Food Service Assistant: Centralia, WA

Bezos Academy•Centralia, WA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Bezos Academy is hiring a full-time Food Service Assistant for its Montessori-inspired preschool in Centralia, Washington. The position manages the school’s food preparation and service, with responsibility for providing nutritious, compliant meals to children and maintaining food safety, organization, and documentation. The assistant also supports school operations and staff, including inventory checks and laundry, and may provide classroom supervision and support as needed. The mix of responsibilities may vary according to the needs of the school, students, and the employee’s prior experience. The schedule is an eight-hour shift, Monday through Friday, within the general school schedule of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; the specific schedule is determined with the school leader. This is a benefits-eligible, non-exempt hourly position, 40 hours per week. Compensation is $19–$28 per hour, or approximately $39,000–$58,000 annually, with starting pay dependent on qualifications and experience. The upper third of the range is generally reserved for experienced employees who demonstrate strong performance over time. The position includes 32 paid days of scheduled breaks, three paid personal days, nine paid sick-care days, ten paid holidays, and additional time off where required by law. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability insurance; a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match; paid parental leave; and an employer-matched dependent-care flexible spending account. Applicants must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED, a current food worker card, and the ability to pass required background checks and complete Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families training upon hire. They must be able to perform kitchen and food-service duties, including lifting up to 50 pounds, standing for extended periods, and completing repetitive tasks. Experience in an institutional or highly regulated food setting, knowledge of food preparation protocols, familiarity with the Washington food and beverage worker manual, English fluency, and basic Microsoft Office proficiency are also required. Experience with USDA/CACFP guidelines, school or similar kitchen work, food accommodations, preschool teaching, early childhood education, Montessori, children with special needs, and Spanish are preferred.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.
Ability to pass background checks and complete all training required by the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families upon hire.
Knowledge of cooking methods and procedures, including different types of food preparation.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand for long periods, and perform repetitive tasks involved in safely preparing and serving food.
Experience working in an institutional or highly regulated kitchen or food setting, with a clear understanding of food-preparation best practices and protocols.
Active and current food worker card.
Understanding of the Washington food and beverage worker manual.
Fluent English speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

Experience working under U.S. Department of Agriculture and Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA/CACFP) guidelines.
Two or more years of experience working in a school (preschool, early childhood education, daycare, or K–12) or similar kitchen setting.
Working knowledge of food allergens, intolerances, preferences, and accommodations.
Prior experience as an assistant teacher in a preschool setting.
Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education or two years of post-secondary coursework in Early Childhood Education.
Experience with Montessori pedagogy.
Experience with children with special needs.
Fluency in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Place weekly food orders based on student attendance trends and food-waste analysis.
Receive and verify food deliveries, confirm quantities and menu alignment, and follow the Emergency Food SOP when meals are non-compliant.
Manage routine vendor performance and follow up on incorrect or spoiled deliveries when applicable.
Ensure meals served to students comply with requirements and document menu changes.
Track daily food consumption and waste to manage food costs efficiently.
Prepare and deliver meals and utensils to classrooms for scheduled meal services.
Follow food hygiene and safety protocols; clean, sanitize, and maintain the kitchen, equipment, utensils, cookware, and dishes.
Organize food inventory, including labeling, dating, rotating stock, and discarding items nearing expiration in accordance with food-safety guidelines.
Record food temperatures before each meal service.
Accommodate children’s dietary needs, including allergies, medical restrictions, and cultural or religious requirements.
Help serve meals during family-engagement and school events as needed.
When food is prepared on-site, order groceries, prepare meals according to the menu and schedule, adapt recipes for dietary restrictions, make appropriate menu substitutions to avoid waste, and help plan nutritious, budget-friendly, appealing menus.
When the school participates in CACFP, retain vendor delivery receipts for three years, ensure appropriate meal portions, review meal counts and upload them to SharePoint weekly, provide documentation supporting menu substitutions, attend required annual sponsor training, and clock in and out of Workday for food-related responsibilities.
Provide classroom coverage as needed and assist teachers with implementation of Bezos Academy performance standards, policies, and procedures.
Support day-to-day classroom operations, organize materials, and clean workspaces to facilitate children’s learning.
Support children’s independence with daily living skills and provide one-to-one support to children experiencing big feelings; develop positive relationships with children.
Assist the Head of School and school staff with other operational duties, such as laundry and front-desk support, when kitchen work is complete.
Participate in team meetings, center activities, and staff development.