We are seeking a reliable, organized, and nurturing cook to join our team. In this role, you will do much more than just prepare meals — you will fuel the growth, learning, and development of our students by providing wholesome, delicious, and safe nutrition every day.
The ideal candidate has a passion for cooking, an understanding of childhood nutrition, a warm demeanor, and an unwavering commitment to kitchen cleanliness and safety standards.
Key Responsibilities
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Meal Preparation & Planning: Prepare and cook nutritious, appealing, and age-appropriate breakfasts, lunches, and afternoon snacks for children ranging from infancy through Pre-K.
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Menu Adherence: Follow designated menus, recipes, and portion sizes while ensuring all meals comply with local licensing and federal nutritional guidelines.
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Allergy & Dietary Management: Strictly manage and track documented child food allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions. Ensure safe substitutions are prepared and clearly labeled.
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Kitchen Sanitation & Safety: Maintain a spotless kitchen, pantry, and storage area. Wash and sanitize all dishes, utensils, pots, and food preparation surfaces in accordance with health department regulations.
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Inventory & Ordering: Monitor food and kitchen supply inventories. Assist leadership with weekly ordering, ensuring all items are rotated properly using the FIFO (First In, First Out) method.
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Compliance & Record Keeping: Maintain daily logs for food temperatures, refrigerator/freezer temperatures, and production records to meet state licensing and quality assurance standards.
Qualifications & Requirements
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Experience: Minimum of 1–2 years of experience cooking in a commercial kitchen, school, childcare center, or healthcare facility preferred.
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Education: High School Diploma or equivalent required.
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Certifications: ANAB-accredited Food Handlers certification is highly preferred upon hire. Note: Possession of, or the willingness to obtain, an Indiana-accepted Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) credential within 3 months of hire is a major plus.
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Background Check: Must successfully pass all state-mandated background checks, including a national FBI fingerprint criminal history check, Indiana State Police check, and sexual offender registry checks prior to employment.
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Health Clearances: Ability to provide a documentation of a negative intradermal TB skin test or chest x-ray, and a physical health examination signed by a licensed physician showing fitness for duty.
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Physical Demands: Ability to stand for long periods, lift up to 40 pounds, and safely operate standard commercial kitchen equipment.
Skills & Attributes
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Organization: Excellent time management skills to ensure multiple classrooms are fed smoothly and on schedule.
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Flexibility: A positive "team player" attitude, ready to adapt to changing enrollment numbers or special dietary requests.
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Joy for Children: A warm, friendly personality. You will occasionally interact with our young students and teachers, and a smile goes a long way in our hallways!
What We Offer
- Competitive hourly wages
- Mon–Fri schedule (No late nights or weekends!)
- Paid time off and holiday pay
- Professional development and assistance with food safety certifications
- A supportive, energetic, and rewarding work environment
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.
