Part-time Preschool CookClassroom Support (44447)

The Preschool Cook/Classroom Support (Small Group under 30) is responsible for planning preparing and maintaining food service operations for a small early learning center. This role ensures a safe clean and compliant kitchen environment including menu preparation food ordering and proper food handling practices.

In addition to food service duties this position provides limited classroom support coverage for preschool staff during scheduled lunch and break periods approximately two hours per day. Classroom support occurs in a small group setting and does not replace the role of a lead teacher.

This is a part-time position working Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. totaling 20 hours per week.

Essential Responsibilities:

• In coordination with the Director plan and develop four week rotating menus for the Early Learning Center.
• Prepare and serve meals and snacks in compliance with Department of Health Services Meal Pattern requirements.
• Ensure that food is cooked satisfactorily in quality and for quantity prepared.
• Prepare and store food in accordance with accepted sanitation procedures.
• Prepare and maintain a variety of records and logs.
• Maintain adequate inventory of cooking ingredients.
• Adhere to assigned food budget.
• Maintain sanitation health and safety standards in work area in accordance with health regulations.
• Food ordering
• Food inventory controls
• Inventory management
• Clean and sanitize kitchen on a daily basis.
• Operate and maintain in a clean and safe fashion a variety of kitchen equipment including range oven refrigerator freezer microwave and other appliances.
• Maintain required certifications.
• Maintain personal hygiene standards.
• Attend training and meetings as required.
• Maintains optimum attendance and reliability.
• Maintain a positive attitude toward co-workers families and scholars in the school
• Communicate with the parents through daily drop-off and pick-up as well as on Pro Care.
• Assist children with activities of daily life (hand washing diaper changes family style meals taking care of their environment etc.).
• Help in maintaining required staff-to-children ratios supervising within sight & sound of enrolled children.
• As a mandated reporter report any suspected or alleged child abuse or neglect.
• Interact with the children with respect affection and at their eye level.
• Use appropriate guidance techniques with children defining and maintaining clear consistent and fair limits for classroom behavior using redirection and encouragement of appropriate behavior.
• Responsible for the daily maintenance of childrens rosters changing logs and daily reports.
• Maintain records of attendance and sign-in/out sheet
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrate UCPs Values.
• Perform other duties and tasks assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Any combination equivalent to one year commercial or institutional cooking experience
• Experience in planning and preparing nutritionally based meals for children in a child care setting.
• Basic training in food safety and nutrition.

Preferred

• Any combination equivalent to three years commercial or institutional cooking experience.
• One year or more experience in planning and preparing nutritionally based meals for children in a child care setting
• Advanced training in food safety and nutrition.

Licenses/ Certifications Required:

• Current Maricopa County Food Handler Card
• Maintain a current Food Manager Card

Requirements:

• Must satisfy Department of Health Services (DHS) licensure requirements for valid First Aid and Infant & Child CPR certifications
• Must satisfy Arizona Department of Health Childcare licensing training regulations (AZDHS)
• Class One Fingerprint Clearance
• Must obtain Food Managers Card within 90 days of hire
• Negative results of a Mantoux TB test
• Must be 18years of age or older
• Immunization verification

Knowledge of:

• Food preparation and presentation methods and techniques
• Food quality standards including health guidelines
• Nutritional guidelines
• Food allergies
• Menu preparation
• Standard kitchen equipment
• Safety and sanitation standards
• Understanding of Occupational Safety and Health guidelines
• AZ DHS Child Care Licensing Rules and regulations

Ability to:

• Operate standard kitchen equipment.
• Make large quantities of quality food/ adapt daily quantities as needed.
• Read and follow recipes.
• Keep accurate records.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Understand and follow oral and written directions.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Work cooperatively with others.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Move food weighting up to 25 pounds from vehicle to food storage and preparation area.
• Attend meetings and trainings as required.
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Communicate effectively with all levels of staff parents and children both orally and in writing
• Bend kneel or crouch in order to lift children and work on the floor
• Be available for assigned but flexible weekly schedule
• Attend meetings trainings and UCP Learning Center events as required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee regularly is required to sit stand walk and manipulate (lift carry move) medium to heavy weights up to 50 pounds. Must be able to bend kneel squat walk and run. Requires good hand-eye coordination arm hand and finger dexterity including ability to grasp and visual acuity to use a keyboard operate equipment and read adequate hearing to perform job duties in person and over the phone.

TRAININGREQUIREMENTS

In accordance with UCP guidelines it is necessary for employees to complete a series of trainings to meet the criteria for this position. The training department will provide a specific departmental guide for these requirements including additional updates.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment includes an industrial kitchen environment with moderate noise levels and possible exposure to blood borne pathogens.