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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing approximately 40,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Nutrition Support Services (NSS)offers all CPS students breakfast, lunch, and, at select schools, after-school meals atno charge. Meals are offered every school day, during Saturday school programs, and during the summer. Meals complywith nutrition standards set forth in the USDA’s Child Nutrition Program meal patterns. 

Job Summary: 

Under the supervision of the School Dining Manager, the Cook prepares foods using a variety of cooking methods, in compliance with department guidelines and performs related duties as required and assigned. 

The Cook will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Responsible for preparing food to maximize freshness while minimizing waste while following menu recipes and production records to ensure nutrition guidelines are being met and compliance with HACCP procedures for safe food handling. 
• Performs a variety of food preparation duties prior to cooking food, including but not limited to pulling and thawing food according to HACCP guidelines within the appropriate time for preparation and cooking according to menu, washing, chopping and slicing food items. 
• Completes cook’s temperature log daily; checking food and stock levels throughout the day to ensure that enough food is prepared; cleaning, sanitizing and maintaining cooking equipment in hygienic and workable condition. 
• Maintains counts for leftover food and records production records daily; assisting manager with ordering and maintaining appropriate food supplies and ingredients. 
• Attends meetings, workshops and training as scheduled; operates POS terminals and Mosaic System software. 
• Assist with inventory and putting away stock, including labeling and dating; sweeping and mopping the serving line, kitchen, food prep and storage areas; vacuuming food service-related areas. 
• Performs any other duties as assigned for the purpose of meeting nutrition and meal requirements to ensure an efficient and effective work environment and assisting with the piloting or implementation of new programs within the scope of the food service operation. 
• Attends all training sessions to meet USDA mandated training hour requirements. 

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Cook must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required:

• Must possess and maintain a valid Chicago Department of Public Health Certified Food Service Manager Certificate. 

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of 1 year of professional work experience. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Required to lift or exert a force of 25-40 lbs. frequently and 50-100 lbs. occasionally. 
• Must be able to stand for longperiods of time, stoop, crouch, climb, bend, reach, handle and finger objects. 
• Must be able to consistently moveyourself and things around in a safe and efficient manner. 
• Must be able to taste and smell in order to identify flavorsand odors and exercise frequent use of near visual acuity with the ability to identify and distinguish colors. 
• Must beable to work in environments with some temperature extremes. 

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency -Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 -Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.