers. Letters of reference will not be accepted in lieu of the required List of References.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS:

• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
• College of the Desert does not offer sponsorship nor take over sponsorship for an employment VISA.
• Employment is contingent on residence in California.

• Incomplete application packages will not be considered.
• All submitted materials become the property of College of the Desert Community College District and will not be returned or copied and will be considered for this position only.

• Salary placement will be contingent on all materials submitted for this position.

• Applicant bears the sole responsibility for ensuring that the application package is complete when submitted.
• All travel arrangements will be at applicant’s expense.
• Application materials must be received by the deadline. Application materials received after the closing deadline will not be accepted.
• For online application, information, and instructions, visit the College of the Desert job opportunities website at https://www.collegeofthedesert.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/career-opportunities.phpor call [phone].

• FAQs:For additional information, click here: Recruitment – Frequently Asked Questions