Cook
Full-TimeJob Overview
DREAM has partnered with Brigaid to build our own in-house food service program, which launched in Fall 2023 at our state-of-the-art school in the South Bronx and is expanding to our brand new Highbridge location in Fall 2024. At scale, this program will serve breakfast, lunch, and likely dinner to 1,300 students almost 365 days of the year, along with providing curated food programs for DREAM alumni, families, and community members.
Reporting to the Kitchen Manager, DREAM’s full-time Cooks will work closely with the Brigaid Program Chef and kitchen team to execute DREAM’s vision of a best-in-class food and nutrition program. Cooks will be responsible for producing and serving daily meals to DREAM students and staff, and will maintain the kitchen and storage spaces to the highest level of organization, cleanliness, and safety. This is an exciting opportunity for culinary professionals committed to supporting the community’s engagement with food to help execute a one of a kind food program in service of DREAM’s students and families.
DREAM has partnered with Brigaid to build our own in-house food service program, which launched in Fall 2023 at our state-of-the-art school in the South Bronx and is expanding to our brand new Highbridge location in Fall 2024. At scale, this program will serve breakfast, lunch, and likely dinner to 1,300 students almost 365 days of the year, along with providing curated food programs for DREAM alumni, families, and community members.
Reporting to the Kitchen Manager, DREAM’s full-time Cooks will work closely with the Brigaid Program Chef and kitchen team to execute DREAM’s vision of a best-in-class food and nutrition program. Cooks will be responsible for producing and serving daily meals to DREAM students and staff, and will maintain the kitchen and storage spaces to the highest level of organization, cleanliness, and safety. This is an exciting opportunity for culinary professionals committed to supporting the community’s engagement with food to help execute a one of a kind food program in service of DREAM’s students and families.
Responsibilities
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Daily execution of DREAM’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP)-compliant food service program
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Daily production and service of meals for DREAM students and staff, using NSLP-compliant recipes
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Receiving and storing deliveries
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Assisting with monthly physical inventory of food and supplies
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Maintaining required records, including those related to food production, purchasing, and inventory, as well as all HACCP documentation, including food safety and temperature logs
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Monitoring feedback and preferences from students and communicating feedback to the Lead Cook
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Assisting with food production for special events, such as fundraisers and community meals
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Interfacing with DREAM students, employees, and leadership from a wide variety of backgrounds, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with families, students, and school staff and leaders
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Ensuring food safety, cleanliness and organization standards are maintained to the highest level at all times
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Maintaining DREAM kitchen operating standards and protocols that promote the highest level of food quality, food safety and consistency and adhering to all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health (DOH) guidelines and regulations
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Additional tasks as necessary, including dishwashing, cleaning, and organizing kitchen and storage areas
Qualifications
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At least 1 year of professional cooking experience
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Valid NYC DOH Food Protection Certificate, or the ability to take the self-paced course and pass the exam prior to starting
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Strong understanding of good food safety practices
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Strong cooking ability, with understanding of all basic cooking techniques and the ability to follow recipes and use basic math to determine preparation quantities
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The ability to collaborate on setting and implementing a vision of excellence
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The ability to learn and adhere to USDA NSLP and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) standards and regulations
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Strong communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with various audiences, including colleagues, students and families
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Flexibility in accommodating emergencies or changes in schedule
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The desire and ability to receive and implement feedback
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A commitment to working with diverse populations of families and students
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A strong belief in the mission and values of DREAM, including the belief that all students can succeed, and a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of DREAM students, families, and the community
Physical Requirements
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Ability to lift, carry, and push supplies and boxes up to 50 pounds.
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Ability to stand for long periods of time, bend, kneel, and reach to store/retrieve supplies.
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Occasional environment exposures to inclement weather.
Working Expectations
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Primary locations: 1162 River Ave, Bronx, NY 10452 and also 20 Bruckner Blvd. in the South Bronx
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Hours vary based on shift assignments
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Shift assignments can be as early as 7:00am - 3:00pm or as late as 9:00am - 5:00pm
Benefits
- We offer comprehensive benefits including:
- Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
- The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
- Dental and vision plans;
- Disability benefits;
- Life insurance;
- Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
- Flexible spending account options;
- Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
- Fitness and entertainment discounts;
- A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match starting at 4% after one year, with increases tied to DREAM tenure;
- Referral, performance, and tenure milestones bonuses;
- Discounted school meals through our in-house Scratch Food Program;
- Tuition reimbursement support (All FT Roles);
- Access to a professional development fund (NEST Roles);
- All full-time Network Support Team employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays.
- Benefits are subject to change.
Compensation
DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $40,000-42,000. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications and internal equity. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.
We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for medical plans and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time and paid holidays, referral bonuses, professional development, an employee assistance program (EAP) and a 403(b) plan with employer matching up to 4%.