Description
Alpena Public Schools is now accepting applications for Lead Cook at Besser Elementary School to start the 2026-2027 school year. 8 hours a day.
Internal bids will be accepted until the end of the day, May 15, 2026.
Alpena Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law.
Requirements
Position Title: Cook, Lead
Department: District Operations
Reports To: Director of Food Service, Receiving and Distribution
SUMMARY: Responsible for preparing, portioning and serving all meals to students in an efficient and pleasant manner. Responsible for proper record keeping of those meals.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties may be assigned.
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Plans and directs the preparation and serving of all food in their building cafeteria.
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Responsible for security of food and supplies that may include revenue.
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Supervises and participates in the preparation and serving of food according to a planned menu and tested/uniform recipes and determines if the finished product is of best quality both in flavor and appearance before it is served.
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Reports inferior quality food to appropriate authority.
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Directs/assists set-up and break-down of serving lines.
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Oversees and participates in cleaning of kitchen and related areas.
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Directs sanitation procedures.
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Inspects the kitchen, cooking and mixing utensils, and employees for cleanliness and sanitary purposes.
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Ensures that all equipment in the cafeteria area is in safe, working condition, and notifies the appropriate authority when repairs are needed.
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Has the ability to operate all food service equipment.
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Maintains records on food and supplies received and used.
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Maintains accurate production records conforming to federal/department guidelines.
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Trains new kitchen helpers when assigned to their location.
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Regular and reliable attendance.
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Must follow all District policies.
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Reviews email communications regularly and responds as needed.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervises assistant cooks and/or cafeteria helpers when assigned to their kitchen.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 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:
High school diploma or general education degree (GED) with one year child nutrition experience and previous experience with quantity food preparation and service. Completion of the State of Michigan Department of Education School Food Service Statewide Training Program classes: Sanitation and Safety, Food Service Basics, Communications, Management and two additional "technical classes."
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume and distance.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out detailed but basic written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:
Ability to work in a friendly manner with co-workers and students. Ability to plan own work schedule and to direct assistants. General knowledge of the best methods of preparing foods in large quantities. Ability to adjust recipes to the quantity required. Ability to perform job and communicate in a noisy environment. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the community. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.
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 frequently required to walk and is continuously required to stand. The employee will frequently bend or twist at the neck and trunk while performing the duties of this job. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee continuously uses hand strength to grasp tools.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds such as milk crates, frozen foods, canned food, etc. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, peripheral vision and color vision. The employee must be able to perceive the nature of sounds at various speaking levels with or without correction, and to make the discriminations in sound.
The person in this position frequently communicates with students and other staff. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
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 occasionally works in temperatures above 100 degrees and occasionally will walk on slippery surfaces. The employee must be able to meet deadlines with severe time constraints and interact with public and other workers. The employee has direct responsibility for the safety, well-being and work output of others. The noise level in the work environment is frequently loud to where you have to raise your voice to be heard. The employee has a greater than average risk of getting a minor injury such as a cut or a burn while performing the duties of this job.
The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescription controlled substance use and/or abuse in the workplace throughout his/her employment in the District.
The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.
Job Classification: Hourly
Summary