Cook

KinderCare; Longmeadow (MA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

KinderCare Center is seeking a dedicated center cook to maintain a safe, hygienic kitchen and support healthy meals for children. You will follow nutritious menus, manage food orders, and help with daily center duties while ensuring compliance with licensing standards.

With 1+ year of institutional cooking and a Food Handler’s License (or willingness to obtain), you’ll contribute to a supportive, engaged childcare environment and partner with staff to promote enrollment, accreditation, and

Qualifications

• A love for children and a strong desire to make a difference every day.
• Familiarity with food allergies and cross-contamination avoidance.
• Ability to follow nutritious menus and prepare foods for a center population.
• Basic math skills for portion measurement and calculation.
• Food Handler’s License or willingness to obtain.
• At least 1 year of institutional cooking; 2+ years working with children is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Maintain kitchen and related equipment safely and hygienically
• Order food and supplies
• Dispense and store medication, as requested
• Complete timely and accurate documentation according to KinderCare and other licensing or regulation requirements
• Help with and take on responsibility in other daily center duties, as needed
• Support your center’s success by partnering with center staff and leadership to achieve goals around enrollment, accreditation, and engagement

Skills

Love for children

Food safety

Allergen awareness

Meal portioning

Food Handler’s License

Food ordering

Childcare experience

Physical ability

Job description

• Maintain kitchen and related equipment safely and hygienically
• Order food and supplies
• Dispense and store medication, as requested
• Complete timely and accurate documentation according to KinderCare and other licensing or regulation requirements
• Help with and take on responsibility in other daily center duties, as needed
• Support your center’s success by partnering with center staff and leadership to achieve goals around enrollment, accreditation, and engagement

• Maintain kitchen and related equipment safely and hygienically
• Order food and supplies
• Dispense and store medication, as requested
• Complete timely and accurate documentation according to KinderCare and other licensing or regulation requirements
• Help with and take on responsibility in other daily center duties, as needed
• Support your center’s success by partnering with center staff and leadership to achieve goals around enrollment, accreditation, and engagement

Required Skills and Experience:

• A love for children and a strong desire to make a difference every day
• Familiarity with accurate conditions and food storage, understand the needs of children with food allergies, and to implement methods of food cross-contamination avoidance
• Ability to follow nutritious menus and prepare a sufficient quantity of foods for the center population
• Basic math skills required for measuring and calculating serving portions
• Possess a Food Handler’s License or willingness to obtain
• At least one year of institutional cooking -- food ordering experience highly desirable
• Two or more years working with children, highly desirable
• Must be physically able to use the computer with basic proficiency and the ability to lift up to 40 pounds is strongly desired and may be required to work in some classrooms or in the kitchen