Company description

Phoebe Hearst Preschool is a nurturing educational environment committed to fostering the development and growth of young learners. Located in the heart of San Francisco, the preschool emphasizes play-based learning, inclusivity, and community engagement. With a dedicated team of educators, the preschool creates a safe and stimulating atmosphere for children to explore, learn, and thrive. Phoebe Hearst Preschool values creativity, empathy, and child-centered teaching approaches. We are building a Playground-to-Table program that connects the playground, the classroom, and the table. Food is deeply integrated into our preschool culture in the way children learn, how they spend time together, and how they are nourished.

Job description

We are looking for someone to expand our culinary team and be an important part of a nurturing, collaborative, values-driven school! This position is a mixture of food prep, hands-on cooking, kitchen cleaning & organization, and recipe development. Together with the culinary coordinator, you will be preparing fresh, balanced, and seasonal school lunches for 90-100 children and teachers per day, as well as morning and afternoon snacks. This is a great opportunity to learn to cook at scale, expand your cooking skills, and develop seasonal menus and recipes. While not necessary, if you have any cooking hobbies (such as sourdough bread making, pasta making, or fermenting), we welcome you to bring those to the kitchen!

Job Requirements

Availability: Available 9:00am - 3:00pm Monday through Friday - 30 hours/week. Federal holidays are observed, and the preschool closes for 2 weeks in August and 2 weeks at the end of the year.

Food Prep & Cooking Skills: Must possess basic knife skills, familiarity with food prep, and ability to follow a recipe. Prior kitchen experience and/or a culinary degree are positives, but not required! We welcome self-taught cooks who are eager to learn, remain calm under pressure, and possess a strong work ethic.

Collaboration & Communication: Collaborate with Culinary Coordinator to develop rotating menus that accommodate dietary restrictions and children’s allergies. As we grow our food program, we continue to evolve our menus and welcome creative ideas for recipe development, seasonality, and reducing food waste – think puff pastry shapes for soup, leftover carrot sticks for carrot loaf bread, or using up our end of the week produce for Agua Fresca Fridays. You are also encouraged to communicate any insights or opinions on food-related issues and work & organization methods as they arise.

Time Management & Ability to Work Independently: Although the preschool kitchen does not have the intensity of a restaurant, our teachers have to stick to a strict schedule with mealtimes. Ability to manage your time and prioritize kitchen tasks as needed is a plus. The culinary coordinator will be in and out of the kitchen throughout the day, but there are times when the role requires the ability to work independently. But you’ll find the kitchen is never too quiet, as many teachers and children like to pop in to say hello or ask what’s cooking!

Cleaning: Maintain a clean and organized kitchen, including washing dishes from snacks and lunches, cleaning equipment and work surfaces, and occasional deep cleaning projects. Preschoolers go through a lot of dishes, so a significant chunk of the day is spent cleaning!

Food Handling & Inventory Management: Follow all food safety, sanitation, and proper food handling procedures. Help to monitor kitchen inventory and communicate when supplies need to be restocked.

Physical Requirements: Physically capable of standing for 6 hour shifts, breaking down cases of produce & other deliveries, and lifting up to 50 lbs.

Certifications: Hold a valid Food Handler’s Permit / Food Safety Certification or complete the test within 30 days of hire. We will cover any costs related to the test.

Benefits

Generous benefits package. Paid time off while the preschool is closed, paid holidays, and vacation days. Medical and dental insurance included.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

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Deadline

September 04, 2026