Kitchen Assistant

brighthorizons; Mount Prospect (IL); On-site; USD 20,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid vacation, sick, holiday, and par­

ental bonding leave

401(k) retirement plan

Long-term and short-term disability

Life insurance

Discounts and financial planning tools

Career development and free college**

Caregiving support

Employee Referral Bonus Program

Job summary

Bright Horizons is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to support the cook in planning and preparing nutritious, family-style meals for children, educators, and center staff. Your care in the kitchen helps create a warm, predictable routine that fuels learning and growth.

Join a team where your contributions matter and you can grow professionally while making a meaningful difference every day. No nights or weekends; typical hours are 8:00am–4:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED is required.
• Food handler certification within 30 days of hire is preferred.
• Course work or certification in Nutrition is preferred.
• Food service experience in a childcare center, school cafeteria, commercial kitchen, or high-volume food service setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and preparing nutritious, family-style meals.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety in the kitchen and follow health regulations.
• Communicate effectively with children, parents, and staff.
• Follow dietary requirements and allergy guidelines and manage special diets.

Skills

Cooking/kitchen experience

Nutrition awareness

Dietary requirements knowledge

Communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Education

High school diploma or GED

Food handler certification (preferred)

Nutrition coursework (preferred)

Food service experience in childcare/kitchen (preferred)

Job description

As a Kitchen Assistant at Bright Horizons , you will support the cook to plan and prepare nutritious, family‑style meals that support children's health, growth, and learning. Each day, your care in the kitchen will create a warm, predictable routine for children, educators, and center staff. From simmering soups to perfectly portioned plates, your work will fuel growing minds.

Join a team where your contributions matter and where you are supported to grow professionally while making a meaningful difference each day.

No nights or weekends! This is a Monday - Friday with preferable hours of 8:00am - 4:00pm.

Responsibilities

• Previous experience within a role which involves cooking or working in a kitchen within a domestic or commercial property
• Passion for nutrition, and inspiring others in healthy eating
• Ability to demonstrate a sound knowledge of managing different dietary requirements, particularly food allergies
• Great communication skills, with both colleagues, children, and parents
• Ability to work under pressure

Qualifications

• Candidates must pass required state and company background checks and meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements:18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED is required
• Having or obtaining a food handler certification within 30 days of hire is preferred
• Course work or certification in Nutrition is preferred
• Food service experience in a childcare center, school cafeteria, commercial kitchen, or high‑volume food service setting is preferred

Physical Requirements

This position requires the employee to comply with all applicable federal, state, local, Bright Horizons', and client site requirements concerning immunizations, employment physical/screening, and health and safety training. If hired, you will work in person in an early education/preschool child care center to provide food service per Bright Horizons' policies, procedures and guidance, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that will ensure safety of children in Bright Horizons care and the employee.

Physical demands include lifting and carrying food and supplies (typically 10 to 40 pounds, occasionally up to 50 pounds), standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, pushing carts, and performing repetitive kitchen and cleaning tasks. Employees must maintain mental and physical alertness and be able to respond immediately and appropriately to unexpected situations or emergencies.

The full set of physical requirements for this role can be reviewed at https://careers.brighthorizons.com/job-descriptions . Bright Horizons complies with all laws that require reasonable accommodations for qualifying disabilities and/or pregnancy-related limitations.

Compensation

The hourly rate for this position is between $14.42 - $19.47 per hour. The pay range listed here is what Bright Horizons in good faith anticipates offering for this job opening. Actual compensation offers within this range will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education and training, certifications, geography, and other relevant business or organizational factors.

Compensation: $14.42 - $19.47 / hr

Benefits

Bright Horizons offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick, holiday, and parental bonding leave
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Money-saving discounts and financial planning tools
• Career development opportunities and free college degrees through our Horizons CDA & Degree Program
• Caregiving support and resources for the children and adults in your family
• Employee Referral Bonus Program

Learn more at https://careers.brighthorizons.com/us/en/health-and-wellness

Life at Bright Horizons

At Bright Horizons, you're more than your job title - you're the difference. Whether you're nurturing a child's first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We're a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future - for yourself and for others.

Bright Horizons provides equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Bright Horizons complies with the laws and