Kitchen Assistant (Temporary)

The Temporary Cafeteria Assistant supports the daily operation of the school cafeteria by assisting with food preparation, meal service, cleaning, dishwashing, stocking, and other duties necessary for an efficient and safe food-service program. This position works approximately six hours per day, five days per week, for a designated temporary period.

The employee will work cooperatively with the Kitchen Manager and cafeteria staff to prepare and serve breakfast, lunch, and other food items to students, staff, and guests in a courteous and customer-service-oriented manner. All duties must be performed in accordance with applicable health, sanitation, food-service, government, and USDA regulations

Essential responsibilities of the Temporary Cafeteria Assistant include:

• Prepare food according to written recipes, menus, production requirements, and verbal instructions.
• Organize and set up equipment, serving areas, and workstations.
• Turn on, test, monitor, operate, and properly shut down kitchen equipment.
• Assist with preparation and service of breakfast, lunch, à la carte items, and food for special events.
• Replenish food and supplies during meal service and maintain clean and orderly serving areas.
• Assist with cashiering responsibilities, including food and ticket sales, when assigned.
• Monitor food and equipment temperatures and assist with required production and sanitation records.
• Wash, sanitize, dry, and store cooking equipment, dishes, trays, utensils, and other food-service tools.
• Set up and break down serving areas and workstations before and after meals.
• Receive deliveries and assist with stocking and rotating food, supplies, and inventory.
• Complete food preparation and other duties necessary to prepare for the following school day.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, organized, and safe kitchen and food-service environment.
• Follow proper personal hygiene, handwashing, food-handling, and sanitation procedures.
• Participate in necessary food-service, sanitation, safety, or equipment training.
• Provide courteous and respectful service to students, employees, families, and visitors.
• Demonstrate dependable attendance and report to work according to the assigned schedule.
• Follow all school policies and procedures and demonstrate professional and appropriate behavior while working around children.
• Assist with school food-service promotions, special events, and other cafeteria activities as needed.
• Perform other related food-service duties as assigned by the Kitchen Manager or school administration.

Physical Requirements

This position requires regular physical activity throughout the workday. The employee must be able to stand and walk for extended periods and frequently bend, reach, twist, push, pull, grasp, carry, and perform repetitive movements associated with food preparation, serving, cleaning, and dishwashing.

The employee must be able to safely lift and carry up to and occasionally more than 50 pounds as required for food, supplies, deliveries, equipment, and other cafeteria materials. The position requires the ability to use both hands and arms for food preparation, serving, cleaning, dishwashing, stocking, lifting, carrying, and operation of kitchen equipment.

The employee will work around hot surfaces and equipment, cleaning and sanitation products, wet or potentially slippery floors, and varying temperatures associated with commercial kitchen and food-storage areas.

Regular and reliable attendance and the ability to safely perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, are required.