• Bonus based on performance
• Company parties
• Competitive salary
• Employee discounts
• Flexible schedule
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development

Preschool Cook / Chef – Job Description

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous cooking, food-service, childcare, school, or commercial kitchen experience preferred.
• Must meet all state childcare licensing and food-handling requirements.
• Food Handler certification required or must be obtained within the required timeframe.
• Must successfully complete required background checks and school training.
• Must understand basic food safety, sanitation, cross-contamination prevention, and proper food storage.
• Must be able to follow menus, recipes, portion requirements, and allergy restrictions.
• Must be dependable, punctual, organized, flexible, and professional.

• Preparing breakfast, lunch, and snacks according to the school's approved menu and schedule.
• Following established recipes, serving sizes, and portion requirements.
• Preparing food appropriate for the ages of the children being served.
• Ensuring meals and snacks are prepared and delivered to classrooms on time.
• Preparing classroom food containers, serving utensils, milk/water, and other meal supplies as required.
• Properly portioning food to minimize unnecessary waste.
• Following approved menu substitutions when an item is unavailable.
• Not making significant menu changes without administrative approval.
• Ensuring food is properly cooked, cooled, reheated, and held at safe temperatures.
• Maintaining required food-temperature records and other kitchen documentation.
• Returning unused food to proper storage when appropriate and safely disposing of food that cannot be reused.

• Know and follow the school's allergy and dietary restriction procedures.
• Review current allergy information and understand which children require substitutions or special meal preparation.
• Prevent cross-contact between allergens and other foods.
• Use separate utensils, preparation surfaces, containers, or other precautions when required.
• Clearly identify special meals before they are delivered to classrooms.
• Never make assumptions regarding whether a child can have a particular food.
• Immediately ask administration when there is uncertainty regarding an allergy, dietary restriction, or food substitution.
• Immediately report any food-allergy error or possible exposure to administration.

• Washing and sanitizing dishes, utensils, pots, pans, trays, and food-preparation equipment.
• Cleaning and sanitizing countertops and food-preparation surfaces.
• Sweeping and mopping kitchen floors as needed.
• Cleaning sinks, refrigerators, freezers, cabinets, shelves, appliances, and food-storage areas.
• Properly removing kitchen trash.
• Following proper handwashing procedures.
• Wearing gloves when required and changing gloves whenever they become contaminated or when changing tasks.
• Preventing cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods.
• Properly labeling and dating opened and prepared foods.
• Following appropriate food-storage and expiration procedures.
• Maintaining refrigerators and freezers at required temperatures.
• Keeping chemicals and cleaning products properly labeled and stored away from food.

• Checking food deliveries for accuracy and quality.
• Opening delivered food boxes and promptly putting refrigerated, frozen, and dry goods in their proper locations.
• Rotating inventory using a first-in, first-out (FIFO) system.
• Monitoring expiration and use-by dates.
• Informing administration before essential food or kitchen supplies run out.
• Keeping refrigerators, freezers, pantry areas, and storage shelves clean and organized.
• Minimizing unnecessary food waste.
• Informing administration of damaged products, shortages, delivery errors, or quality concerns.

• Deliver food according to the school's established schedule.
• Be mindful that classrooms may be conducting lessons, activities, or nap routines.
• Enter classrooms quietly and professionally.
• Avoid unnecessarily interrupting teachers or disrupting children.
• Ensure special dietary meals are delivered to the correct classroom and clearly identified.
• Communicate important meal or allergy information directly to the appropriate staff member when necessary.

• Providing staff bathroom breaks when qualified and directed by administration.
• Helping with school parties, celebrations, and special events.
• Assisting with setup and cleanup for school activities.
• Helping maintain common areas.
• Assisting with other reasonable school-related duties as assigned by administration.
• Attending required staff meetings, professional development, training, and school events.

• Maintain professional and respectful communication with coworkers, administrators, children, and families.
• Follow directions from school administration.
• Work cooperatively with teachers and other school employees.
• Handle disagreements and frustrations professionally.
• Maintain appropriate behavior and language while on school property.
• Accept constructive feedback professionally.
• Avoid unnecessary conflict with coworkers.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, and employees.

• Follow all food safety and sanitation requirements.
• Immediately clean spills and address slip or fall hazards.
• Safely operate kitchen equipment.
• Keep knives and other potentially dangerous kitchen equipment secured and inaccessible to children.
• Keep cleaning chemicals and other hazardous materials properly stored.
• Immediately report broken equipment, unsafe conditions, pest concerns, or other kitchen safety issues to administration.
• Follow all school emergency procedures.

• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Bend, reach, lift, carry, and move food and kitchen supplies.
• Safely lift and carry reasonable quantities of food, milk, kitchen supplies, pots, pans, and equipment.
• Work around ovens, stovetops, refrigerators, freezers, and other commercial kitchen equipment.
• Perform repetitive food-preparation and cleaning tasks.

This Is Your Moment

The joy of childhood comes from those bright sparks of discovery -- moments that delight and surprise us. Your career at The Goddard School can be just as exciting. For more than 35 years, Goddard Schools have put each teacher at the heart of everything we do because teachers put each student at the heart of everything they do. The Goddard School trusts, empowers, and honors its exceptional educators. Develop your teaching skills in a vibrant and nurturing environment and make a difference in children's lives every day. 

Each Goddard School location is privately owned and operated by Goddard Franchisor LLC franchisees. The Goddard School franchise owner(s) are the employers at each school, and the franchise owner(s) set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.