Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc. (HACAP) is a diverse, community-focused nonprofit dedicated to empowering and improving the lives of families living with the everyday barriers of poverty.

What we are proud to offer you:

• Retirement Savings (IPERS and/or 403(b))
• Employee Assistance Program

POSITION GOAL

The Assistant Cook is responsible to assist with food preparation and kitchen sanitation for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)/Head Start.

SCHEDULE AND WAGE 

Monday-Friday 9:00 AM- 1:00 PM; $13.96

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensures compliance, program records, and documentation required for HACAP programs, child-care licensing regulations, CACFP, Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Act and funding requirements.
2. Follows Food Service Establishment Food Codes, CACFP, and DHS standards and HACAP policies and procedures regarding the maintenance of a sanitary and organized kitchen, including food storage procedures, and health, sanitation and safety practices in the preparation of food.
3. Operates commercial dishwashing equipment safely according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
4. Assists in food preparation according to provided menus, including special diets, using standardized recipes and quantity cooking techniques as well as commercially prepared foods.
5. Ensures that mealtimes are observed with food being served on time and at the proper temperature.
6. Follows the menu change approval process and makes appropriate documentation.
7. Is responsible for the accuracy and promptness of all required reports and records as assigned, including daily production forms and on-going inventory.
8. Receives deliveries and reconciles delivery invoices.
9. Participates in program assessments.
10. Provides child ratio coverage in the classroom on an emergency basis to meet state licensing and/or federal compliance regulations.
11. Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

EXPECTATIONS

1. Support the organization's mission, vision, values, policy, and procedure by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect personalization, commitment to our community, and accountability and ownership.
2. Demonstrates a personal commitment to HACAP through quality job performance, a sense of responsibility for high achievement, professional appearance, awareness of current events throughout HACAP, and positive promotion of HACAP.
3. Consistently work in a positive and cooperative manner with fellow Team Members.
4. Consistently demonstrate the ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner in order to meet current needs, such as reprioritizing work as necessary.
5. Consistently come to work on time, working as scheduled, and leaving at the scheduled time.
6. Maintain appropriate attire and good grooming habits to support HACAP’s desire for safe and efficient operations, providing greater service and better customer relations.
7. Must possess high integrity and ensure confidentiality of any information concerning an employee, client, family, financial condition or personal peculiarities is strictly maintained.
8. Ensure that personal health information is protected during its collection, use, disclosure, storage and destruction within HACAP as required by HIPAA.

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.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

1. High School Diploma or GED, or working towards obtaining GED.

 Skills

1. Ability to read, comprehend and implement procedures.
2. Ability to use good judgment
3. Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
4. Ability to work with a diverse population
5. Ability to relate to low-income people
6. Strong organizational skills
7. Ability to work effectively with age-appropriate activities in the classroom and relate with children in a positive way
8. Detail orientated

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 use hands to finger, handle, feel, and grasp; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally use the repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements to operate a computer keyboard. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, stoop, bend, kneel, squat, twist, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally climb stairs or steps. The employee is occasionally required to sit and taste or smell. The employee must be able to work/play with children on their level, specifically on the floor level. The employee must regularly lift, move, push, or pull up to 10 pounds; frequently lift, move, push, or pull up to 25 pounds; and occasionally lift, move, push or pull up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.