FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL NUTRITION  

TITLE:

Head Cook 

2024-2025 School Year

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Cafeteria Manager, fulfill the daily culinary requirements for the School Nutrition services across five elementary schools, one Pre-K facility, and all culinary needs at the high school. Additionally, provide support for various catering functions as needed. Ensure strict compliance with all guidelines established by the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, USDA, and the local and state Boards of Health.

OUR MISSION:

Framingham Public Schools is committed to excellence for all students. A core value, embedded in the district’s philosophy and goals, is that “all children will learn”. Offering equitable access to education to all of our students hinges largely on providing the highest quality teachers in every school and classroom.  

Diversity among teachers and staff undoubtedly advances the academic achievement of students. Compliance obligations establish the baseline; as a district, Framingham Public Schools are committed to achieving, developing, and maintaining a workforce reflective of the rich racial, linguistic, and cultural diversity of our students. Framingham Public Schools aims to teach our children, and ourselves, to be culturally proficient and inclusive in order to live, learn, and work together in a vibrant and diverse world.  

Indeed, Framingham Public Schools is committed to inspiring our school community to be accepting and willing to learn from individuals with differing backgrounds. Our goal is to reflect the diverse community we serve and create a great place to work for everyone by embracing the individual skills, perspectives, and experiences our people bring to the workplace and harnessing these for high performance and improved service delivery. We want our employees to feel included, valued, and respected and have access to equal opportunity, which supports full participation at work. Framingham Public Schools seeks to retain the diverse talent in our workforce and support our people to maintain a long and productive working career.

Framingham Public Schools is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from minorities.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Serve Safe Certified

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Culinary School Education Required OR Minimum of 2 years of work experience in a Head Cook position with available references.

SKILLS AND ABILITY:

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.

The candidate must demonstrate strong communication skills and professionalism when interacting with staff and students. They should be proficient in various cooking techniques, including roasting, sautéing, baking, braising, and stewing, as well as possess expertise in sauce preparation methods such as roux, cream, tomato, velouté, and gravies. A solid understanding of high-volume batch cooking practices and cook-chill principles for large-scale food production is essential. Additionally, the candidate should have a working knowledge of measurement units and portion control methods to effectively manage food costs, and be well-versed in safety and sanitation regulations related to food service. They must be capable of accurately following standardized recipes and should have a minimum of two years of experience in a high-volume food service environment. Proficiency in standard inventory procedures, familiarity with food allergens, and Serve Safe certification are also required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

• Maintain proper HACCP procedures.

• Assist in food preparation as necessary.

• Support the general operation of the program, including:

• Operating the POS system

• Managing vending machines

• Washing dishes and tables

• Operating the dish machine

• Serving food to students and staff during distribution

• Help clean the kitchen and cafeteria.

• Assist in putting stock away and managing inventory control.

• Complete the daily production control sheet, indicating all items used in food preparation.

• Provide a list of all necessary supplies.

• Utilize leftovers in the best possible manner.

• Understand all aspects of high-volume batch cooking.

• Wrap, label, and store food in the appropriate refrigerator or freezer.

• Cook and replenish food for service before and during lunch.

• Have knowledge of reimbursable meals and the Offer vs. Serve method.

• Follow standardized recipes accurately.

• Perform the duties of other cafeteria staff as necessary or as assigned by the Director of School Nutrition.

PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

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 regularly required to move about and may be required to traverse occasionally throughout the school building. The employee is required to reach with hands and arms and sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is expected to lift at least 30 lbs. The employee must frequently use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and use hand strength to grasp tools. On rare occasions, it may be necessary to move quickly across even or uneven surfaces. The employee will be working in a normal school environment with an acceptable level of noise. The employee interacts with students, parents, and other staff members. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of students.

REPORTS TO:  

Cafeteria Manager. The performance of this job will be evaluated as per the Food Service Association (Unit N) Contract.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) CLASSIFICATION:

This position is classified as Non-Exempt

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Covered under Food Service Association (Unit N) Contract. 

HELPFUL LINKS:

Click here for more information about our amazing benefits! 

 Framingham Public Schools provides equal employment. opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Framingham Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the District has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Framingham Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

The Framingham Public Schools prohibit sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates.  Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator.  The notice of nondiscrimination is located at the Framingham Public Schools School Committee website.

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