Cook Helper - St. Helens School District

This is a part-time position, starting approximately 11/21/2024, 3.75 hours per day with hours from 9:15-1:30.    Food handler card required. 

JOB SUMMARY

This position assists in food preparation and clean-up in the school kitchen andcafeteria facilitating smooth and efficient food service operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties of this position include the following.  Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks.  Other duties may be assigned.

1. Prepare foods for other entrée bars including meat and cheese sandwiches, burritos, etc. 
2. Check and restock bars as needed including milk coolers.
3. Take down and properly store or dispose of leftover items.  Clean and sanitize all bars.
4. Wash, dry and fold towels. 
5. Clean kitchen and cafeteria area(s).
6. Set-up and storage of equipment used to serve food.
7. Know and follow all safety and sanitary rules and regulations related to food handling.
8. Wipes down counters and cafeteria area ensuring it is ready for the following day.  
9. Assists Head Cook as requested.
10. Work as directed by the Cook Manager.
11. Travel to other District facilities to pick-up supplies as needed.
12. Stock student utensils and trays.
13. Check hot bar temperature to ensure food safety.
14. Reports safety, sanitary and fire hazards immediately to the supervisor.
15. Maintain appropriate certifications and training hours as required.  
16. Comply with applicable District, state, local and federal laws, rules and regulations.
17. Interacts thoughtfully and courteously with students, staff and community.
18. Attend work regularly and be punctual.

MARGINAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Marginal duties of this position include the following.  Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks.  Other duties may be assigned.

1. Attend staff meetings.
2. Back up other kitchen staff.
3. Serve student lunches.
4. Operate kitchen equipment including register, dishwasher, slicer, mixer, etc.
5. Put new stock away.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

May supervise student helpers.  All school employees have some responsibility for supervising students and assisting in maintaining a safe environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

•    High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) and three months related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience.   Prior experience in food service strongly preferred.
•   Works well with others from diverse backgrounds.  Focuses on solving conflict; maintaining confidentiality; listening to others without interrupting; keeping emotions under control; remaining open to others’ ideas and contributing to building a positive team spirit.
•   Ability to communicate fluently verbally and in writing in English.  Ability to read, comprehend and interpret simple instructions, safety rules and operating instructions.   Ability to verbally respond to common inquiries from students and staff.
•    Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.  Ability to perform basic math skills involving monetary units.  
•   Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.  Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. 
•   General knowledge of computer usage is preferred.
•   Ability to appropriately communicate with students, teachers, parents and members of the community.  Ability to be highly organized and efficient in an environment that requires strict adherence to a schedule.
•   Must have or be able to obtain a valid Oregon Food Handler card.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to walk; stand; use hands for fine manipulation, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds. The employee may occasionally climb stairs or ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment is a school cafeteria/kitchen. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but occasionally high.  The employee is regularly exposed to wet or humid conditions and some extreme temperatures associated with ovens and walk in freezers.

OTHER

Note:This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job.  This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment.  The school district may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisable.

Just a few facts about some of our benefits:

Time Off: All regular/full time employees are allowed two (2) days of discretionary leave during the school year. The District shall allow each full time employee ten (10) days’ sick leave at full pay during each school year or one (1) day per month employed, whichever is greater. Sick leave not take shall accumulate for an unlimited number of days.

Holidays: Holiday pay shall be granted to regular/full time employees for the following listed categories:

10 & 11 month employees: Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day and Memorial Day

12 month employees: July 4th, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day and Memorial Day Exception: Custodians will have the day after Thanksgiving in lieu of Veteran’s Day. Juneteenth will be a non-contract, non-paid day for all classified employees.

Health Insurance:

The District agrees to pay the medical, dental, vision and life insurance CAP amounts listed below. The employee will be responsible to pay the remaining through a payroll deduction:

2024-2025

Employee Only: $685

Employee Plus Spouse: $1,443

Employee Plus Children: $1,271

Family $2,033