Site Cook 2 On Call-Head Start

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k contribution after 1 year

Employee Assistance Program

Life insurance

Health, Vision and Dental Insurance

Job summary

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency is seeking a Site Cook to prepare breakfasts, lunches and snacks for children at Head Start locations in the Salem area.

You will follow CACFP guidelines, adapt menus to dietary needs, and work with site teams to ensure meals are served on time. The role emphasizes teamwork, record-keeping, and maintaining a clean, safe kitchen in a busy childcare environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• One year experience cooking for groups of 25+ people.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle.
• Successful registration with Central Background Registry.
• CPR/First Aid, ServSafe Manager, and Food Handlers certifications or ability to obtain.
• Knowledge of CACFP guidelines and menu planning.
• Excellent organizational, math, and record-keeping skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for children.
• Follow CACFP guidelines and menus; accommodate dietary needs.
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and safety; post menus.
• Collaborate with classroom staff on nutrition activities.
• Maintain records and complete required documentation.
• Ensure punctual and reliable attendance.

Skills

Cooking for groups

Nutrition knowledge

Food safety

Record keeping

Math skills

Microsoft Office

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Driver's license

CPR/First Aid Certification

ServSafe Manager Certification

Food Handlers Card

Head Start Performance Standards

Job description

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency

OUR MISSION: MWVCAA invests in people and their futures to reduce the impacts of poverty.

Our Vision: We envision a just future, where our communities are empowered to reach positive outcomes and everyone is respected for their infinite worth.

Working at MWVCAA means becoming part of a mission-driven community dedicated to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all. We offer competitive pay, a rich company culture that values diversity, and an array of benefits - but we consider the best benefit here to be the reward of helping those in our community live better lives. Come find meaningful work and bring your skills as a Site Cook. Your main responsibilities will prepare breakfasts, lunches and snacks for children who attend their location and for children who attend assigned non-cooking sites. The Site Cook 2 assigned to large sites may work with a team of Site Cook 1's and Site Cook 2's to provide meals in large quantities. This team offers a lot of growth opportunities and professional development through hands-on experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or GED.
• One year experience cooking for groups of 25 or more people.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Driver qualifications are required for this position. Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory drive record for the previous three years are required.
• Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Child Care Division.
• CPR/First Aid Certification or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Food Handlers Card or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• ServSafe Manager Certification or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Candidate must pass pre-employment physical examination, renewable every two years.
• Candidate must pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated knowledge of cooking skills, nutrition, and ability to follow quantity recipes.
• Ability to create recipes using a variation of ingredients.
• Must possess excellent organizational, record keeping, and math skills.
• Basic proficiencies in Microsoft Office (including Outlook), videoconferencing platforms, and web tools.

WHAT YOU WILL DO TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

Kitchen Time

• Food preparation, cooking, and cleaning.
• Prepares food in compliance with CACFP guidelines, and according to menus and special dietary needs.
• Follows recipes and cycles menu to ensure consistent, quality food to all children.
• Provides correct foods for children with documented allergies, religious preference or other conditions.
• Exhibits time management skills to complete meals at specified times.
• Follows all health and sanitation guidelines.
• Maintains clean, sanitary, safe, and orderly kitchen and eating areas, using approved sanitation cleaning guidelines and procedures, keeping all cleaning chemicals in an area inaccessible to children at all times.
• Maintains all CACFP required documentation.
• Participates in central food distribution of weekly food orders.

Office

• Completes food service records and all other required documentation.
• Submits as scheduled to Nutrition Services Supervisor.
• Maintains a list of foods children cannot eat due to allergies, etc.
• Possesses a working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, agency policies and procedures and other applicable regulations.
• Posts current menus and documents changes to assure compliance with USDA standards.
• Plans for and orders food weekly as required, staying within budgetary, recipe, and menu guidelines.
• Responsible for appropriate storage and inventory of all food, food service equipment, and kitchen supplies.

Classroom

• Works collaboratively with classroom staff for nutrition experiences/activities, parent orientations, and parent meetings.
• Assists with meal set up, interacts with children, and observes eating habits.

Other

• Consistent punctuality and reliable attendance are essential requirements for this role.
• Ability to work effectively and maintain positive, professional relationships with team members and clients.
• Exercises judgment in determining priority of day-to-day job tasks.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no supervisory duties in this position.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Employee will be standing for the majority of the workday.
• Ability to move about the workspace.
• Ability to reach and/or extend to access materials or equipment.
• Use of kitchen equipment including, but not limited to range, oven, dishwasher, and small cooking appliances.
• Frequent driving in all weather conditions to Agency Head Start and Early Head Start sites.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Indoor work environment with frequent interruptions and demands.
• Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
• Work environment is occasionally warm, humid and temperatures vary (particularly in/near refrigerators and freezers and appliances).
• Variable and flexible schedule according to program needs.

WHAT WE OFFER

• 401k contribution after 1 year
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life insurance
• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance

MWVCAA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, veterans, and people with disabilities or any other protected category. We welcome all people to join us in achieving our Mission. If you require any assistance in the application process, or reasonable accommodations to perform the essential duties of the position, please notify a member of our team at [phone].

If you need ADA accommodations to apply for MWVCAA job openings, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or call 503-585-6232 to ask for a HR Team Member.