Food Service Specialist - IDEA Rundberg (Immediate Opening)

IDEA Public Schools • Austin, TX

11d • $16 - $19

About The Position

The Food Service Specialist ensures appropriate quantities of food are prepared, portioned, and served to IDEA students. The role includes preparing fruits and vegetables, following recipes and kitchen processes, monitoring students during meal periods, and completing kitchen cleaning duties. The specialist contributes to cooking, cleaning, restocking, and resetting the kitchen for the next day, and may shift quickly between serving food and washing dishes. The position requires moving cafeteria tables daily because the cafeteria is a shared gymnasium space, as well as disposing of garbage.

The role follows the academic calendar, which includes extended periods with limited work during school breaks. On regular school days, the schedule is eight hours per day; some overtime may be needed, and Saturday work may be required depending on the campus. Compensation is hourly, ranging from $16.22 for 0 years of experience to $18.66, with eligibility for a performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.

IDEA Public Schools is a multi-state network of tuition-free Pre-K–12 public charter schools. The organization serves over 80,000 students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, and Ohio and is committed to helping students get to and through college. IDEA describes its workplace as an IDEA Team and Family and emphasizes accountability, action, adaptability, feedback, collaboration, professionalism, and belonging.

Requirements

• At least 1 year of experience in a job involving physical activity or being on one's feet for multiple hours per day.
• Ability to understand food recipes, safe food handling, and sanitation practices.
• Working knowledge of kitchen and food production procedures, or ability to learn them quickly.
• Ability to operate kitchen equipment, tools, and utensils.
• Basic math skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure in a team setting.
• Ability to lift, bend, pull, push, twist, and walk; must meet the physical demands of the job.
• Ability to work around or with an academic calendar, including extended periods with limited work during school breaks.
• Ability to work eight hours per day on regular school days; some overtime may be needed and Saturday work may be required depending on campus.
• Interest or passion for working with food.
• Ability to provide service to students and take direction and feedback well.

Nice To Haves

• High school diploma.
• Food Handler’s Permit (City or County).

Responsibilities

• Prepare, portion, and serve appropriate quantities of food to students.
• Cut and chop fruits and vegetables, follow recipes, and adhere to kitchen processes.
• Monitor students during meal periods, including encouraging consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables and preventing food sharing.
• Cook, clean, restock, and reset the kitchen for the next day.
• Perform kitchen cleaning duties, including sweeping, mopping, wiping tables, washing dishes, and disposing of trash.
• Move cafeteria tables daily due to the shared cafeteria and gymnasium space.
• Use basic math to portion food items into small trays.
• Operate kitchen equipment such as ovens, slicers, and steamers.
• Adapt to changing tasks, including moving between food service and dishwashing.
• Take direction and feedback, reflect on performance, and correct mistakes.

Benefits

• Performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.
• Medical plan with the majority of the employee premium covered and most costs for spouse/domestic partner and children subsidized.
• Paid family leave of up to 8 weeks for eligible staff following birth or adoption, based on tenure and caregiver designation.
• Tuition reimbursement of up to 50% of qualifying tuition costs, capped at $5,250 per year and subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
• Employer-paid mental and behavioral health services, including five face-to-face counseling sessions per year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services.
• Dental and vision plans.
• Disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Parenting benefits.
• Vacation time.
• Referral bonuses.
• Professional development.
• Relocation allowance may be offered if applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed