Lead Food Service Specialist - Start Early

Educare Chicago provides high-quality care, best-in-class education, and a stimulating learning environment to children from birth to five years old on Chicago’s South Side. As a program that serves low-income families, Educare’s research-based program helps children develop the literacy, language, early math, and social-emotional skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning, and communication.

The Food Service - Specialist is responsible for all food service activities at Educare Chicago. The position involves coordination and management of the nutrition food service needs of children and compliance with all administration reporting requirements. The Food Service Lead purchases all food and supplies necessary and keeps records required by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This position involves extensive organizing, problem-solving, record-keeping, and time management.

Major Responsibilities: Plans meals far enough ahead to minimize the need for food substitutions; when substitutions are necessary, with prior approval, purchases and serve food of equivalent nutritional value. With guidance from the Nutritionist, modifies menus for children's field trips; notes all modifications and substitutes on the posted menu and for CACFP records.

Maintains established standards of sanitation, safety, and food preparation and storage as set by the local and state health departments; maintains an orderly, sanitary, and safe kitchen.

With the guidance of the contracted Nutritionist, modifies menus and recipes and prepares foods to meet the developmental needs of infants and toddlers and the medical and feeding needs of children with disabilities or food allergies.

Delivers foods from the kitchen to the classrooms ready to be served as suitable for the children's age and development.

Shares duties with the Assistant Food Aide(s) (if any) for the efficient functioning of the food service program.

Maintains cost control, budget, and inventory systems based on CAFCP procedures including records of food production, service, and attendance

Attends and participates in school and grantee-sponsored training, center pre-service and in-service training, and other continuing education, career, and professional development opportunities.

Perform additional job-related duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma with two (2) to three (3) years of food preparation and food handling experience, two-year college degree or higher preferred.
• Current Food Handlers Manager Certificate at the time of hiring.
• Certification in child first aid and CPR (program will be provided upon hire)
• Must comply with DCFS requirements for Background checks and must have a positive report.
• Training in Food Service and Sanitation is required.
• Cooking experience for young children (preferred)

• Knowledge of Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP)
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards to reflect local, state, and federal regulations.
• Knowledge of cafeteria management and operation.
• Thorough knowledge of kitchen basics, food handling, and cooking procedures, including workplace safety procedures.

• Adaptability and Flexibility: Able to change direction as priorities shift and thrive in environments that require the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Ability to weigh alternative actions and make decisions that incorporate opinions, facts, tangible, and/or intangible factors.
• Seeks to do a job correctly and is driven by being associated with doing high-quality work.
• Prioritization: Effectively arranges goals, tasks, and projects in order of greatest importance to achieve success.
• Ability to work effectively with others to achieve common causes.
• Proven, reliable, individuals who can be counted on to do what they say they will do Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
• Must be able to read, write, and follow written and oral instructions.
• Must have experience preparing food in large quantities from a planned menu.

Salary: $31,650 -$52,750. This position's starting salary range is set between $40-45K

Our generous benefits plan includes: Comprehensive Health Plans, a Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, a Holistic Wellness Program, a Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months of paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.

Salary: $40-45K