Performs routine service level duties to assist with food preparation, serving, and clean up at a central food production facility and/or various school service kitchens.

The Food Service Assistant I is the first level in a service-oriented career ladder.  Assignments will be at a school site that may also serve as a production facility for a remote site that serves food items.  Advancement to Cook requires an ability to operate all food service equipment, prepare food items, organize a service line, operate a snack bar, and perform basic record keepin

• Arranges individually packaged food items along a service line so that students can make easy selection.  Serves food items according to specified quantities. 

• Prepares certain food items such as slicing meats, breads, and salad bar foods.    Operates miscellaneous kitchen equipment such as a slicing machine, mixer, and warming oven.

• Records food temperatures at regular intervals during heating of food items.

• Restocks and wipes down condiment containers and utensil locations.

• Cleans, washes, and sanitizes kitchen equipment, food preparation and servicing area surfaces.  Sweeps floors.

• May launder linens and other materials requiring special cleaning and handling.

• Receives and cleans, slices, cuts, or otherwise portions food items such as, but not limited to fruits, vegetables, frozen and cooked items, used for packaging and ingredients.  Cuts fruits and vegetables and prepares serving trays.

• Assembles standardized portions of food items, places on food carts, and may assist with delivering meals to remote school sites.

• Learns and may serve as a cashier, accepting money and meal cards and assisting in compilation of daily receipts.

• Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.

The position requires basic knowledge of institutional quantity food preparation, methods, procedures, and service; weights and measures; and kitchen safety and sanitation.  Requires sufficient human relations skill to exhibit positive customer service and work as a productive member of a team.

Requires the ability to perform the routine duties of the position under direct supervision.  Must be able to follow oral and written instructions.  Must be able to add and subtract, using decimals and fractions.  Requires the ability to work varying shifts and locations.

Requires the ability to stand for extended periods of time, bend, kneel and stoop. Requires sustained lifting of light to medium (under 25 pounds) and occasional lifting of heavy objects up to 75 pounds.  Requires the ability to handle hot material and work in an environment dominated by wide temperature extremes.  Requires sufficient hand-eye coordination maintain pace in a production setting, to use kitchen utensils and equipment, and move and position hot materials.

The position typically requires completion of a high school curriculum and less than one year of experience in large quantity food preparation and serving.  Additional experience may substitute for education.

Health screen authorizing the incumbent to work in food service.

Work is performed indoors where significant health and safety considerations exist from physical labor and handling of sharp objects, equipment, and materials in conditions that vary in temperature and stability.