School Nutrition Assistant

About the Employer

Job Summary

Under general supervision, responsible for assisting the manager in oversight of kitchen operations to ensure that students are served nutritious and attractive meals in a clean and caring atmosphere. Responsible for organizing, training, food production, food service activities, and assisting the school nutrition manager with all record management and reporting functions.

Reports To

Principal and School Nutrition Director

Job Start Date

Immediate

General Statement of Job

Under general supervision, responsible for assisting the manager in oversight of kitchen operations to ensure that students are served nutritious and attractive meals in a clean and caring atmosphere. Responsible for organizing, training, food production, food service activities, and assisting the school nutrition manager with all record management and reporting functions. Will assist with development of kitchen staff and promotes good community relations among school clientele and broader community as directed by the manager. May function as cook, cashier, server or helper. Assists in maintaining national school lunch program (NSLP) compliance of free and reduced meals at the point of sale, as well as keeping accurate records of the same in accordance with local, state and federal rules and regulations and USDA requirements.

Prepares, Cooks, and Serves Meals

Prepare, cook, and serve meals according to specified standardized recipes; prepare meals for special diets according to recipes or other instructions provided.

Maintains Kitchen Operations

Uses batch cooking methods and replenishes the warming cabinets and/or serving line(s) to maintain properly cooked food items during the serving period. Assure that safe and sanitary practices in all phases of TPHC procedures are followed by all personnel to meet or exceed established health department and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards.

Menu Management

Reviews menu and production records daily; order food items to meet portion sizes, servings per unit or size, and expected production capacity per recipe. Suggests menu substitutions as necessary, and coordinates work schedule to meet serving schedule.

Food Handling and Storage

Unpacks and carries canned and fresh fruits and vegetables, and frozen processed meats from storage to the food preparation area; transports breads, rolls, desserts, and other items to specified areas; transfers food items from cooking equipment to serving lines. Assists manager in ordering correct quantity of foods, ensure receiving, storing, handling, preparing, and serving of food are performed according to established standards. Check deliveries for invoice accuracy and report shortages. Monitor and report receipt of items of unacceptable quality or condition by following policies.

Oversight and Record Keeping

Provide oversight of storage for all food and non-food supplies to ensure compliance with recommended storage requirements, maintaining the cleanliness and organization of food storage areas, dating and putting up delivery stock, and counting monthly physical inventory.

Customer Service

May serve meals or supplemental menu items, answer inquiries pertaining to food and meal items and provide excellent customer service. Prepare fresh fruits and vegetables, assembles salads, wraps sandwiches, pans food items, bakes cookies, assembles items for meal service at future times and/or locations such as prepping breakfast items for next-day service.

Cash Handling and Sales

Acts as cashier or back up during breakfast or lunch serving period. Maintains financial integrity for purchased meals and other foods in cafeteria through kiosk or other remote sites to support data integrity. Collects and records advanced payments for lunches and breakfasts, recording amount paid in accordance with established procedures to maintain accurate student files.

Reporting and Record Keeping

Responsible for maintaining accurate reports of daily and monthly financial, production, and activity records for student meal charges. Counts money at end of meal service and prepares money and checks for deposit, rolls loose coins, follows established policies and procedures.

Special Projects and Tasks

Assists in maintenance of accurate free and reduced meal rosters and in screening free and reduced applications according to established procedures and policies as directed by manager. Assists students, parents, teachers and school staff with questions concerning meal program.

Health and Safety

Enforce standards of cleanliness, health, and safety collection. Supports and assists in the sanitation process while maintaining proper sanitizer levels in all sinks and containers and of all cafeteria utensils pots, pans, and serving utensils. Sweeping and mopping, walls, high dusting, floor drains, loading dock; carrying out bags of garbage and placing in dumpster.

General Knowledge and Skills

Ability to communicate in a pleasant, positive manner with students, staff, parents, and coworkers. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments. Ability to read, understand and follow written work schedules written in English language. Ability to set priorities and allocate time so that tasks are completed and deadlines are met in a timely manner.

Minimum Training and Experience

A high school diploma or GED preferred and 1 to 2 years of experience in the preparation of foods in an institutional setting or childcare; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Physical Requirements

Must be physically able to operate a variety of commercial equipment including ovens, steamers, combi ovens, braising pans, and all types of kitchen utensils and tools pertaining to food service, etc. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds on occasion, exert up to 25 pounds of force regularly, or 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.