North Idaho College Head Start is looking for a Center Cook in Sandpoint who takes pride in creating healthy, welcoming mealtimes for children ages 3–5. In this role, you’ll do more than prepare food—you’ll help create positive experiences that support children’s health, development, and learning while partnering with families and staff to strengthen our Head Start community.
You will prepare and serve breakfast, lunch, and snacks using standardized menus and family-style meal service while following nutrition and sanitation requirements. You’ll shop for food and supplies, make thoughtful purchasing decisions to maximize the food budget, and maintain food inventories, budgets, and required nutrition and meal-service documentation. You’ll coordinate special diets and food allergies with families, staff, and nutrition consultants while maintaining a clean, safe, and sanitary kitchen, food preparation, and storage environment.
You’ll partner with education staff to provide hands-on nutrition education and food preparation activities for children and model healthy eating and positive mealtime behavior.
We’re looking for someone with strong customer service and interpersonal skills, working knowledge of computer software and data collection systems, and a positive, child-centered approach to early childhood development, health, and social services. Professional ethics, confidentiality, organization, teamwork, flexibility, attention to sanitation and food safety, and the ability to represent Head Start positively and professionally are essential. Help nourish young minds, one meal at a time.
Enjoy excellent benefits, including retirement
3 personal days per year
8 sick days per year
9 paid holidays
Tuition assistance
Job Description linked below: (some job boards may not include active links so please click Apply Now on the NIC website or go to www.nic.edu/jobs to see full details);
Center Cook Job Description.docx
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
High School Diploma or GED.
Experience:
One-year experience in food preparation for large groups.
Required License and/or Certifications:
•Maintain Idaho Food Handlers Card.
•Maintain current Infant/Child & Adult CPR and First Aid.
•Complete the Hepatitis A vaccination.
•Pass an enhanced criminal background check including fingerprinting, as required by Head Start Program Performance Standards and Child Care Licensing requirements, prior to first day of work.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
•Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
•Working knowledge of commonly used computer software programs including data collection systems
•Positive approach to Early Childhood Development programs, health and social services.
•Demonstrate professional ethics and confidentiality.
•Represent the Head Start program in the community and with other professionals, positively and with professionalism.
Starting pay range: $17.51
Pay Grade: 66% FTE (full-time pay)
Work Site Location: Head Start - Sandpoint
Work Schedule: August through June
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background check and proof of degree if required for this position.
Application materials include: resume, cover letter, and unofficial transcripts
Applications ONLY accepted through the North Idaho College Website!
