Kitchen Assistant Explora Science Center & Children's Museum - 3.7 Albuquerque, NM Job Details Full-time From $16.50 an hour 7 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Employee discount 403(b) Qualifications Spanish Teamwork English High school diploma or GED Attention to detail Food preparation equipment operation Food Handler Certification Full Job Description Position Summary The Kitchen Assistant supports Brillante's food service program by assisting with the preparation, service, and cleanup of nutritious meals and snacks for children in accordance with Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) requirements, New Mexico child care licensing regulations, and local environmental health standards. Working closely with the Kitchen Manager and teaching staff, the Kitchen Assistant helps maintain a clean, organized, safe, and welcoming kitchen while contributing to positive mealtime experiences for children.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Brillante's Kitchen Assistants are responsible for: 1. Assisting with the preparation, portioning, service, and cleanup of nutritious meals and snacks; 2. Supporting the Kitchen Manager in maintaining efficient daily kitchen operations, including food preparation, receiving deliveries, stocking supplies, and organizing storage areas; 3. Washing dishes, cleaning kitchen equipment, sanitizing food preparation surfaces, and maintaining a clean and organized kitchen in accordance with food safety and sanitation standards; 4. Assisting with proper food storage, labeling, rotation, temperature monitoring, and inventory management to ensure food quality and minimize waste; 5. Supporting accurate meal counts, production records, cleaning logs, temperature logs, and other required documentation as assigned; 6. Delivering meals and snacks to classrooms and collaborating with teaching teams to support family-style dining practices and positive mealtime routines; 7. Building positive relationships with children by interacting warmly and respectfully during meal service and participating in the daily life of the school community; 8. Assisting with kitchen setup and support for family events, special programs, celebrations, and other Brillante activities as assigned; 9. Participating in required food safety, CACFP, licensing, and organizational professional development; and 10. Contributing to a safe, welcoming, and collaborative organizational culture that reflects Brillante's mission, values, and commitment to children and families. Skills & Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Experience working in a commercial kitchen, child care center, school, restaurant, healthcare, or institutional food service environment preferred;
• Knowledge of basic food safety, sanitation, and safe food handling practices;
• Enjoys working with young children and interest in supporting early childhood education;
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and attention to detail;
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, accessibility, and culturally responsive practice;
• Enjoys working around young children and contributing to a positive school culture;
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred; and
• Comfortable using Google Workspace and basic electronic recordkeeping systems. Work Requirements & Conditions of Employment
• Background clearance as required by Explora and ECECD;
• Must complete and maintain all ongoing licensing- and CACFP-required professional development requirements throughout employment;
• Food Handler Certification required upon hire or within the timeframe required by local regulations;
• Must be able to operate commercial kitchen equipment safely and effectively;
• Must be able to work in kitchen, classroom, office, museum, and outdoor environments as needed;
• Must be able to maintain a regular schedule that supports breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack preparation and service;
• Must be able to safely lift up to 50 pounds; and
• Must maintain a current and valid driver's license if position duties require travel on behalf of Explora.

Explora is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a culturally diverse staff that reflects the demographics of New Mexico. We actively seek candidates from all backgrounds and identities and encourage candidates from diverse perspectives, experiences, and identities to apply.

Pay:

From $16.50 per hour Expected hours: 32.0 - 40.0 per week

Benefits:

403(b) Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person