Cook Aide

Position Summary:

Assists the Head Cook in preparing and serving nutritious meals to pre-school children, maintains adequate sanitary conditions, supervises volunteers in food preparation and assumes duties of the Head Cook in his/her absence.

This job description is illustrative only if the responsibilities performed by this position and is not all inclusive.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in planning, purchase, preparing of nutritious meals.
• Assist with preparation of meals for children's nutritional needs.
• Assist with maintenance of adequate sanitary conditions in the kitchen and dining room.
• Assist Head Cook in maintaining inventory of all chemical and cleaning supplies.
• Assist Head Cook with kitchen operation in accordance with the Child Care Food Regulations and IHS food and safety regulations.
• Assist with preparation of daily meal counts.
• Submits reports according to schedule to the Head Cook.
• Assist with preparation of meals for children who have special dietary needs as required by the parent and/or physician.
• Maintains cleanliness and daily sanitizing of hallways and adult restroom.
• Attends monthly In-service training and annual USDA instruction for professional development and program requirements.
• Attend monthly parent meetings as requested.
• Attend scheduled staff meetings.
• May be required to attend field trips and assist Head Cook in accompanying teachers on home visits.
• Assist Head Cook in annual menu planning.
• Organize and maintain storage areas of food and non-food items.
• Minimal maintenance clean-up such as: trash removal to the dumpster, cleaning the bathrooms on a more frequent basis, or as needed, and upkeep of trash in and around the school or playground area.
• May require Head Start preschool classroom coverage, data entry tasks, eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance (ERSEA), filing paperwork or entering confidential information into a database, and be flexible instances where the reassignment of duties may deem necessary to meet programmatic objectives.
• Perform other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Adhere to the Head Start Performance Standards and Santa Clara Pueblo Policies.
• Demonstrate understanding of Head Start philosophy;
• Experience working with infants, toddlers, or preschoolers;
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality;
• Must be familiar with child behavior;
• Experience organizing and managing multiple responsibilities under pressure.
• Is familiar with and demonstrates solid willingness to learn software packages, Microsoft Office Suite, etc.
• Knowledge of time-management and the effect on one's well-being and stress level;
• Completes tasks in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates attention-to-detail;
• Knowledge in problem solving techniques;
• Knowledge in procedures and processes;
• Ability to function as an effective team member to interact and communicate effectively with staff and tribal leadership and able to recognize changing conditions, develop alternative strategies and take appropriate action;
• Ability of effective listening, speaking, and writing skills;
• Ability to perform computer skills such as word processing, software applications, email, internet and spreadsheets;
• Ability to perform duties under stressful and adverse conditions, such as long work hours and emergency situations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED certificate and one (1) year experience in food preparation or one (1) year vocational training in culinary arts.
• Must have or obtain a Food Handler's Certificate one (1) month after hired;
• Must have or obtain First Aid/CPR Certification one (1) month after hired;
• Must have a valid New Mexico Driver's License and be insurable through the Tribe's insurance carrier;
• Must not have any DUI/DWI convictions within the last five (5) years from any Tribal, State or Federal Court;
• Must successfully pass a background check;
• Must successfully pass a drug/alcohol screening.
• Must complete a physical examination with PPD on file.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

Work is performed in a kitchen environment. Some local travel is required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; talk; or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel to reach with hands or arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/ or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is high.