Food Service Worker - Gardner School Nutrition

Whitsons Culinary Group•Gardner, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Food Service Worker prepares, portions, and serves meals to students and staff, helping provide a positive and welcoming mealtime experience. The role includes setting up and cleaning serving stations and kitchen areas, following food safety and sanitation procedures, and working cooperatively with the kitchen team to meet daily service goals. This is a site-based, non-exempt position. Workdays and hours align with the facility’s food service schedule. The posting describes family-friendly school-day hours, with no nights or weekends and weekends, evenings, holidays, and summers off; it also notes that occasional extended hours may be required for special events or operational needs. Occasional travel to other locations may be required for substitute coverage or support. The position operates primarily in a kitchen and food service production environment. Standing is required for most of the workday, and the noise level may be moderate to loud during meal service. The worker must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and may be exposed to hot and cold temperatures from cooking and refrigeration equipment. Whitsons offers competitive pay of $17 per hour, opportunities for growth, medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefits, and paid time off. No experience is required, and training is provided; one year of professional food service experience and ServSafe certification are preferred but not required.

Requirements

Complete all required Whitsons and government-mandated training.
Ability to speak and read English sufficiently to understand and perform job assignments, follow recipes, and comply with safety requirements.
Ability to work effectively as part of a food service team in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
Positive and professional manner, reliability, and attention to cleanliness.
Ability to stand for most of the workday; frequently walk, talk, hear, handle food, tools, and equipment, and reach with hands and arms.
Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, including while turning side to side.
Ability to work around hot and cold temperatures and move in and out of storerooms and near freezers.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of professional food service experience; preferred but not required.
ServSafe certification; preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Prepare, portion, and serve meals to students and staff.
Set up and clean serving stations and kitchen areas.
Follow food safety, sanitation, and applicable regulatory standards, and maintain accurate logs and documentation.
Complete food preparation, service, and sanitation tasks accurately and on time while following portion and production standards.
Monitor portions and temperatures, set up stations, maintain records, and ensure stations are stocked, clean, and properly maintained.
Serve guests in a friendly and professional manner and maintain a welcoming, clean station.
Work cooperatively with the Chef Manager, Lead Cook, and fellow food service workers to support daily service goals.
Follow assigned schedules and break rotations, and maintain appropriate dress and hygiene standards.