Childcare Center Cook - Bilingual English/Spanish

Tierra Encantada; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

12 paid holidays

Generous PTO package

401(k) with employer match

Performance bonus

Discounted childcare and waitlist

Job summary

Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, seeks a full-time Cook to prepare meals for children 6 weeks through 6 years, following approved recipes and safety standards. You will manage kitchen staff and ensure dietary needs are met with accuracy and care.

This role requires 3+ years of cooking in high-volume settings, knowledge of USDA guidelines, and a Food Protection Manager certification preferred. Bilingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred.

Qualifications

• 3+ years cooking in high-volume setting.
• Knowledge of USDA guidelines and food prep.
• Certified Food Protection Manager preferred.
• English/Spanish bilingual preferred; Spanish required.
• Excellent communication with families and staff.
• CPR and pediatric first aid certification within 90 days of hire.
• Respect for diversity in a team setting.
• Annual training requirements must be fulfilled.

Responsibilities

• Prepare daily meals for children from 6 weeks to 6 years using approved recipes and menus.
• Oversee and manage kitchen staff, ensuring safety standards.
• Accommodate allergies and dietary needs per requirements.
• Handle inventory, orders, waste reduction, and record-keeping.
• Ensure adherence to meal program, portions, and nutrition guidelines.
• Maintain a clean, safe kitchen in line with health codes.
• Oversee meal prep, cleanup, and dishwashing for efficiency and quality.
• Support center staff by covering classroom breaks.
• Collaborate with HQ teams for strong two-way communication.
• Maintain certifications and annual allergen and food safety trainings.
• Maintain a positive attitude with families and support children's growth.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Cooking experience

USDA guidelines

Food safety

Bilingual English/Spanish

Communication skills

CPR & pediatric first aid

Diversity awareness

Annual training compliance

Job description

About Tierra Encantada

Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN is the leader in Spanish immersion early education®, provides high-quality language immersion education and care to children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. At Tierra Encantada, we believe the earliest years should open a world of possibilities. As the Leader in Spanish Immersion Early Education®, we nurture the whole child through joyful play-based learning and a globally inspired culinary program featuring wholesome meals prepared from scratch each day. By fostering curiosity, confidence, cultural understanding, and healthy habits, we prepare children for a lifetime of learning while creating warm, engaging environments that families trust. Join us and be part of a mission-driven team that is committed to making a lasting impact-one child, one family, and one community at a time.

Position Overview

As a cook at Tierra Encantada you are passionate about preparing meals, nurturing children's growth and creating intentional learning environments that inspire curiosity and development.

Pay and Schedule

This is a full-time nonexempt position that typically works Monday-Friday.

The starting pay for this role is between $19.13 and $22.00 per hour depending on education, experience and certifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare daily meals for children ages 6 weeks through 6 years using approved recipes and menus, adhering to food handling and safety standards.
• Oversee and manage kitchen staff, providing guidance, support, and ensuring all team members adhere to food safety and operational standards.
• Stay well-trained in allergens and adjust meals as needed for children with special dietary needs, ensuring compliance with dietary accommodations.
• Be accountable for inventory management, including handling orders, tracking supplies, minimizing waste, and maintaining accurate record-keeping.
• Ensure adherence to the established meal program, including portion sizes, nutritional guidelines, and compliance with any applicable regulations.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe kitchen environment, adhering to local health codes and industry standards.
• Oversee general food operations, including meal preparation, cleanup, and dishwashing, ensuring efficiency and quality.
• Support center staff by covering classroom breaks, ensuring smooth daily operations, maintaining the cleanliness of the center.
• Collaborate effectively with HQ teams ensuring strong two-way communication.
• Maintain certifications and take annual trainings on Allergens and food safety
• Maintain a positive, friendly attitude with families, and be a "team-mate" to parents in supporting their child's growth
• Other duties as assigned

Position Requirements

• Three or more years of cooking experience in a restaurant, hotel, hospital, childcare, or other high volume or institutional setting.
• Basic knowledge of USDA guidelines and food preparation.
• Certified Food Protection Manager strongly desired.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish strongly preferred, must be able to speak Spanish.
• Strong communication skills and be able to communicate effectively with families and co-workers.
• Provide a certificate of completion of an approved pediatric first aid and CPR training within 90 days of hire. Employees are responsible for renewing and maintaining a valid, current CPR and pediatric first aid certification at all times.
• Must have a respect for diversity and recognize that diversity makes our program better.
• Must have the ability to fulfill annual training requirements.

Physical Requirements

• Requires the ability to frequently walk, stand, climb stairs, crawl, sit, squat, stoop, bend, reach, kneel, rise from the floor, and twist.
• Requires the ability to carry and lift 25 pounds or less, use repetitive or fine hand movements, and occasionally push, pull, run short distances, and carry and lift 25-50 pounds.
• Requires excellent long distance and near vision to monitor children's activities both indoors and outdoors in various light conditions, as well as hearing capabilities to respond to children's needs and maintain safety in a moderately noisy environment.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 12 paid holidays
• Generous PTO package
• 401(k) with employer match
• Performance bonus
• Discounted childcare and waitlist priority for enrollment
• Company paid professional development

Additional Information About the Position

• Once a job offer has been accepted, the candidate must pass a background check and fingerprinting.
• Tierra Encantada is an E-verify employer.
• Tierra Encantada is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, military status, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, disability status, marital status, family status or any other basis prohibited by law.
• Tierra Encantada is committed to making https://www.tierraencantada.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Tierra Encantada Talent Acquisition at [e-mail]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.