School Cook (Location: Tampines)

Role overview

Middleton International School is looking for a School Cook based in Tampines. The role reports to the Executive Chef and works under the chef responsible for the assigned pre-school, alongside the kitchen team. The main focus is to keep the kitchen clean and safe while preparing nutritious, balanced meals and snacks for children, including morning snacks, lunch, and afternoon snacks.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain high standards of food safety and kitchen sanitation at all times.
• Prepare ingredients by measuring, weighing, and combining them according to recipes.
• Check that ingredients and finished food items are fresh and suitable for service.
• Cook a variety of foods by baking, grilling, steaming, and boiling meats, vegetables, fish, poultry, and other items.
• Plate, garnish, and present meals neatly.
• Serve food when needed.
• Keep the work area clean and safe, including utensils, equipment, and dishes.
• Receive, handle, and store ingredients and food correctly.
• Store food hygienically and keep storage areas clean.
• Place stock orders based on requirements and help manage accounts and budget control.
• Monitor stock levels, rotate inventory properly, and ensure all items are clearly labeled with expiry dates.
• Clean kitchen equipment before and after use.
• Monitor freezer and refrigerator temperatures to ensure they remain within the correct range.
• Follow Health Promotion Board guidelines during food preparation, cooking, and serving.
• Remove waste regularly and place it in the designated bins.
• Carry out any other duties assigned by supervisors.

Requirements

• Good understanding of food safety practices, including safe holding and cooking temperatures.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and coordinate on different dishes.
• Strong interpersonal skills for dealing with colleagues, dishwashers, management, and school staff.
• Composed and steady approach in a busy, high-pressure kitchen environment.
• Responsible attitude toward meeting quality expectations for all dishes prepared.
• Ability to follow instructions and recipes accurately and stay organized.
• Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination for knife work such as chopping, slicing, cutting, and dicing.
• Comfortable standing for long periods, working in heat, and handling shift-based work.
• At least 2 years of relevant cooking experience, preferably in a pre-school or childcare environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Capable of working independently as well as with a team.
• Able to perform basic calculations.

Additional information

Reporting to: Executive Chef

Direct reports: Kitchen Assistant

The cook is expected to maintain kitchen cleanliness while preparing a well-balanced menu for children, including snacks and lunch service.