Kitchen Staff

Position Summary

The Sunnyside Academy is seeking a dependable, organized, and self-motivated individual to join our team as a Full-Time Kitchen Staff member.

This position is responsible for the daily operation of the center kitchen, including meal and snack preparation, food service, food safety and sanitation, inventory and supplies, dietary accommodations, required food service documentation, and maintaining a clean and organized kitchen.

The Kitchen Staff member works independently throughout much of the day and is responsible for ensuring that breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack are prepared and distributed according to established schedules.

Previous food service, school nutrition, CACFP, or childcare kitchen experience is preferred but is not required. The Sunnyside Academy is willing to train a candidate who demonstrates strong reliability, work ethic, attention to detail, organization, and willingness to learn.

The selected candidate will be required to obtain an approved Food Protection Manager/Kitchen Manager certification within 90 days of employment.

Schedule

This is a full-time position.

Kitchen schedules are established according to meal service times, enrollment, staffing, and the operational needs of the center. Employees must maintain reasonable flexibility regarding scheduled working hours.

Because meals and snacks must be prepared and served according to established schedules, punctuality and consistent attendance are essential to this position.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Meal & Snack Preparation

The Kitchen Staff member is responsible for preparing and coordinating daily meal and snack service.

Responsibilities include:

• Preparing breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack according to established menus and schedules.
• Ensuring food is prepared and ready for distribution at established meal and snack times.
• Following established menus, recipes, serving requirements, and food preparation procedures.
• Preparing appropriate quantities based on enrollment, attendance, and classroom needs.
• Ensuring required meal components and portions are provided.
• Preparing and organizing meals and snacks for distribution to individual classrooms.
• Making appropriate approved substitutions when necessary and documenting substitutions as required.
• Preparing food in a manner appropriate for the ages and developmental needs of the children being served.
• Preparing for upcoming meals and the following day's food service as time permits.
• Communicating promptly with administration regarding concerns that may affect scheduled meal service.

Food Allergies & Dietary Needs

The Kitchen Staff member must carefully follow all established procedures regarding children's documented food allergies, dietary restrictions, substitutions, and special meal requirements.

Responsibilities include:

• Reviewing and maintaining awareness of applicable allergy and dietary information.
• Preparing appropriate substitutions when required.
• Taking appropriate precautions to prevent cross contact and exposure to identified allergens.
• Communicating with classroom staff and administration regarding dietary needs and substitutions.
• Following established procedures for labeling, preparation, storage, and distribution of meals requiring special accommodations.
• Immediately reporting concerns regarding food allergies, dietary restrictions, or meal accommodations to administration.

Attention to detail in this area is essential to children's health and safety.

CACFP & Food Service Documentation

The Sunnyside Academy participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Maintaining accurate and timely food service documentation is an essential responsibility of this position.

The Kitchen Staff member is responsible for applicable daily food service recordkeeping, which may include:

• Maintaining menus and documenting menu substitutions.
• Completing required food and meal service logs.
• Maintaining applicable meal count information.
• Documenting food and meal service as required.
• Monitoring meal components and portions for compliance with established requirements.
• Maintaining required food temperature records.
• Completing food safety and sanitation documentation.
• Maintaining organized and current kitchen records.
• Completing applicable daily, weekly, and monthly food service documentation.
• Providing requested records and information to administration for CACFP monitoring, reporting, review, or recordkeeping purposes.
• Communicating promptly with administration regarding missing documentation, menu concerns, supply issues, or other matters that could affect program compliance.

Required food service documentation must be completed accurately and within established timeframes. Documentation and recordkeeping are part of the regular responsibilities of this position and are not optional or secondary duties.

Training will be provided regarding The Sunnyside Academy's procedures and applicable food service documentation requirements.

Food Safety & Sanitation

Maintaining a clean, sanitary, and safe kitchen is a primary responsibility of this position.

The Kitchen Staff member is expected to:

• Follow applicable food safety and sanitation requirements.
• Follow proper procedures for food storage, refrigeration, freezing, thawing, preparation, and service.
• Monitor and document food temperatures as required.
• Properly label, date, store, and rotate food.
• Follow appropriate procedures to reduce the risk of cross contamination.
• Wash and sanitize dishes, utensils, cookware, and food preparation equipment.
• Clean and sanitize counters, sinks, preparation surfaces, equipment, and other kitchen areas.
• Sweep and mop kitchen floors as necessary.
• Remove trash and maintain appropriate waste disposal practices.
• Maintain refrigerators, freezers, cabinets, pantry areas, and storage areas in a clean and organized condition.
• Complete established daily, weekly, and periodic cleaning responsibilities.
• Maintain the kitchen in a clean, organized, sanitary, and inspection ready condition throughout the workday.

Inventory, Ordering & Kitchen Organization

The Kitchen Staff member is responsible for helping ensure that appropriate food, supplies, and materials are available for continued kitchen operations.

Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring food and kitchen supply inventory.
• Identifying items that need to be ordered or replenished before supplies are depleted.
• Communicating ordering and supply needs to administration in a timely manner.
• Assisting with food and supply ordering as assigned.
• Receiving and appropriately storing food and supplies.
• Rotating inventory to support appropriate food safety and reduce unnecessary waste.
• Maintaining organized refrigerators, freezers, pantry areas, cabinets, and storage spaces.
• Monitoring upcoming menus and preparing for anticipated food and supply needs.
• Notifying administration promptly of shortages, damaged products, equipment concerns, or other issues that may affect kitchen operations.

Time Management & Independent Work

This position requires the ability to manage multiple responsibilities without continuous supervision.

Meal and snack service times are established and must remain a priority throughout the day. The Kitchen Staff member is expected to organize their workload so that food preparation, meal service, cleaning, documentation, inventory responsibilities, and preparation for upcoming meals are completed within appropriate timeframes.

Employees in this position must be able to identify routine responsibilities that need to be completed, manage available time productively, and maintain kitchen operations without requiring continuous direction from administration.

Classroom & Center Support

The kitchen is the primary responsibility of this position.

When kitchen responsibilities are current and operational needs allow, the Kitchen Staff member may occasionally be asked to provide reasonable assistance elsewhere within the center. This may include cleaning, brief classroom coverage for employee breaks, assisting with supervision, delivering supplies, or supporting other center operations.

When supervising children or counted within required staff to child ratios, the employee must follow all applicable supervision, safety, licensing, and center requirements.

Personal cell phones, smart devices, and other personal electronics may not be used while supervising children or while counted within required staff to child ratios, except when specifically authorized for an emergency or legitimate work-related purpose.

Attendance & Reliability

Regular, dependable, and punctual attendance is an essential function of this position.

The center's classrooms depend upon meals and snacks being prepared and distributed according to established schedules. An unexpected absence or late arrival in the kitchen directly affects meal preparation, classroom schedules, other employees, and overall center operations.

The Sunnyside Academy recognizes that illness, emergencies, and unexpected circumstances occur. Employees are nevertheless expected to maintain consistent attendance, report to work as scheduled, arrive prepared to begin responsibilities on time, and follow established notification procedures when an absence or delay is unavoidable.

Food Protection Manager Certification

The selected candidate must obtain an approved Food Protection Manager/Kitchen Manager certification within 90 days of employment unless they already hold a current qualifying certification.

The Sunnyside Academy will provide information regarding the certification requirements and process.

Obtaining the required certification is a condition of continued employment in this position. Employees are responsible for participating in required training, successfully completing applicable testing, and maintaining the certification as required.

Holding the required certification does not automatically result in a change in job title, position, or compensation.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

The following are preferred but are not required at the time of application:

• Previous food service or commercial kitchen experience.
• Previous experience in school nutrition or childcare food service.
• Previous experience with CACFP.
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Experience maintaining food service records and documentation.
• Experience with food inventory and ordering.
• Experience accommodating food allergies and dietary restrictions.
• Current Food Protection Manager/Kitchen Manager certification.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification.

Applicants without previous professional kitchen experience are encouraged to apply if they demonstrate the reliability, work ethic, organization, attention to detail, and willingness to learn necessary to successfully perform the position.

Employment & Regulatory Requirements

Employees must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Meet applicable requirements for employment within a New Mexico licensed childcare facility.
• Successfully complete and maintain required background clearance.
• Complete required fingerprinting and background check procedures.
• Complete required orientation, health, safety, food service, and other applicable training.
• Obtain required Food Protection Manager/Kitchen Manager certification within 90 days of employment.
• Obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification when required.
• Maintain required employment, kitchen, and regulatory documentation.
• Follow applicable childcare licensing, CACFP, food safety, sanitation, and center requirements.
• Follow The Sunnyside Academy's policies, procedures, confidentiality requirements, and professional standards.

Current CPR and First Aid certification is a plus but is not required at the time of application. The Sunnyside Academy coordinates required CPR and First Aid training for employees who need certification.

Physical Requirements

Kitchen operations require regular physical activity throughout the workday.

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with reasonable accommodation when applicable, including:

• Standing and walking for extended periods.
• Frequently bending, reaching, crouching, and moving throughout the kitchen and center.
• Safely handling food preparation equipment and kitchen supplies.
• Carrying and transporting prepared food and supplies throughout the center.
• Lifting and moving items ordinarily associated with food service operations.
• Performing repetitive food preparation, dishwashing, cleaning, and sanitation tasks.
• Working safely around food preparation equipment and temperature controlled appliances.

Professional Expectations

Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate:

• Dependability and punctuality.
• Strong organization and time management.
• Attention to detail.
• Consistent cleanliness and sanitation practices.
• Ability to work independently without continuous supervision.
• Ability to follow written menus, procedures, food labels, instructions, and documentation requirements.
• Ability to complete required records accurately and on time.
• Professional communication with classroom staff and administration.
• Willingness to accept direction and constructive feedback.
• Flexibility when operational needs change.
• Appropriate professional conduct and confidentiality.
• Willingness to assist the center as needed once primary kitchen responsibilities are completed.
• Commitment to maintaining a safe, sanitary, organized, and dependable food service program.

Apply

Candidates interested in the Full-Time Kitchen Staff position are encouraged to submit an application for consideration.

The Sunnyside Academy is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants in accordance with applicable federal and state employment laws.