Cook/Food Service Worker

LPR International is seeking a Cook / Food Service Worker in Bethesda, MD. 

Job Requirements:

Main Kitchen

• Prepare and cook a full range of foods such as meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, etc.
• Operate specialized equipment to cook, chill, and store food in large quantities while following special health and safety procedures.
• Plans (i.e. determines sequence of preparation) and coordinates the preparation of entire meals which requires coordinating the cooking of several items with different cooking times and characteristics. Plans the cooking process to produce a complete meal on time and at the proper temperature. 
• Uses menus, standardized recipes, and production tallies to schedule and prepare foods for meals under the guidance of the kitchen supervisor or manager in accordance with quality and timeliness standards for the service. 
• Use any of the following cooking methods: grill, broil, bake, roast, boil, fry, braise, sauté, poach, and steam.
• Take daily inventory of items and communicate any needs to supervisor.
• Maintains clean, sanitary and orderly work area; completes ware washing and related tasks. Demonstrates understanding of infection control procedures through preparation techniques, food handling, and personal hygiene habits. Labels, dates, stores and rotates foods to ensure safety; exercises Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles; performs other cleaning tasks (i.e., cleaning refrigerator, oven, work tables, walls) using proper cleaning agents and protective gear. Maintains clean, sanitary and orderly work area including: refrigerators, freezers, and cooking equipment. 
• Set up hot food stations with pasta, soups, gravies, and other large quantity production food items.
• Prepare several different short order food items simultaneously within established timeframes.
• Operates a variety of kitchen equipment properly and safely; disassembles and assembles for cleaning equipment such as cook tanks, agitating kettles, pump fill stations, tipper ties, blast chillers, and vacuum packers. Maintains clean, sanitary and orderly work area. Records food temperatures as part of maintenance procedure for safe service of foods. Brings food up to safe temperatures when indicated. Reports faulty equipment to supervisor; labels, dates, stores and rotates foods to ensure safety; performs other cleaning tasks (i.e., cleaning refrigerators, ovens, work tables, walls) that are assigned, using proper cleaning agents. 
• Perform simple food preparation by weighing, measuring, portioning, peeling, and chopping foods as needed.
• Prepares, cooks, and assembles special diet products such as, but not limited to, low protein, gluten-free, or allergy-compliant products for patients on special diets.
• Prepares, assembles, labels, delivers, stores, and properly disposes of enteral formula and other special liquid formulas. 

Metabolic Kitchen

• Prepares, cooks, assembles, and labels a full range of foods, fluids, and special liquid formulas required for Metabolic diets (including, but not limited to, controlled diets, test meals, and specialized feedings) with strict compliance to precise standardized preparation methods, recipes, and menus. Precisely weighs and measures ingredients (using gram weights, milliliter volumes, and other measures) and portions food to ensure precise specified servings and nutrient content for research protocols. Wraps and labels weighed foods for freezing or other storage in accordance with special techniques for metabolic protocols. Stores foods in batches by dates to ensure constant sources for metabolic protocols. 
• Assembles food for patients on metabolic diets and verifies accuracy and completeness of trays. Delivers trays directly to patients or designated locations, returns to pick up trays, and may perform analysis of foods not consumed based on protocol requirements. Weights and records refused foods and prepares replacements based on protocol requirements. 
• Takes inventories for food and supplies for metabolic studies and prepares order requisitions based on par levels and upcoming study patients. 
• Interacts with nutrition department staff, nurses, study investigators, patients, and other staff regarding metabolic and other diet orders, metabolic diet changes, and food requests. Interacts with patients to encourage compliance with metabolic diets. Teaches patients metabolic techniques for food consumption. 

Food Service

• Performs a variety of food service task involving preparing food and serving patients. Organizes work assignments in logical sequence to quickly and accurately meet strict meal schedules.
• Works on assembly stations on the tray line during peak service times. Reads the meal ticket, selects, and places correct food items on patient trays as they proceed down tray assembly line. Loads meal trays onto delivery carts.
• Transports food and other nutrition related items to/from the loading dock. This includes utilizing motorized transportation equipment to deliver food to the patients. Employee will be trained and licensed on all motorized & non-motorized transportation equipment. 
• Identifies obvious discrepancies and differences between the prescribed diet and the food items designated on the menu.
• Sets up food and supplies for meal service such as dishes, silverware, trays, napkins, condiments, cold food such as salads, desserts, breads, beverages, and hot food steam items. 
• Breaks down and cleans assigned area when the meal is finished and returns soiled trays and dishes to the dish room.
• Promptly delivers meal trays, picnics, menus, and supplies to patient care units, or outpatient clinics. 
• Demonstrates proper precautions and procedures when entering isolation rooms.
• Removes soiled trays from patient units and returns to kitchen for dishwashing. 
• Uses work sheets to set up assigned station on the tray line with the correct supplies and food items. 
• Operate a mechanical dishwasher, including a conveyor belt feeding dishwasher. Removes inspection doors, strainer pans, screens, and spray arms for preventative maintenance and cleaning. Checks temperature gauges to ensure proper temperatures are reached for proper cleaning sanitation. Scrape, soak scour, and scrub the heavier cooking utensils such as mixing bowls and pots which because their large size and weight, are awkward to handle. 
• Cleans and sanitizes work areas and performs heavy-duty cleaning task throughout the food service and related areas.
• Demonstrates understanding of infection control procedures through preparation techniques, food handling, storage and personal hygiene habits. 
• Reports faulty equipment to supervisor; labels, dates, stores, and rotates food to ensure safety; and exercises HACCP principles; performs other cleaning task (i.e. cleaning refrigerator, oven, work tables, walls) that are assigned, using proper cleaning agents and protective gear. 
• Collects and removes bins of trash to designated area. Returns trash bins to kitchen and cleans and sanitizes as needed. 
• May be assigned to unload food deliveries from/carts in storeroom. 

Qualifications

• SERVSAFE Certification.
• Familiarity with using a gram scale.
• At least one year of prior cook/food service experience- prior experience in a patient care facility/hospital is preferred.
• Must have a demonstrated proficiency in the English language.
• Ability to operate a computer and basic applications such as email and Microsoft Office.
• Must possess excellent customer service skills and experience dealing with very diverse cultures.

Environmental

• Ability to stand and walk for long periods of time.
• Ability to lift items weighing up to (40) pounds. 
• Ability to stoop, reach, bend, twist and carry equipment.
• Ability to employ hand dexterity in the use of equipment.
• Ability to handle moderate noise typical of a cafeteria setting.
• Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. 

All applicants requiring alternative methods of application or screening should contact LPR International directly. 

LPR International is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, status as a covered veteran, military discharge status, criminal records that have been sealed or expunged, arrest records not resulting in conviction or any other characteristic protected by federal, state and/or local law.