Job TitleUPDATED JOB DESCRIPTION: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING.
Job Summary:
Prepare daily meals and snacks for childcare centers served by the SpoonFULL program across Wake, Durham, and Orange counties. Support the preparation, organization, and expediting of all meals in a structured, cafeteria-style, large-scale production kitchen serving childcare centers; this is not a cook-to-order or restaurant-style environment, but a consistency-driven setting focused on volume production and adherence to CACFP guidelines. Supervise, train, and support Prep Cooks/Assistants to ensure efficient kitchen operations. Operate within standard hours of 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday–Friday (40 hours/week, no nights, weekends, or holidays). This role requires consistent, early-morning attendance and a high level of reliability to support strict meal production and delivery timelines. Step into a supervisory role as needed to support kitchen operations in both Durham and Raleigh locations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Prepare and portion meals and snacks for young children in accordance with CACFP guidelines. Oversee and actively participate in daily kitchen operations including food prep, cooking, packaging, and staging for delivery. Coordinate production schedules and staffing to meet daily meal counts and delivery timelines. Ensure all recipes are executed consistently and meet quality and compliance standards. Maintain full knowledge of special diet requirements and ensure proper preparation and documentation. Order, receive, and properly store food and supplies from approved vendors and local sources. Check in deliveries and organize inventory across dry storage, refrigeration, and freezer areas. Complete and maintain accurate records including delivery receipts, participation forms, special diet documentation, and time sheets. Assist with loading hot boxes and preparing orders for courier pickup (requires some lifting). Verify all orders prior to dispatch to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with daily meal counts and special diet requirements. Oversee and assist with daily cleaning and maintenance to maintain an "A" sanitation rating. Build and maintain positive working relationships with childcare centers, vendors, and delivery couriers. Report daily to the Durham kitchen while maintaining the flexibility to travel to the Raleigh (Glenwood) kitchen on short notice to provide supervisory support as needed. Must be geographically positioned to reasonably support both Durham and Raleigh locations. Participate in team meetings, cross-training, and continuous improvement efforts. Maintain confidentiality of all organizational and client information. Perform other duties as assigned by leadership. Special SkillsStrong verbal communication skills; English required, bilingual (Spanish) a plus. Highly dependable and punctual; consistent attendance and reliability are critical to ensure timely meal production and delivery schedules. Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership; able to work independently, prioritize tasks, and consistently deliver results in a fast-moving production environment. Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. High attention to detail with a focus on accuracy and completeness of all meals and deliveries. Problem-solving mindset with the ability to think ahead and adapt to daily operational needs. Ability to lead by example, hold team members accountable, and support overall team success. Basic computer proficiency. Physical ability to lift and move items (including hot boxes) as part of daily operations. Reliable transportation required; must have a valid driver's license and current proof of insurance. Working knowledge of CACFP guidelines and experience with large-scale or institutional meal production preferred.
Education and Experience:
Requirements 4-5 years of hands-on cooking and commercial kitchen experience, i.e. following recipes, knife skills, prepping large amounts of food, use of commercial kitchen equipment and following all Dept. of Health guidelines. Kitchen management experience is preferred, but not required. Math and computer proficiency required. Serv Safe accredited or the ability to become accredited within 3 months of employment. Current TB test.
Special Working Requirements:
An automobile at his/her disposal; a valid, non-suspended NC driver's license and a current automobile liability policy with continuous coverage. Reasonable accommodations may be made at agency's discretion. Must be able to manipulate and operate office supplies and equipment. Occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities. No substantiation or criminal conviction of child abuse or neglect. Work hours are 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday through Friday (40-hour work week); no nights, weekends, or holidays. Must adhere to established health and safety protocols when onsite at Early Years's physical locations.
Early Years Benefits:
Early Years has a generous benefits package. Permanent employees that work at least 20 hours per week are eligible for benefits. Some of the benefits we offer include: Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, Health, dental, vision and life insurance, Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Employer contribution to 401k Retirement Plan, Paid annual and sick leave, 15 paid days of holiday leave, Paid child Involvement Leave, Paid discretionary leave, Employee Assistance Program, Child Care Tuition payments, And more... Early Years also offers many fringe benefits. Some of the fringe benefits include: Casual dress work environment, Direct deposit, Standing and emergency payroll advances, Child Care Referral assistance, And more... Early Years has been awarded Living Wage Employer Certifications in Orange and Durham Counties, and is a Family Forward NC Certified Employer. Employment is contingent upon passing a criminal background check. Early Years is no longer requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for employment due to the fact that there is significantly less risk of severe illness. However, Early Years strongly recommends that employees receive this vaccination in order to minimize the risk of infections in our workplace.
