Kitchen Assistant

Douglas County School District•Lone Tree, CO

9d•$17 - $27•Onsite

About The Position

The Kitchen Assistant provides assistance in the daily preparation of the school lunch program and helps develop and promote good community relations among community members and school clientele. The position assists with meal preparation, service, and sales while following department regulations, standard recipes, portion sizes, verbal instructions, and food-safety requirements. The role is based at Lone Tree Elementary and may require travel to multiple schools based on site needs. The schedule is 30 hours per week, 0.75 FTE, for approximately 172 work days per year. The position is regular and is open until filled, but not past January 27, 2027. The work involves frequent standing and walking (95% of the work day), as well as reaching, lifting items weighing 40 pounds or less, bending, kneeling, stooping, squatting, climbing, pushing, twisting, and pulling. Occasional overhead lifting and climbing or balancing on a step stool are required. Repetitive tasks include lifting, keypad entry, chopping, filling and sealing packaging, and making fast repeated movements with the fingers, hands, and wrists. The employee uses both hands to grasp, grip, move, or operate objects and equipment. The position requires a high school education or equivalent. The listed hourly minimum and maximum hire rates are $17.39 and $22.14; the full salary range is $17.39 to $26.89 per hour, based on a full-time 1.0 FTE. Part-time salaries are prorated according to assigned FTE.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders to support positive outcomes.
Effective oral and written communication skills in English.
Ability to read and comprehend written, graphic, and oral instructions.
Generally positive attitude.
Ability to observe District policies and procedures.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Ability to work pleasantly and cooperatively with a wide variety of people, learn new concepts, and adapt to varied assignments and conditions.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of student information.
Ability to meet the position's physical requirements, including frequent standing or walking, lifting items weighing 40 pounds or less, and repetitive hand and wrist motions.

Responsibilities

Assist with setting up and cleaning serving areas to support timely student service, including dishwashing and sanitizing workstations.
Follow and understand HACCP standards; use kitchen equipment properly, clean it correctly, and follow safety precautions.
Serve meals while complying with school food regulations and health department sanitation standards; take and record food cooking and serving temperatures as required by HACCP standards.
Follow menu and recipe instructions independently and meet requirements for food preparation, temperatures, appearance, and portion sizes.
Assist with unloading and properly storing delivered food items.
Learn and operate the Point of Sale system and reconcile daily monies for accuracy.
Build positive relationships with Nutrition Services staff, school staff, students, parents, and the surrounding community, providing customer-focused service.
Communicate effectively in writing and verbally, including through email and computers, and maintain confidentiality of student information.
Participate in training, including PGI Classes; may lead training for other kitchen staff; complete required annual USDA Mandatory Professional Standards training hours; and pursue regulatory updates and sustainable solutions.
Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
Travel to multiple schools when requested based on site needs and maintain schedule flexibility to meet kitchen demands.
Assist in preparing, serving, and selling meals in compliance with department regulations, including washing, cleaning, peeling, cutting, and chopping fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat items; follow standard recipes, portion sizes, and verbal instructions.