Hourly Salary: $17.00/ hour up to $19.00/ hour
Position Summary
At Children's Aid, we believe that all children deserve safe, healthy, and nurturing environments where they can thrive. This Cook & Facilities Support plays a vital role in supporting the daily operations of the Early Childhood program by ensuring that children receive nutritious meals and snacks in a safe, compliant environment while helping maintain clean, sanitary, and welcoming facilities.
Reporting to the Program Director, with support from the Food Service Manager and Central Facilities team, this position combines food service and custodial responsibilities within a part-time schedule. The primary focus of the role is the preparation, receipt, storage, and compliance of meals and snacks in accordance with CACFP, DOE, DOHMH, and Children's Aid standards. When food service responsibilities are complete, the incumbent supports the cleanliness, safety, and maintenance of high-priority areas including classrooms, bathrooms, common spaces, kitchens, and entrances. This role contributes directly to the health, safety, and well-being of children, families, and staff while supporting compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and other applicable regulations.
Children’s Aid Mission
To help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive support to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Children’s Aid annually serves children and their families at over forty sites in New York, as well as through three national program models. Children’s Aid is concentrating its efforts on creating cradle-through-college pathways in high-need neighborhoods, with a focus on children’s health, family stability, education, and social and emotional development.
Culture and Values
We put children, youth, and families first: We listen to and incorporate the voices of children, youth, and families in all that we do.
We seek equity and transformation in our communities: We courageously work within and outside systems to create opportunities for children, youth, and families.
We strive for excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.
We are powered by collaboration: Our work is stronger when we trust, partner, and respect each other and the communities we serve.
We are driven by compassion: We lead with kindness, care, and empathy and believe in the endless potential of the people we serve and our team.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Food Service Operations (Primary Responsibility)
- Receive, inspect, and safely store DOE-delivered breakfast and lunch meals.
- Prepare daily snacks from scratch following approved menus, recipes, and nutritional guidelines.
- Package, label, and prepare snacks and meals for classroom distribution.
- Monitor and document food temperatures, storage conditions, and food safety requirements.
- Maintain compliance with CACFP, DOE, DOHMH, and Children's Aid food service standards.
- Complete food production records, inventory logs, requisitions, and related documentation.
- Receive food deliveries and verify invoices and inventory.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen and food storage area.
- Communicate food shortages, delivery issues, dietary restrictions, allergies, or food safety concerns to program leadership.
- Support nutrition education and family engagement activities when appropriate.
Facilities and Custodial Support (Secondary Responsibility)
- Clean and sanitize high-priority program areas including classrooms, bathrooms, shared areas, offices, hallways, kitchen spaces, and entrances.
- Sweep, mop, vacuum, and disinfect surfaces using approved cleaning products and procedures.
- Clean and sanitize high-touch surfaces including tables, doorknobs, light switches, handrails, sinks, and shared equipment.
- Empty and sanitize trash receptacles and replace liners as needed.
- Replenish restroom, sanitation, and cleaning supplies.
- Spot-clean spills and respond promptly to sanitation concerns throughout the day.
- Conduct routine inspections of assigned areas and report maintenance, safety, or cleanliness concerns.
- Assist with minor facility upkeep tasks including furniture assembly, light maintenance activities, and supply organization as assigned.
- Maintain cleanliness of outdoor entryways and assist with seasonal cleaning tasks as needed.
- Maintain inventory of cleaning supplies and communicate replenishment needs.
Health, Safety, and Compliance
- Maintain compliance with all applicable food safety, health, sanitation, and licensing requirements.
- Follow established procedures for handling bodily fluids, infectious waste, hazardous materials, and emergency cleaning situations.
- Safely store chemicals, cleaning products, food items, and equipment to prevent access by children.
- Participate in emergency preparedness activities and follow emergency response procedures.
- Maintain required inspection logs, safety checklists, and compliance documentation.
- Immediately report health, safety, maintenance, or compliance concerns to program leadership.
- Support program operations as needed while maintaining food service and health and safety priorities.
Strategic Operations
- Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
- Support program operations by maintaining safe, healthy, and compliant environments for children, families, staff, and visitors.
- Participate in program-wide initiatives, staff meetings, trainings, and professional development activities as required.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- High School Diploma or equivalent required.
- Valid New York State Department of Health Food Handler’s License required.
- Minimum of one year of experience in food service, custodial services, facilities support, or a related field required.
- Demonstrated ability to safely prepare, handle, store, and serve food in accordance with established recipes, menus, and applicable food safety procedures.
- Working knowledge of food safety, sanitation, infection prevention, and applicable health and safety regulations.
- Ability to maintain clean, organized, and sanitary food preparation, facility, and shared areas.
- Ability to safely lift, carry, move, and transport materials, supplies, and equipment as required to perform the essential functions of the position.
- Ability to complete and maintain accurate records, including compliance documentation, inventories, cleaning logs, and safety checks.
- Ability to identify and promptly communicate maintenance, safety, sanitation, or operational concerns to the appropriate supervisor.
- Exceptional organizational skills and ability to prioritize responsibilities and manage multiple tasks within a structured schedule.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
- Demonstrated reliability, accountability, attention to detail, and ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Must obtain and maintain all required certifications, clearances, and training in accordance with Children’s Aid policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Experience working in an early childhood, educational, community-based, healthcare, or human services setting preferred.
- Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred.
It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.
The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.
