VCU Health

Academic medical center delivering patient care

Child Care Cook

Culinary & Kitchen ProductionPosted on Nov 9

Full-timeRichmond, VA, USA$17.25 - $26.39In-person

About the Job

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent is required.
ServSafe Food Manager Certification is required.
Two years of professional cooking experience are required.
The role requires lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, pushing and pulling up to 50 pounds, stooping, kneeling, squatting, climbing, balancing, and bending.
The role requires sitting, walking, and standing; manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; reaching above the shoulder; repetitive arm and hand movements; and finger dexterity.
The role requires reasoning, problem-solving, hearing, clear speech, reading, and logical thinking.
The role requires working at a steady pace, handling multiple priorities, working in a noisy environment, and adapting to frequent change.

Responsibilities

Create seasonal menus that are nutritious, balanced, and appropriate for the center’s age groups.
Prepare breakfast, lunch, and snacks on schedule; portion and serve meals according to portion guidelines and food-safety procedures.
Prepare meals in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and promote and follow Family Style Dining Service.
Maintain kitchen cleanliness, store food safely, monitor temperatures, rotate stock, and follow health department and ServSafe standards and sanitation protocols.
Accommodate children’s allergies, medical diets, and cultural or religious needs; document substitutions and communicate with supervisors and families as required.
Create shopping lists, order or purchase supplies within budget, receive deliveries, and monitor inventory to reduce waste.
Maintain records for menus, temperature logs, and program-related documentation.
Coordinate with classroom staff and center leadership to schedule mealtime visits, assist with safe mealtime practices and Family Style Dining, and support nutrition education activities.
Solicit input from children through age-appropriate activities such as taste tests and preference charts, and from families and staff through surveys and conversations; review feedback monthly and adjust menus as appropriate.
Perform other assigned duties and participate in special projects supporting the organization and department; assist team members and accept alternate assignments as required.

Desired Qualifications

Professional culinary training is preferred.

The Child Care Cook provides safe, nutritious, age-appropriate meals and snacks for children enrolled in the childcare center. This position manages kitchen operations to meet ServSafe, health department, and program standards, and supports healthy eating habits and food-related education for children and staff. This position also works collaboratively with children, families, and center staff to solicit, evaluate, and incorporate feedback on menus, meal service, and food-related activities.

Essential JobStatements

Plan Menus: Create seasonal menus that are nutritious, balanced, andappropriate forthe center’s age groups.

Prepare and serve food: Prepare breakfast, lunch, and snacks on schedule;portionand serve meals followingportionguidelines and food-safety procedures.

Follow program rules: Prepare meals thatcomply withfederal, state, and local regulations; promote and adhere to Family Style Dining Service.

Food safety and sanitation:Maintainkitchen cleanliness, store foods safely,monitortemperatures, rotate stock, and follow health department andServSafestandards and sanitation protocols.

Special diets and allergies: Ensure accommodations for children with allergies, medical diets, or cultural/religious needs; document substitutions and communicate with supervisors and families asrequired.

Inventory andpurchasing: Create shopping lists, order or purchase supplies within budget, receive deliveries, andmonitorinventory to reduce waste.

Recordkeeping:Maintainrecords for menus, temperature logs, and any program-related documentation.

Teamwork and communication: Coordinate with classroom staff and center leadership to schedulemealtimevisits,assistwith safe mealtime practices and Family Style Dining, and support nutrition education activities.

Gather and act on feedback: Regularlysolicitinput from children through age-appropriate activities (taste tests, preference charts) and from families and staff via surveys and conversations; review collected feedback monthly and adjust menus asappropriate.

Miscellaneous Responsibilities:Perform other duties as assigned and/orparticipatein special projects to support the mission of VCUHS and the Department.Provide assistance toteam members. Accept alternate assignments, asrequired.

Patient Population: N/A

Employment Qualifications

Education Required: High School

Diploma or equivalent

Education Preferred: Professional culinary training

Licensing/ Certification

Licensure Required: N/A

Licensure Preferred: N/A

Certification Required: ServSafe Food Manager Certification required

Certification Preferred: N/A

Minimum Qualifications

Years and Type of Required Experience: Two years of professional cooking experience

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: N/A

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: N/A

Working Conditions: Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. Prolonged periods of working alone.

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Climbing, Balance, Bending

Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards

Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Reach above shoulder, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity

Hazards: N/A

Mental/Sensory – Emotional

Mental/Sensory: Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Reading, Logical Thinking

Emotional: Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change

Compensation Range

$17.25 - $26.39

Actual salary offers will be based on several key factors to include relevant work experience, credentials, and qualifications.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran

About the Company

VCU Health

Academic medical center delivering patient care

VCU Health is an academic medical center with over 12,500 employees affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University. It provides patient care, education, research, and medical training, combining clinical services with teaching and discovery. Care is delivered through a hospital and affiliated facilities by clinicians, researchers, and trainees. The goal is to improve patient outcomes and community health by delivering high-quality care while advancing medical knowledge and training the next generation of health professionals.

Company size: 5,001-10,000
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Richmond, VA
Founded: 1838

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