[Worthington] Cook (Center Managing Recruitment)

About Tierra Encantada

Tierra Encantada, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN is the leader in Spanish immersion early education®, and provides high-quality language immersion education and care to children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. At Tierra Encantada, we believe the earliest years should open a world of possibilities. As the Leader in Spanish Immersion Early Education®, we nurture the whole child through joyful play-based learning and a globally inspired culinary program featuring wholesome meals prepared from scratch each day. By fostering curiosity, confidence, cultural understanding, and healthy habits, we prepare children for a lifetime of learning while creating warm, engaging environments that families trust. Join us and be part of a mission-driven team that is committed to making a lasting impact-one child, one family, and one community at a time.

Position Overview

As a cook at Tierra Encantada you are passionate about preparing meals, nurturing children's growth and creating intentional learning environments that inspire curiosity and development.

Pay and Schedule

This is a Full-Time, nonexempt position that typically works Monday-Friday from 7:00AM-4:00PM.

The starting pay for this role is between $17.07 and $20.04 per hour depending on education, experience and certifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare daily meals for children ages 6 weeks through 6 years using approved recipes and menus, adhering to food handling and safety standards.
• Oversee and manage kitchen staff, providing guidance, support, and ensuring all team members adhere to food safety and operational standards.
• Stay well-trained in allergens and adjust meals as needed for children with special dietary needs, ensuring compliance with dietary accommodations.
• Be accountable for inventory management, including handling orders, tracking supplies, minimizing waste, and maintaining accurate record-keeping.
• Ensure adherence to the established meal program, including portion sizes, nutritional guidelines, and compliance with any applicable regulations.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe kitchen environment, adhering to local health codes and industry standards.
• Oversee general food operations, including meal preparation, cleanup, and dishwashing, ensuring efficiency and quality.
• Support center staff by covering classroom breaks, ensuring smooth daily operations, maintaining the cleanliness of the center.
• Collaborate effectively with HQ teams ensuring strong two-way communication.
• Maintain certifications and take annual trainings on Allergens and food safety
• Maintain a positive, friendly attitude with families, and be a "team-mate" to parents in supporting their child's growth
• Other duties as assigned

Position Requirements

• Three or more years of cooking experience in a restaurant, hotel, hospital, childcare, or other high volume or institutional setting.
• Basic knowledge of USDA guidelines and food preparation.
• Certified Food Protection Manager strongly desired.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish strongly preferred, must be able to speak Spanish.
• Strong communication skills and be able to communicate effectively with families and co-workers.
• Provide a certificate of completion of an approved pediatric first aid and CPR training within 90 days of hire. Employees are responsible for renewing and maintaining a valid, current CPR and pediatric first aid certification at all times.
• Must have a respect for diversity and recognize that diversity makes our program better.
• Must have the ability to fulfill annual training requirements.

 

Physical Requirements

• Requires the ability to frequently walk, stand, climb stairs, crawl, sit, squat, stoop, bend, reach, kneel, rise from the floor, and twist.
• Requires the ability to carry and lift 25 pounds or less, use repetitive or fine hand movements,