Cook

Description

Job Summary

The Food Service Manager/Cook provides support for Pathways food service programs at its Residential Treatment Centers (RTC), including preparing menus and meals, ordering food and supplies, following all state and local food handling guidelines, standards, and licensing. This position is responsible for preparing daily main entrée options and/or other food items as designated, and ensuring high standards of food quality and appearance before food is served to residents and staff at Habilitative Homes. This position is also responsible for menu development and food ordering for residents.

Essential Duties:

• Plans and prepares meals that meet or exceed minimum and quality standards for youth in RTC.
• Maintains high standards related to food quality and appearance.
• Identifies problems related to achieving the desired quality and uses problem solving procedures to resolve the issues.
• Ensures all food preparation is done in a timely manner to satisfy the needs of the residents and staff, and accommodates to shift, school, and other schedules at Habilitative Home’ campus.
• Utilizes methods to preserve nutrient containment.
• Arranges food attractively in serving containers.
• Follows planned menus using production sheets and standardized recipes to ensure required portions of food items are being offered.
• Records amounts of food items prepared and leftover items on daily production sheet. Uses records to forecast future needs and minimize waste.
• Follows standards of safety in preparing, storing, and serving food. Follows food preparation directions and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) regarding time and temperature. Food temperatures are checked when prepared and served. Takes corrective action as needed to ensure safety standards are met.
• Maintains kitchen and food storage area in compliance with local Health Department regulations.
• Maintains a clean and sanitary work station and cleans up service area and/or dishes between serving and at the end of day.
• Establishes a schedule and follows standard procedures for cleaning equipment, utensils, and work area.
• Follows best practices and accepted Health Department procedures to maintain effective insect and rodent control.
• Maintains high standards of personal hygiene. Follows hand washing protocol. Practices standards of dress, including shirts with sleeves, closed toe shoes, hair restraint, apron, and wearing of single use gloves when handling food.
• Inventories food and supplies for the purpose of ensuring availability of items required for planned meals. Orders food service supplies. Places food orders according to order schedule.
• Operates all equipment according to manufacturer’s directions with emphasis on safety guidelines.
• Identifies equipment problems and reports problems to facility maintenance for scheduling of repairs.
• Prepares menus and packages meals for nights, weekends, and outings.
• Stays abreast of new information, innovative ideas and techniques.

Work Hours

• Flexible hours three - four days Monday - Friday, 3:00 - 7:00 pm and flexible weekend hours Saturday and Sunday, between 6:00 am - 6:00 pm. Hours will increase during the holidays, and spring and summer breaks. 

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must have High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Three years of experience in food preparation.
• Food Handling Certification (if not certified, willing to be certified within 30 days of employment).
• Previous experience in food preparation, and menu planning.
• Must have working knowledge of basic math applications and computations.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Ability to communicate professionally and relate effectively with staff and residents in a positive manner.
• Ability to maintain accurate and complete production records.
• Ability to organize, plan, and complete workload in a timely manner.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of the team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Knowledge of civil rights.
• Knowledge of meal patterns, portion sizes, meal count procedures, meal production documentation, and record keeping.
• Basic understanding of computers, the Internet, and other software applications.

Additional Requirements

• Proof of valid Texas Driver's License (Type C) and at least three years experience driving.
• Access to reliable transportation.
• Proof of valid/current auto insurance.
• Cleared motor vehicle driving record.
• Employment references for past five years of work and three personal references excluding family members.
• Cleared criminal background check and signed statement regarding felony indictments/convictions.
• Cleared TB test results (current within 12 months prior to employment).
• Cleared pre-employment drug test.
• Working cellular telephone.

Physical Demands

With or without reasonable accommodation, the physical and mental requirements of this job may include the following: seeing, hearing, speaking, reasoning abilities for basic math and writing clearly. Manual dexterity for cooking, prepping and use of kitchen equipment. Frequent reaching with hands and arms, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, frequent sitting, standing and walking, may be required for long periods of time and may involve climbing stairs, walking up inclines, and on uneven terrain. Additional physical requirements may include, frequent lifting and or moving up to 50 pounds. Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

Salary : $18 - $20