Childcare Cook

Bright Horizons Children's Centers; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 22,661 - 29,453; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid vacation, sick, and parental bonding leave

401(k) retirement plan

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Bright Horizons Children's Centers is seeking a Cook for their Reston location. In this role, you will plan and prepare nutritious family-style meals to support children's health and learning. You will maintain a clean, safe, and organized kitchen while managing inventory and meal service.

The ideal candidate must have a high school diploma or GED, be at least 18 years old, and hold a food handler certification. Experience in food service within a childcare context is preferred.

Join a supportive team at Bright Horizons where your contributions truly matter!

Qualifications

• Candidates must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED.
• Food handler certification is required within 30 days of hire.
• Experience in a childcare center or similar setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare balanced family-style meals and snacks.
• Maintain a clean and organized kitchen following safety protocols.
• Manage inventory and support daily meal service.

Skills

Food service experience in childcare or related settings

Food handler certification

Knowledge of nutrition

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

As a Cook at Bright Horizons, you will plan and prepare nutritious, family‑style meals that support children's health, growth, and learning. Each day, your careful work in the kitchen creates a warm, predictable routine for children, educators, and center staff. From simmering soups to perfectly portioned plates, your work fuels growing minds.

Join a team where your contributions matter and where you are supported to grow professionally while making a meaningful difference each day.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare balanced, family‑style meals and snacks following approved menus, nutritional guidelines, and daily attendance counts.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized kitchen by following food safety, allergy‑management, sanitation, and health procedures.
• Manage food and supply inventory, place orders through approved vendors, and partner with center staff to support smooth daily meal service.

Qualifications

Candidates must pass required state and company background checks and meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements:

• 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED is required.
• Having or obtaining a food handler certification within 30 days of hire is required.
• Course work or certification in Nutrition is preferred.
• Must have food handler certificate.
• Food service experience in a childcare center, school cafeteria, commercial kitchen, or high‑volume food service setting is preferred.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the employee to comply with all applicable federal, state, local, Bright Horizons, and client site requirements concerning immunizations, employment physical/screening, and health and safety training. Employees must work in person in an early education/preschool child‑care center to provide food service per Bright Horizons' policies, procedures and guidance, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that will ensure the safety of children in Bright Horizons care and the employee.

Physical demands include lifting and carrying food and supplies (typically 10 to 40 pounds, occasionally up to 50 pounds), standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, pushing carts, and performing repetitive kitchen and cleaning tasks. Employees must maintain mental and physical alertness and be able to respond immediately and appropriately to unexpected situations or emergencies.

The full set of physical requirements for this role can be reviewed at https://careers.brighthorizons.com/job-descriptions. Bright Horizons complies with all laws that require reasonable accommodations for qualifying disabilities and/or pregnancy‑related limitations.

Compensation

The hourly rate for this position is between $16.45 - $21.38. The pay range listed here is what Bright Horizons in good faith anticipates offering for this job opening. Actual compensation offers within this range will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education and training, certifications, geography, and other relevant business or organizational factors.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick, holiday, and parental bonding leave
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Long‑term and short‑term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Money‑saving discounts and financial planning tools
• Career development opportunities and free college degrees through our Horizons CDA & Degree Program
• Caregiving support and resources for the children and adults in your family
• Learn more at https://careers.brighthorizons.com/us/en/health-and-wellness

Life at Bright Horizons

At Bright Horizons, you're more than your job title - you're the difference. Whether you're nurturing a child's first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We're a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future— for yourself and for others.

Equal Opportunity

Bright Horizons provides equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Bright Horizons complies with the laws and regulations described in the following federal government resources: Know Your Rights, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).

Assistance and Accommodation

If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in completing these application materials or any aspect of the application and hiring process, please contact the recruitment helpdesk at 855‑877‑6866 or [e-mail]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case‑by‑case basis.