Cook

Joint Council For Economic Opportunity; City of Plattsburgh (NY); On-site; USD 44,083,200 - 49,593,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Generous PTO

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (qual)

Tuition assistance

Employee Assistance Program

Employer paid life insurance

401K retirement plan

Chamber discounts

Job summary

Joint Council For Economic Opportunity (JCEO) seeks a full‑time Early Head Start Cook to prepare nutritious meals for children at our Plattsburgh center. This on-site role requires adherence to CACFP and Head Start standards, with a strong focus on safety, hygiene, and accurate food handling.

The position offers on-site employment in Plattsburgh, NY, with benefits including medical, dental, vision, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; six months of related experience preferred.
• Knowledge of CACFP, Head Start regulations and NYS Dept. of Health rules.
• Ability to prepare meals per standardized recipes and maintain safety and hygiene.

Responsibilities

• Prepares nutritious meals and snacks according to CACFP-approved recipes.
• Monitors temperatures of hot and cold foods and logs compliance.
• Assists with dietary restrictions and special diets as approved by Registered Dietitian.
• Maintains hygiene, safety and sanitation in the kitchen at all times.
• Assists with inventory, requisitions, and cost control per CACFP procedures.

Skills

Six months related experience

Knowledge of Head Start CACFP regs

Hygiene & safety awareness

Ability to follow recipes

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

JCEO is a private, not-for-profit Community Action Agency that has been serving Clinton and Franklin Counties in New York State since 1966. Through a comprehensive list of services, JCEO offers a helping hand to the working poor, the elderly, the sick, and the disadvantaged. Our legacy is defined by our staff and volunteers' unwavering dedication to enhancing the lives of our neighbors, creating an environment where those in need actively engage in their pursuit for self-sufficiency.

The Early Head Start Cook prepares nutritious meals and snacks for children in the center.

Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Location: On-Site, Plattsburgh, NY
Hourly Rate of Pay: $16.25

BENEFITS

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Qualifying Employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Tuition Assistance to meet job requirements
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• 401K Retirement Plan
• North Country Chamber of Commerce Discounts

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Prepares nutritious meals and snacks according to the standardized recipes provided by the PDM Coordinator and approved by Registered Dietitian.
• Monitors temperature of hot and cold foods through food preparation and service to ensure that established temperature goals are being met and logged.
• Prepares meals and snacks that are approved by Registered Dietitian for children with food allergies and/or those with special diets.
• Ensures that high standards of hygiene and safety are maintained at all times in the kitchen through cleaning and sanitizing daily and monitoring kitchen equipment.
• Request requisitions, purchases food and program supplies and develops nutritional activities in the classroom, with the approval of the PDM Coordinator.
• Maintains adequate stock levels of food, ensuring stock is rotated and items are labeled to include expiration dates.
• Assists center staff with having appropriate adult supervision at each table, tooth brushing, and classroom preparation, if time permits.
• Assists classroom staff with ensuring the appropriate documentation of Non Federal Share for all volunteers and donations to the classroom.
• Attends field trips when meals are served away from the center.
• Maintains cost control budget and inventory systems based on CACFP procedures including records of food production service and meal counts and submits in a timely manner.
• As directed by Supervisor inputs family contacts, nutritional data, referrals, goal progress, and etc. into CAPTAIN at least weekly.
• Attends all required training and meetings and seeks out staff development opportunities.
• Works as a team member with all staff while maintaining a positive work ethic.
• Insures compliance with all health, safety and sanitation regulations, including conformance with Department of Health dress code, hair net, and plastic glove requirements.
• Performs all duties in a manner consistent with the mission and goals of the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity, Inc.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and, six months of related experience and/or training; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience working in a pre-school setting is preferred.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of the regulations of the Head Start Performance Standards, the CACFP regulations, U.S. Department of Health and the NYS Department of Social Services as they pertain to food service. Knowledge of all current food sanitization practices.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands and arms, reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
JCEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such affirms the right of every person to participate in all aspects of employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.