Youth Specialist/Assistant Cook

Abbott House; United States; On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott House is seeking an Assistant Cook to collaborate with the Food & Nutrition Manager to establish a healthy meal plan and prepare meals for participants. You will work with a nutritionist to design menus, ensure meals meet USDA guidelines, and help educate the team on proper food handling and safety practices.

The role emphasizes maintaining high-quality outputs, keeping detailed logs, and supporting a safe, sanitary kitchen and cafeteria environment.

Qualifications

• Culinary degree preferred; minimum High School diploma or equivalent.
• 1–2 years culinary experience, preferably in school/childcare setting.
• Proficiency in Spanish (oral and written).
• Must be able to handle pressured situations.
• Advanced knowledge of principles and practices within the food profession.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Nutritionist to create a healthy meal plan.
• Ensure compliance with USDA guidelines and state licensing standards for nutrition.
• Maintain high-quality meals through core recipes and cooking techniques; educate team members.
• Ensure proper handling of food products, use of equipment, and accurate logs per safety guidelines.
• Provide a safe, sanitary work environment and assist the Food & Nutrition Service Manager.
• Keep Cafeteria and Kitchen areas clean and sanitized.
• Attend mandatory Abbott House trainings.

Skills

Spanish proficiency

Calm under pressure

Strong communication

Education

Culinary degree

High School diploma or equivalent

Food Handler Certificate

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Assistant Cook will work in collaboration with the Food & Nutrition Manager to establish a healthy meal menu plan and prepare meals.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with nutritionist to create healthy meal plan.
• Ensure compliance with USDA guidelines and state licensing standards for nutrition.
• Ensuring products are prepared with a consistent, high-quality outcome by core recipes & cooking techniques and educating team members on these practices.
• Educate and ensure team members are properly handling food products, using equipment, and keeping accurate logs in accordance with food safety guidelines.
• Provide a safe and sanitary work environment. Assist in cleaning and efficient operation of facility.
• Assist the Food & Nutrition Service Manager.
• Maintain Cafeteria and Kitchen areas clean and sanitized.
• Attend all Mandatory ORR & Abbott House Trainings on a timely basis.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. An employee in this position is regularly required to stand; walk, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and listen, and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to keep balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl .
• Computer – The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist must be able to use a computer and able to learn software programs
• Office Equipment- The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist is required to operate a fax, copier, scan, and other office equipment.
• Communication - The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist needs to be able to speak, read and write fluently in the English language
• Writing - The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist must be able to write in the English language using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
• Lifting - The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist may frequently lift 0-25 lbs., occasionally lift 25-50 lbs., and rarely lift over 50 lbs.
• Push/Pull - The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist may frequently push/pull 0-25 lbs. of force, occasionally push/pull 26-45 lbs. force, and rarely push/pull over 45 lbs.
• Sitting, Standing and Walking – The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist will be required to sit, stand and walk throughout the work day.
• Stooping -The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist may occasionally stoop. This is defined as bending body downward by bending spine at the waist.
• Kneeling -The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist may occasionally kneel. This is defined as bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee(s).
• Crouching - The Cook Assistant/Youth Specialist may occasionally crouch. This is defined as bending body downward and forward by bending spine and legs.
• Work environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate due to talk and movement of the program participants and other co- workers. The noise level can increase on occasion due to yelling or screaming by the participants of the programs.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

• Culinary degree preferred. Minimum High School diploma or equivalent. Food Handler Certificate
• Interest in cooking for children and one to two years culinary experience, preferably in a school and/or childcare setting.
• Proficiency in Spanish both oral and written.
• Must be able to handle pressured situations and environment.
• Advanced knowledge of the principles and practices within the food profession is required.

HOURS AND TIME OF WORK

Full-Time- 35 Hours per week