Cook-(Food Services, High School)

Sylvania; Amherst (MA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

ARPS Food Services seeks a Full Time High School Cook to support daily hot meal service in a school cafeteria. You will assist in supervision, food prep, and ensuring nutritious meals while maintaining sanitation standards.

The role requires prior food service experience, ability to handle cash, and adherence to health and safety guidelines in a school setting.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• Reading, writing and math proficiency required.
• Previous food service experience requested.
• Capable of lifting up to 35 pounds and standing long hours.
• Ability to work in hot/cold kitchen environments.

Responsibilities

• Assist supervision and evaluate kitchen staff and production.
• Prepare and cook meals per menu and recipes to meet deadlines.
• Serve hot meals and, when needed, deliver to staff or classes.
• Assist with ordering, receiving and inventory for daily service.
• Maintain sanitation and follow HACCP procedures.
• Reconcile daily cash sales and POS records.
• Support sustainability initiatives and Kitchen Manager in absence.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Cash handling

Food safety

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED

ServSafe Certification

Massachusetts Allergen Awareness Certification

Tools

POS/Cash Register

Job description

Brief Description: The Cook is an essential member of the school cafeteria staff and is charged with assisting the Kitchen Manager in all their supervisory and operational duties. The Cook ensures courteous and positive customer service to the students and staff, sanitary food preparation and service, cleaning and maintaining the cafeteria in a manner that provides a sanitary, clean, attractive, and safe environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists in the supervision and evaluation of personnel and food production. Develops work schedules with Kitchen Manager to maximize production efficiency. Ability to operate all food service equipment and train staff accordingly.
• Ensures the service of attractive, appetizing and nutritious meals that are of consistent high quality and meet USDA meal pattern compliance. Easily identifies a reimbursable meal on the serving line.
• Prepares and cooks meals according to menu and recipes provided. Determines time and sequence of cooking operations to meet meal serving deadlines (e.g. breakfast, lunch, satellite). Services daily hot lunch line and when necessary delivers food to staff, students, classrooms, and catering events. Ability to prepare/cook all food served.
• Assists with coordination of ordering, receiving, and inventory of all food, beverage & paper product needed for daily service in unit. Assists with checking and storing all incoming supplies and compiling and maintaining accurate inventory and production records.
• Performs cleaning duties, equipment and work areas, dishwashing and pot washing as directed by Kitchen Manager. Assist in implementation of and follow-up of sanitation cleaning schedule for all kitchen areas and equipment according to state, federal, or local food handling.
• Assists manager with all daily cash sales; reconcile POS system, complete necessary paperwork neatly and accurately. Helps ensure that all meals and sales are properly accounted for.
• Assists with administering proper food controls to prevent waste and spoilage.
• Supports the goals, objectives and mission statement set forth by ARPS Food Services.
• Participates in and supportive of all ARPS Food Services’ sustainability initiatives.
• Carries out the roles and responsibilities of Kitchen Manager in their absence.
• Performs all other duties assigned by the Kitchen Manager or Director of Food Service.

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Skilled and knowledgeable in the following: food preparation, menu preparation, cost controls, sanitation requirements and large scale food service operations.
• Ability to professionally and effectively communicate with all students, other employees, and all members of the school community.
• Ability to handle money, keep accurate records, and operate a POS/Cash Register system.
• ServSafe Certified or ability to become certified as directed.
• Massachusetts Allergen Awareness Certification or ability to become certified as directed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• Proficient in reading, writing, and math required.
• Previous food service experience required.
• Must be able to exert up to 15 pounds of force, and enough force to constantly lift up to 35 pounds, carry, push and pull or otherwise move small and large objects.
• Work requires walking, standing, kneeling, and squatting to a significant degree. Also, exposure to extreme temperatures (hot and cold) due to cooking and refrigeration equipment.
• Requires ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape as well as coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using equipment.
• Requires the ability to speak and/or communicate with individuals to convey or exchange information. Includes but not limited to giving instructions, assignments or directions to staff, students, parents, and visitors. Ability to read and write variety of correspondence including reports, forms, e-mails, schedules, manuals, invoices, requisitions, menus, recipes, journals, etc.
• Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations. Demonstrates good judgement and decision making skills.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The Cook provides professional and friendly service with a positive attitude. They maintain clean, attractive serving lines during the meal periods to create a pleasant environment for students, staff, and customers. They encourage students to make healthy menu choices and follow the assigned menu to ensure the service of attractive, appetizing and nutritious meals.
• The Cook effectively works with members of the food service staff, students, and other school personnel. They demonstrate good attendance, punctuality, and come prepared to work on a daily basis. They maintain standards of personal appearance and hygiene according to district HACCP policies and procedures.
• The Cook maintains confidentiality of students receiving free and reduce price meals. They must not inform students of their balance unless asked by the student, and they ensure all students receive a regular lunch each and every day regardless of overdue balance.
• The Cook must be available and able to transfer to any other cafeteria based on the needs of the Food Service Department.

Full Time High School Cook 8 hours per day Monday-Friday 5:30-1:30 or as needed