Cook-Lynden

Position Purpose

This position is responsible to assists in the daily preparation of breakfast, lunch, and snacks according to recipe using a variety of kitchen utensils and equipment. Assist in maintaining refrigerator, freezer, and all other food service equipment in a manner that ensures that health, licensing, and sanitation requirements are met.

Inspire Development Centers provides Early Childhood Education (ECE) and social services to more than 4000 children, in center based and home based setting, at more than 25 Child Development Centers (CDC) throughout the State of Washington. Inspire provides services under various federal and state funded programs with differing regulations and stipulations, which must be coordinated and adhered to, including, but not limited to:
Regional Head Start (RHS), Migrant Seasonal Head Start (MSHS), Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and Early Head Start (EHS). The agency is required to meet an annual quota of non-federal share (in-kind) funds. A large majority of children’s first language is Spanish.

The Cook’s activities are coordinated by to the Head Cook, reports to the Center Manager, and works closely with Nutritionist Staff, Center Staff, with and around children.

• Experience in policy and procedures;
• Experience in planning and facilitating work ethics;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills;
• Experience in cooking and safety risk management;
• Understanding of the interrelationships between services and systems;
• Ability to demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to cultural issues and community practices of farm worker and rural poor families with limited English skills;
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly and efficiently;
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines;
• Ability to gather data for reports;
• Strong customer service focus;
• Ability to work with culturally diverse population;
• Accurate data documentation and recordkeeping skills.

These skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of experience and training, which would include at least some cooking knowledge and experience which will provide the competence and skills to perform the work of the position.

• High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
• At least one (1) year paid or volunteer institutional cooking experience.
• Previous Head Start experience.
• English/Spanish bi-lingual fluency.

• Must be at least 18 years of age;
• Must pass initial and periodic criminal and background check;
• Must pass initial and periodic Department of Early Learning (DEL) background check;
• Must pass initial and periodic employee health clearance; (present it within forty-five (45)…