Youth Residential Chef

Children; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Children's Home Network in Tampa, FL is seeking a Youth Residential Chef to oversee daily kitchen and dining hall operations, planning, preparing and serving meals for youth and staff. This full-time role features a 40-hour workweek and requires strong leadership in a residential setting.

The ideal candidate will have 4+ years of institutional cooking experience, Serve Safe Manager certification or ability to obtain within 90 days, and a commitment to nutrition and safety in school-associated

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent preferred; four years restaurant/institutional cooking experience preferred.
• Serve Safe Manager certification required or must obtain within 90 days of start date.
• First Aid and CPR certification or ability to obtain within 30 days; valid Florida driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare meals for youth and staff in alignment with USDA/FDOE programs.
• Oversee kitchen and dining hall operations; manage budgets and weekly food orders.
• Develop menus, supervise staff, and ensure food safety and regulatory compliance.
• Deliver meals to cottages and ensure quality and service standards are met.
• Maintain records, conduct audits, and participate in ongoing quality improvement.

Skills

Budgeting

Menu planning

Food safety

Kitchen management

Team leadership

Communication

PBIS practices

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

Serve Safe Manager

First Aid/CPR

Florida Driver's License

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Youth Residential Chef

Tampa, FL, US

Salary Range: $40,000.00 To $55,000.00 Annually

JOB SUMMARY: The Chef is responsible for the overall operation of the kitchen and dining hall in planning, preparing and serving the meals to the children, youth and staff of Children's Home Network. The Chef will prepare delicious meals that appeal to the palate of young people. This position is full time and has a 40 hour schedule per week.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Establishing an annual budget and working within the budget throughout the year.
• Organizes the workflow to ensure efficiency in kitchen and dining hall operations.
• Creates menus in advance for meals.
• Cooks and serves weekday dinners for youth.
• Cooks and serves select lunches for youth. Example: summer and weekdays without school.
• Delivers weekend food to cottages. Example: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
• Delivers weekday breakfasts, snacks, and lunches to cottages. Including beverages.
• Places food orders weekly.
• Utilizes the local food bank.
• Collect, verify, and total meal count sheets daily. Complete edit-check, verify and correct any discrepancies found and file the monthly FDOE claim for reimbursement prior to the 10 th of each month. Ensure that staff completes productions sheets on a daily basis to ensure compliance.
• Survey’s youth on preference and for feedback on meals served. Plans weekly menus offering a variety of choices appealing to children, based on survey feedback.
• Conducts the meal planning, ordering, preparation and serving of meals in an appealing manner and in compliance with USDA school lunch program requirements.
• Administer and ensures compliance with USDA and Florida Department of Education Food programs, including the National School Breakfast, Lunch Program and the USDA Commodity Foods Program, and maintain program records; submit reports; oversee audits and inspections and attend required training.
• Ensure the Food Services kitchen and cottages kitchens are in compliance with Food Safety, DCF guidelines, and Health Department Guidelines.
• Oversee the cleaning and organization of the kitchen and dining hall storage areas to ensure compliance with all Hillsborough County Health Department code and requirements.
• Offers food education and taste tests to residential youth.
• Assess the condition of all kitchen equipment and advise supervisor of any needed maintenance, repairs or recommend replacement or purchase of needed equipment.
• Trains residential department program and support staff on safe food handling and storage techniques.
• Offers and schedules mentorship/apprentice opportunities to youth in our residential program
• Facilitates or provides resources for safe serve class.
• Prepares meals for Board meetings, special events, etc.
• Oversees the stocking and rotation of supplies in the cottage kitchens to ensure meal items, snacks and beverages are available and fresh.
• Receives high meal satisfaction ratings from children, youth and staff. Participates in the continuous quality improvement process.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

High School diploma or equivalent preferred. Four (4) years restaurant/institutional cooking experience preferred. Serve Safe Manager certification required or must have ability to obtain within 90 days of employment start date.

Licenses & Certifications:

• Must be Serve Safe Certified or must have ability to obtain.
• First Aid and CPR Certified or ability to obtain within 30 days of new hire date (classes available on site).
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver's license with no record of criminal driving offense of license suspension. Must be insurable under CHN's current auto insurance policy.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Must successfully complete and maintain FDLE clearance, Federal background and state criminal background check and sexual predator screening.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities including but not limited to:

Knowledge of Department of Children and Families rules and regulations regarding the care of children.

• Knowledge of Knowledge of basic budgeting principles and ability to balance budget.
• Knowledge of child abuse or neglect reporting procedures.
• Knowledge of effective training and management practices, techniques and methods.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, supervisors and other individuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Has a positive attitude with excellent social skills.
• Has managed restaurant or catering kitchens, including planning meals, ordering food, budget management.
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, data management and related basic computer software, including MS Office Suite.
• Maintain a current Serve Safe and other applicable Food Services Managers Certifications.
• Knowledge of effective kitchen best procedures and practices.
• Possess effective organizational skills.
• Demonstrates proficiency in PBIS practices and supports the ongoing implementation throughout the organization.
• Knowledge of Children's Home Network's organizational structure, standard operating procedures and policies.