Lead Cook

Archdiocese of St. Louis; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Good Shepherd Children & Family Services seeks a Lead Cook to oversee daily kitchen operations for the maternity shelter, including menu planning, meal preparation, and staffing coordination. You will develop nutritious menus aligned with CACFP and ensure meals are served to mothers and toddlers in the shelter with proper supervision of a backup cook.

The role requires planning, budgeting, and adherence to health and safety standards, with opportunities to contribute to quality improvement

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 3 years of experience in meal preparation in group care setting.
• Requires sensitivity to cultural diversity of clients and employees.
• Be team oriented and able to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Ensures CACFP School Breakfast and Lunch compliance and records maintenance.
• Maintains temperature logs and proper labeling of foods.
• Stocking and inventory management.
• Ensures sanitation and food handling standards per health guidelines.
• Plans daily menus within budget and accommodates residents’ needs.
• Prepares nutritious meals Monday through Friday; weekend meals as needed.
• Oversees kitchen staffing coverage and safety of equipment.
• Maintains kitchen cleanliness and uses preferred vendors when feasible.
• Supports inspections and performance improvement initiatives.

Skills

Teamwork

Cultural sensitivity

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

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Good Shepherd Children & Family Services provides the highest quality foster care and treatment foster care, adoption, expectant parent counseling, maternity shelter, pregnancy services and advocacy. In response to the call of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, to help those in need, we connect children with families and keep families connected.

Job Summary

The Lead Cook oversees the daily operations of the Good Shepherd kitchen, including food ordering, menu planning, meal preparation, and service. Develops nutritious, balanced menus in accordance with CACFP requirements and ensures meals are prepared and served appropriately to the mothers and toddlers residing in the maternity shelter. Provides direction and supervision to the part-time Backup Cook and coordinates kitchen coverage to ensure adequate staffing and consistent meal service to meet the needs of the maternity program.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensures the Dietary Department is in compliance with CACFP School Breakfast and Lunch Programs and Commodity Program including menu planning is in compliance with government nutrient and fat guidelines and that records are maintained for production, nutrient content of food components, USDA commodity inventory, annual inventory of all food meal count sheets.
• Responsible for completing documentation on temperature logs; labels of purchased foods and labeling used and open foods
• Stocking
• Ensures compliance with all Department of Health sanitation and food handling standards and maintenance of equipment.
• Plans daily menus to accommodate residents’ needs, keep expenses within the budget.
• Prepares or provides for the preparation of nutritious, appetizing meals for the residents of the maternity shelter Monday through Friday.
• Prepare meals on Friday to meet the needs of our residents over the weekend.
• Purchases and keeps adequate supply of food and oversees storage, issuance and collection of supplies.
• Develops and maintains a kitchen coverage schedule, ensuring appropriate staffing by assigning lead staff and designated backup coverage.
• Performs daily maintenance and safety of ovens, slicer, warmer, freezer, refrigerators, ice machine and dish machine.
• Keep the kitchen and cafeteria area clean and sanitary.
• Utilizes Archdiocesan preferred vendors whenever feasible and economically rational.
• Upon request from ministry leadership and assuring that client needs are prioritized, prepares meals for special staff/board events.
• Conducts annual St. Louis County Department of Health inspection and bi-annual CACFP/DESE inspection.
• Help the organization meet its quality improvement, evaluation, and reporting requirements by contributing to developing outcomes, participating in data collection, interpreting data and applying it to improve practices and outcomes.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Sr. Director of Operations.

Job Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent

3 years of experience in meal preparation in group care setting

Requires sensitivity to cultural diversity of clients and employees

Be team oriented and able to work independently

Good Shepherd Children & Family Servicesdoes not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its federally assisted programs and activities. Good Shepherd Children & Family Servicesis an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or disability.
Pre-Employment Screening
All candidates receiving an employment offer must submit a pre-employment screening. The screenings will include criminal background check and other background checks (as needed), Family Care Safety Registration, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, and Covid-19 and Influenza vaccination. Various positions will require physical examination, Tuberculosis screening and Hepatitis A. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Our Mission

To bring the healing, help, and hope of Jesus Christ to those in need with a compassionate, caring presence.

Connecting children with families and keeping families connected by providing pregnancy and parenting support, foster care programs, and adoption services.

"Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."