Lead Cook – Tieuel Center
Full-Time, Full-Year Position
At Child & Family Services, Inc., we believe nutritious meals are the foundation for healthy learning and growth. We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Lead Cook for the Tieuel Center. While this position serves the Tieuel Center, meals are prepared in our Fletcher Center kitchen. This role is more than cooking; it is about nourishing children, supporting families, and modeling excellence in food service for our Early Head Start and Head Start programs.
Position Overview
The Lead Cook oversees all aspects of meal preparation and food service for the Tieuel & Fletcher Center Students, ensuring that every child receives balanced, appealing meals each day. Leading a Team of three, the Lead Cook coordinates meal production in the Fletcher Center kitchen while ensuring that menus and practices align with USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) requirements. This position also plays a vital role in compliance, collaboration, and creating positive mealtime experiences that promote health and development.
Key Responsibilities
- Team Leadership: Supervise, train, and support a team of cooks to deliver high-quality, healthy meals in a timely and efficient manner.
- Meal Preparation & Service: Oversee daily preparation of balanced breakfasts, lunches, and snacks that meet federal nutrition guidelines and accommodate dietary needs.
- Menu Development: Collaborate with cooks across our Early Childhood Centers to plan creative, cost-effective menus that engage and nourish children.
- Recordkeeping & Reporting: Maintain accurate documentation of menus, production records, temperature logs, and CACFP compliance reports.
- Ordering & Inventory: Manage food orders, deliveries, and storage to ensure a safe, efficient, and organized kitchen environment.
- Health & Safety: Ensure strict adherence to food safety, sanitation, and kitchen cleanliness standards.
- Collaboration: Work closely with center staff to make mealtime a positive part of the learning environment, supporting children’s social and emotional growth.
- Continuous Improvement: Stay updated on CACFP guidelines and best practices in early childhood nutrition, and bring fresh ideas to strengthen our program.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required; additional coursework in food service/nutrition preferred.
- Prior food service leadership experience, ideally in a school, childcare, or institutional setting.
- Familiarity with USDA CACFP guidelines.
- Strong organizational, recordkeeping, and communication skills.
- Ability to supervise, coach, and motivate a team.
- Commitment to Head Start’s mission of serving children and families with dignity and respect.
What We Offer
- Full-time, full-year employment with competitive pay.
- Opportunities for professional growth in child nutrition and food service leadership.
- A supportive, mission-driven team environment where your work makes a lasting difference in the lives of children and families.