Job: Child Care Center Cook

Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc.
PO Box 172
210 State Street
NORTH ADAMS, MA 01247

Phone:413-663-6593
Website:ccberkshire.org

Company Description:

Child Care of the Berkshires is a large not-for profit, early care and family support agency, operating a variety of programs throughout Berkshire County, including child care centers, a network of family child care homes, home visiting programs, parent child playgroups, parent education and skill building programs.

Its mission is to promote and strengthen families through the provision of high quality child care services to families whose parents are working or in training or, for any number of reasons, cannot adequately care for the children as well as other types of social and educational services which directly affect families and their well being.

Child Care of the Berkshires employs approximately 75 staff persons and its operating budget is approximately $5 million dollars. Child Care of the Berkshires is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer, with a longstanding commitment to increasing the diversity of the employee community.


Job Title:
Child Care Center Cook
Salary Range:Location:
$19.50 - $22.00 Per Hour North Adams
Job Type:Category:
Full TimeCook
Education Level:Work Experience:
High School or Equivalent
Required 		Up to One Year
Preferred
Skills/Certifications/Licenses:
Serve Safe and Allergen Awareness Certification - Preference: Preferred
Description:

SEEKING: We are seeking a Cook for our Monument Square Early Childhood and School-Age Center in North Adams MA.

RESPONSIBLE TO: Monument Square Program Director

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The Monument Square Early Childhood Center provides care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children in a renovated elementary school in North Adams. The Center is licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care for 82 children. 

BASIC FUNCTION:

The Child Care Center Cook is responsible for planning, preparing, and serving high quality and tasty nutritious meals and snacks for children ages 6 months to 11 years old.

In addition, the Child Care Center Cook plays an important role in supporting children’s health, wellness, and daily learning by ensuring all meals meet CACFP and state nutritional guidelines and food safety standards. 

Requirements:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • High school diploma or equivalent required.
  • Basic understanding of professional cooking and knife handling skills. Previous prep or line cook experience extremely helpful.
  • Basic understanding of good nutrition and CACFP meal patterns, including Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Pyramid. 
  • Must have Certification in Allergen Awareness and Serve Safe, or commitment to become certified and an understanding and knowledge of safety, sanitation and food handling procedures.
  • Basic understanding of creditable and non-creditable food items. 
  • Ability to plan and problem solve.
  • Ability to complete simple arithmetic and functionally literate. 
  • Must demonstrate enjoyment of children. 
  • Ability to communicate clearly with children and staff, both orally and in written form.
  • Must pass an EEC fingerprint background check and meet Massachusetts EEC health/safety requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Plan, prepare, and serve breakfast and lunch daily according to the center’s schedule, collaborating with child care staff to ensure mealtimes run smoothly and positively.  
  • Plans menus, follows recipes, variety, portion controls and presentation specifications as set by CACFP guidelines. Meals reflect creativity, imagination, and variety with minimal reliance on convenience or prepackaged items. Introduces new food items on occasion.  
  • Cleans, organizes, and maintains kitchen  area (counter tops, stove, and all kitchen surfaces including walls) and storeroom,  practicing good safety, sanitation, and ensuring the safety of the children around the kitchen area.
  • Has understanding and knowledge to properly use and maintain all equipment in kitchen. Ensure that facilities or equipment meet regulatory compliance (i.e. temperature of  refrigerator). Arrange for equipment purchases and repairs.
  • Meet with sales representatives in order to negotiate prices and order supplies.
  • Responsible for record keeping as assigned, including but not limited to, the Bureau of Nutrition records, meal  counts, and inventory of food and supplies. 
  • Attends monthly staff meetings, workshops, conferences, and in-service training, a minimum of 6 hours in nutrition annually; responsible for documenting training in file. 
  • Other duties as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The Child Care Center Cook works in a kitchen setting. 95% of the cook’s time is spent standing. 

Employees are regularly required to sit, walk, stand, talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands repeatedly to finger, handle and operate standard kitchen  equipment; reach with both hands and lift up to 50 pounds. Must have good physical health to meet demands of food preparation and free of communicable diseases. 

Must be mature and have good mental health in order to meet the stressors associated with preparing meals on time.

WORK SCHEDULE AND PAY:  This position is a 35 hours per week, year round non-exempt position. Starting pay is $19.50 - $22.00 per hour commensurate with education and experience. 

Benefits include medical, vision and dental insurance, sick and vacation time, as well as paid holidays, paid closure days and retirement plan, and child care reimbursement.  Some evening work may be needed to attend training sessions. 

CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION