Food Service Assistant: Centralia, WA

Bezos Academy•Centralia, WA

9d•$19 - $28•Onsite

About The Position

The Food Service Assistant at Bezos Academy supports nutritious, compliant meal service at a Montessori-inspired preschool and assists with additional school operations and classroom tasks. The role takes ownership of kitchen and food operations, including meal preparation and service, food ordering and cost management, delivery verification, inventory, cleaning, safety, and documentation. Meals must comply with USDA requirements, Bezos Academy policies, and local childcare regulations. Depending on the school’s needs and whether food is prepared on-site or the school participates in CACFP, the position may include additional menu planning, meal-count, and recordkeeping duties. Outside the kitchen, the assistant may provide classroom coverage and support teachers and children, including helping with classroom routines and children’s daily living skills. The role also assists with other operational duties, participates in team meetings and staff development, and contributes to a positive preschool experience. This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week, benefits-eligible, non-exempt hourly position in Centralia, Washington. The schedule is an eight-hour shift, Monday through Friday, within a general school schedule of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; the specific schedule is set with the school leader. Compensation is $19–$28 per hour, approximately $39,000–$58,000 annually, with starting pay dependent on qualifications and experience. The role includes paid scheduled breaks and other paid leave, paid holidays, and benefits including medical, dental, vision, 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.

Requirements

Be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.
Pass background checks and complete all trainings required by the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families upon hire.
Know cooking methods and procedures, including different types of food preparation.
Be able to lift up to 50 pounds, stand for long periods, and perform repetitive tasks involved in safely preparing and serving food.
Have experience working in an institutional or highly regulated kitchen or food setting and a clear understanding of food-preparation best practices and protocols.
Hold an active, current food worker card.
Understand the Washington food and beverage worker manual.
Speak, read, and write English fluently.
Have basic proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within 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.
An 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 with the vendor based on student attendance trends and food-waste analysis.
Receive and verify food deliveries for accuracy and alignment with the approved menu; follow the Emergency Food SOP when meals are non-compliant.
Manage routine vendor performance to ensure expectations are met or exceeded.
Ensure meals served to students are compliant 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, serving utensils, cookware, and dishes.
Organize food inventory through labeling, dating, stock rotation, and disposal of 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.
Assist with meal service at family engagement and school events as needed.
When food is prepared on-site, order groceries, verify deliveries, prepare meals according to the planned menu and dietary restrictions, schedule meal preparation, adapt menus to reduce spoilage and waste, and help plan nutritious, budget-friendly, appealing menus.
At schools participating in CACFP, retain vendor delivery receipts for three years, ensure appropriate meal portions, communicate serving sizes to classroom staff, review and upload meal counts weekly, provide documentation for 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 implementing Bezos Academy performance standards, policies, and procedures.
Support classroom operations and routines, organize materials, and clean workspaces to facilitate children’s learning.
Support children’s independence with daily living skills, provide one-to-one support to children experiencing big feelings, and develop positive relationships with children.
Assist the Head of School and staff with other operational duties as necessary, such as laundry and front-desk support.
Participate in team meetings, center activities, and staff development.