Cook

NINOS INC; Raymondville (TX); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Neighbors In Need Of Services Inc. seeks a kitchen/food service assistant to prepare and serve meals for Head Start children, ensuring portion control and nutritional guidelines. You will document food service activities and contribute to program reports.

The role requires adherence to safety, sanitation, and dress code standards, plus participation in family education initiatives and occasional staff training. Evening and weekend shifts may be required to support program operations.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must have no criminal record or charges
• Must have valid driver's license and reliable transportation with liability insurance
• Must be able to speak, read and write English
• Must have or be willing to obtain First Aid/CPR certification
• Must have a clear TB and physical examination before first day
• Must have or be willing to obtain Food Handler's Certificate or have two years' experience in quantity cooking

Responsibilities

• Prepare grocery shopping list from agency menus and document food services program
• Prepare and serve food and ensure mandated amounts are served
• Follow menus for breakfast, lunch, and snack to ensure mandated portions for children
• Prepare and serve appetizing, colorful meals
• Prepare grocery shopping lists
• Prepare food-related reports, inventory, daily menus, records, etc.
• Wash daily dishes, pots and pans
• Maintain sanitation of kitchen and equipment
• Follow required dress code: Uniform, Hair Net, Closed Shoes
• Participate in parent education on food purchasing, preparation, and nutrition
• Attend staff training through pre-service and in-service workshops when necessary
• Support Head Start families in children’s healthy wellbeing and academic success
• Perform other duties assigned by supervisor
• Work on weekends/holidays/evenings as requested by Executive/Head Start Director

Skills

English proficiency

Driver's license

First Aid/CPR

Food Handler's Certificate

No criminal record

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Must be at least 18 years of age
2. Must have no criminal record or criminal charges pending
3. Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation with liability insurance
4. Must be able to speak, read and write English
5. Must have or be willing to obtain First Aide/CPR certification
6. Must have a clear TB and physical examination before first day of employment
7. Must have or be willing to obtain Food Handler's Certificate or have at least two years' experience in quantity cooking (e.g. cook in cafeteria or restaurant)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Have a high school diploma or GED
2. Be Bilingual - able or willing to learn to speak, read and write English and Spanish
3. Be a local resident of Cameron or Willacy County
4. Be a person sensitive to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Responsible for preparing the grocery shopping list from agency menus and documenting food services program.
2. Responsible for preparing and serving food and making sure that mandated amounts are served.
3. Follow Menus for breakfast, lunch, snack assuring mandated amounts are served to children.
4. Prepare and serve food in an appetizing, colorful way.
5. Prepare grocery shopping list.
6. Prepare food related reports inventory, daily menus, records, etc.
7. Wash the daily dishes, pots and pans.
8. Responsible for the sanitation of kitchen, seeing that all kitchen equipment, floors and stoves are kept in neat and clean condition.
9. Follow the required dress code:
10. Uniform
11. Hair Net
12. Closed Shoes
13. Participate in parent education program concerning matters of food purchasing, preparation, and nutrition.
14. When necessary will be expected to attend staff training through pre-service and in-service workshops.
15. Supports the efforts of Head Start families in the enhancement of their children's healthy wellbeing and academic success
16. Performs any other duties assigned by supervisor relative to program operations
17. Works on weekends, holidays, and/or evenings on especial assigned projects and/or tasks on request of the Executive/Head Start Director

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

1. Averages one hour of sitting, four hours of standing, and three of walking in a usual workday
2. Requires employee to occasionally crawl and twist in performing dutiesNeeds to carry up to 50 pounds, occasionally
3. Uses lower extremities frequently in simple/firm movement and balancing
4. Maintains head/neck continuously in flexing movements and occasionally in static position & rotational/extension movements
5. Needs appropriate or corrected vision, requires the ability to judge distance and space relationships, uses peripheral vision while eyes are fixed, uses eye adjustment in doing near point work, and requires the ability to identify and distinguish colors
6. Does frequent speaking/hearing tasks with staff, co-workers, parents and supervisors
7. Performs work area surveys to prevent injuries or accidents
8. Exposure to indifferent outdoor weather conditions (cold, heat, sun, rain etc.)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. Accepts responsibility for the direction, control, and/or planning of job related activities
2. Communicates and works effectively with parents, community, staff and immediate supervisor
3. Works on repetitive duties according to set procedures with precision and thoroughness
4. Performs a variety of duties often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure
5. Maintains confidentiality and avoids gossip
6. Works in stressful situations
7. Maintains equipment in good working order
8. Practices safety by:
   • Complying with safety rules
   • Maintaining a clean and safe working environment
   • Using safety equipment (support belts, goggles, etc.)
   • Using proper climbing equipment

NOTE: Actual experience in job related field may be substituted for college credit on a year to year basis. The Department of Health & Human Services, with the exception of the Education Coordinator and Teacher positions, does not require completion of a degree or certification as a condition of professional employment. While degrees are indicators of achievement, they are not an indication of competence. Performance is a better indicator of competence and capability.