About Children of America (COA): Children of America is a special blend of people, principles, and pride, making our organization rich in diversity and strength. Our programs serve children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, including Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, Before & After Care, and Summer Camp.

Our goal is to provide nutritious, wholesome meals and snacks cooked onsite, and we are seeking a part-time Cook / Food Prep team member who loves preparing healthy, delicious meals that appeal to toddlers and children in our care. COA encourages employees to bring their whole selves to work, because your unique perspectives and experiences make our team stronger.

Who You'll Interact With

Management Team
Teaching Staff

Minimum Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
Valid Driver's License
PlanServSage certification
Strong work ethic and customer service mindset
Experience cooking for schools or preschools is a plus but not required (paid training provided)
Love for children and working in an early childhood environment

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Prepare and serve meals and snacks according to posted menus
Determine meal and snack counts and distribute food to each classroom
Remove trays and leftover food from classrooms and dispose appropriately
Perform weekly inventory of food and supplies; submit list of needed items
Order food and supplies from approved vendors within budget set by management
Check-in deliveries to ensure order accuracy
Keep the kitchen, appliances, cabinets, and all inventory organized and clean

Our Shared Mission & Values

Accountability: Take responsibility and uphold COA's mission, values, and safety standards
Collaboration: Work with staff and management to support children's needs
Growth Mindset: Embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement
Integrity: Make decisions ethically, considering their impact on children and families
Consistency: Maintain a safe, clean, and reliable kitchen environment

Benefits

Career advancement opportunities across 65+ locations; we proudly promote from within
Comprehensive healthcare: Medical, Dental, Vision
Life, Accident, & Disability insurance
401(k) retirement plan
Paid vacation, sick time, and company-paid holidays
50% employee childcare discount
Subsidized tuition program for continuing education/career advancement (up to $500 per semester)
Annual center performance raise
Monthly & yearly recognition programs
Employee referral bonuses

Compensation

Hourly Rate: $20.00 – $24.00 Hourly (based on experience, skills, location, and internal equity)
This role may also be eligible for performance-based incentives and additional benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Children of America is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status under applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

All job offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and the submission of the required state documents.

Children of America (COA): It’s A Special Recipe of People, Principles And Pride... Working at COA is more than just a job, it’s an environment that enables you to achieve your career goals while helping children and families realize their own. As industry leaders we offer an unparalleled developmental program that takes education, reading, physical fitness and nutrition to a new level in early childhood development. The same passion we put into our children and families guides our professional culture, empowering diverse and talented people to focus on the best parts of their character and capabilities – and to use those qualities to redefine their potential. Our leaders not only have a vision, great communication and people skills, they also have a vast knowledge of their industry. As an organization, we believe in growing and nurturing from within. In fact, over 65 percent of our leadership team started as teachers. We pride ourselves on creating strong managers across our organization who are focused on motivating and engaging associates in today’s fast-moving workplace. We all know that building a successful business cannot be done alone and staying relevant takes a team approach. For that reason, the foundation of our culture is PEEEPs, through which, People, Enrollment, Education, Expenses, and Performance, are the framework adopted to maximize success. COA is an environment where team members can bring their whole selves to work, and where individuality, creativity and contributions are valued. In short, we are passionate group of individuals driven by the common idea of delivering the exceptional COA Experience to everyone we meet. In this spirit, we manage more than 65 high-quality childcare centers in DE, IL, IN, MA, MD, NY, NC, OH, PA, VA and WI and employ more than 2,000 employees. For opportunities at any one of our schools please go to: http://www.childrenofamerica.com/careers.

Cook/Food Prep (Pre-School)