First Cook 26/27SY

Cleveland Metropolitan School District; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is hiring a school cook to prepare and serve nutritious meals in our cafeteria. This role supports inventory control, proper storage of food and supplies, and adherence to district procedures and safety standards.

The ideal candidate has a high school diploma or GED, prior food service experience, strong interpersonal skills, and a reliable attendance record. You will work on-site with a flexible schedule averaging 35 hours per week.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required or preferred.
• Experience in Food Service as a Cook is preferred.
• Experience working with children is beneficial.
• Strong interpersonal skills and reliability are required.
• Able to work 35 hours per week with good attendance.
• Must be punctual and have a solid work history.

Responsibilities

• Receive instructions from the Director, Area Food Supervisor, and Lunchroom Manager.
• Act in place of the Lunchroom Manager as needed, handling paperwork and ordering.
• Demonstrate proficiency with Word and Outlook for records.
• Handle food and supplies in a clean, safe, and economical manner.
• Maintain clean serving and storage areas; manage small wares and equipment.
• Assist in setting up serving lines and serving activities; prepare items as scheduled.
• Receive and store deliveries properly; follow health and safety standards.
• Perform tasks in line with district policies and regulations.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Punctuality & attendance

Experience with children

Time management

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Workday

Newton

Edison

Job description

ABOUT CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) is Ohio's third-largest public school system, serving more than 35,000 students. CMSD strives to ensure that every child receives a high-quality education, regardless of the provider. To that end, CMSD lets families choose which District schools their children attend, with options that include STEM, the arts, single-gender education, International Baccalaureate, Montessori, and early college. Our schools have autonomy over human and financial resources in exchange for accountability for performance. The principal has primary responsibility and accountability for establishing their school as a high-quality, high-expectation academic center focusing on personalized instruction, professional support for teachers, and school-wide practices that lead to measurable results. CMSD ensures that students have access to technology and training to prepare them for the future. The District provides a free laptop or tablet for every student and connects every family that needs internet access. Graduating seniors leave commencement with not only a diploma but also a laptop. In our pursuit of a more fair, just, and good system of education, we strive to ensure that all of our learners, both scholars and educators, to be challenged with academically and intellectually complex tasks that are worthy of their efforts and provide them opportunities to demonstrate their best work.

BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES

The Cleveland Board of Education adopted the Building Brighter Futures (BBF) initiative on December 9, 2025. Building Brighter Futures is a strategic and data-driven plan shaped by more than a year of community engagement, information analysis, and thoughtful deliberation. The goal of this plan is to strengthen enrollment and ensure scholars attend a newer school building that offers more educational opportunities, including algebra in the eighth grade, more sports and extracurricular activities, and college credits and college and career pathways in high school. BBF is ensuring academic excellence so every CMSD scholar can thrive.

THE OPPORTUNITY

• Location: Administration or As Assigned
• Reports to: Area Supervisor
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
• Pay Rate: $15.96 an hour
• Union: SEIU 1199

Under the direction of the Assistant Manager, the Cook is responsible for preparing and cooking food. In addition, the Cook assists with inventory and proper storage of all food and supplies, and all required paperwork and ordering procedures, and is responsible for production records, which involve entering the information into district information systems.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Receive instructions from the Director, Area Food Supervisor, and Assistant/Acting Lunchroom Manager
• Act in place of the Assistant Lunchroom Manager as needed, which includes all paperwork and ordering procedures, ensuring all other areas are adhered to, and continuing to function when other kitchen staff members are unavailable
• Demonstrated knowledge of computer applications including Microsoft Word and Outlook
• Handle all food and supplies in a clean, safe, and economical manner
• Maintain food serving areas, food storage area (dry and refrigerated), small wares and equipment in a clean and orderly fashion at all times
• Assist and maintain the setting up of serving lines and serving
• Preparation and/or cooking of food items as needed to comply with progressive serving schedules
• Assist with proper receiving and storing of deliveries
• Perform tasks in a manner meeting all operational standards of School Nutrition Services which adhere to all federal, state, and city laws and District policies and regulations for health and safety compliance
• Perform related duties as required, or any other duties which may assist in the overall operation of the cafeteria

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED
• Understanding of Workday software and Newton and Edison programs
• Experience working in Food Service as a Cook preferred
• Experience working with children
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Able to work 35 hours a week (7 hours per day)
• Requires punctuality, good attendance, and a good work record at previous employment

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The characteristics listed below are representative of the work environment typically encountered by an individual while performing the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties. Expected moving, walking, and standing consistent with a school environment and occasionally lifting up to 35 pounds While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms The employee is frequently required to talk and/or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a normal school environment. Local travel may be required for training/meetings.

EEO STATEMENT

We believe that equity and inclusion at CMSD is an essential call to action, a catalyst to ensure value and appreciation among all our employees, so we may be fair and welcoming now and in the future.

CMSD provides equal opportunities for employment, retention and advancement of all personnel by administering all terms and conditions of employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex, disability or genetic information, age, citizenship status, military status, sexual orientation or expression, socio-economic status, title, other dimensions of identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The District’s Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment, and Sexual Harassment and the District’s Title IX grievance procedures, including information on how to report or file a complaint of discrimination, how to report or file a formal complaint of sexual harassment, and how the District will respond, may be accessed on the District’s Civil Rights Notices webpage, available at ClevelandMetroSchools.org/domain/105.

The District’s Title IX Coordinator / Director of Equal Employment Opportunity may be reached at: 1111 Superior Avenue East, Suite 1800 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 (216)-838-0070 [e-mail]

CMSD is committed to the recruitment and retention of top-notch employees with the determination and drive to create a positive and effective 21st century learning environment for our students.

Our departmental goal is to provide personalized support and service to each employee, school, and department.

We also strive to build a foundation of employee excellence through rigorous performance standards, staff development and a diverse and dedicated work force that supports the mission and goals of the district.

Please note that an offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of an FBI/BCI background check and drug screen.