Food Service Assistant

General Function

Performs a variety of tasks related to assisting in the preparation and serving of meals for University students and guests

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities—Essential Functions

• Prepares kitchen and dining area which may include stocking/setting up grill, salad bar, condiment bar beverage stations, dessert stations, changing oil, brews beverages.
• Maintains clean and sanitary work area, especially in kitchen and dining areas which may include sweeping, scrubbing, cleaning tables, countertops, and machines or washing dishes and utensils.  Ensures safety of food and food contact surfaces while maintaining sanitation standards.  Observes strict safety rules.
• Prepares food for cooking which may include cleaning and peeling potatoes, cutting salad bar items, wrapping food, or preparing sandwiches.
• May stock serving line and/or serve food; monitors condition of items in both un-refrigerated and refrigerated settings such as salad bars; may operate cash register.
• Reads and interprets recipes to mix, prepare and assemble salads, desserts, dressings & special menu items; cooks pasta, potatoes, eggs, stir-fry food, makes sandwiches.  May include the use of deep fat fryers, grills, steamers and/or ovens and other kitchen equipment; records temperature, monitors and records amounts prepared/amounts left over.
• Maintains all food items at proper temperatures as instructed.
• Responds to client requests for service, special diets, as well as other information in a friendly and helpful manner.
• Assists in providing guidance to other employees in the performance of their duties; coordinates efficient work flow and instructs in the proper use of equipment and utensils.

Reporting Relationships

Direction Received: Reports to Food Service Manager of operation or head of other campus food preparation/distribution/serving area or student manager

Direction Given: Monitors and train student employees

Minimum Requirements

Requires a high school diploma or GED. No experience required.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Worker Characteristics

• Knowledge of basic food preparation techniques
• Knowledge of sanitation techniques
• Ability to understand and follow directions

Working Conditions

Physical effort usually requires considerable walking, standing, bending, twisting, pushing and pulling, with some lifting of materials weighing 25 to 50 pounds. Somewhat disagreeable working conditions due to exposure to high temperatures. Some element of personal risk due to very hot surfaces. A few occasions of outdoor event service.

Please note: The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular positions. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. For jobs occupied by more than one employee, the identification of non-essential functions shall be determined from the individual’s position description.