Production Assistant - Central Kitchen (2025-26)

Oakland Unified School District•Oakland, CA

67d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, prepares, dispenses, and packages large quantities of prepared foods in a central kitchen facility for distribution and transport to school site kitchens and cafeterias or other building where meal services take place meeting mandated Local, State and Federal nutritional requirements and are prepared in compliance with health and safety regulations.

Requirements

Federal, state and local codes and regulations governing food handling and public nutrition services
Standard institutional food preparation equipment, techniques, and practices and knife skills
Safety and sanitation practices for food preparation, distribution and storage, and HACCP procedures
Methods, materials, and practices of high volume food preparation
Personal sanitation and hygiene regulations
Principles of record keeping and records management
Principles and practices of effective customer service
Environmentally responsible and resource-efficient food preparation
Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary and punctuation
Prepare ingredients and package foods while following health code and safety guidelines
Prioritize multiple tasks and demands and work with frequent interruptions
Read, follow and scale recipes and follow established SOPs
Perform general math calculations, and inventory and records management tasks
Review operations, identify potential food safety hazards, and verify OUSD compliance with Local, State and Federal regulations
Follow verbal and written instructions and procedures
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and clients
Promote and enforce safe work practices, and report unsafe work environments and practices
Communicate effectively verbally and in writing
Communicate, interact and work effectively and cooperatively with people of diverse ethnic, race, learning or other disabilities, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender, socio-economic group, sexuality or other orientations or cultural markers and educational backgrounds.
Work independently and/or with a team of other people
High School Diploma or GED equivalent required
One (1) year food handling experience
Valid Serve Safe Food Safety Certificate
Valid California Driver's License

Responsibilities

Perform food preparation tasks according to planned production menus and schedule; prepare and handle fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins for student nutrition programs that meet the mandated nutritional requirements, including, but not limited to: washing, peeling, cutting and preparing all ingredients, portioning and packaging ingredients, meals, and meal components.
Follow established standard operating procedures (SOPs), maintain all food quality standards, adhere to recipes, portion control, and food safety and sanitation standards and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedures.
Ensure compliance with all OUSD, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State of California Departments of Education and Health, Child Nutrition program, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) procedures, policies and standards.
Operate and use standard commercial kitchen equipment and utensils, such as transport baskets, scales, label makers, overwrap and/or heat seal machines to support packaging of food.
Measure, mix, wash, peel, cut, or shred, meats, fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients.
Inspect food items for the purpose of verifying quantity, quality, and specifications of orders to meet preparation needs and comply with mandated health and food safety standards.
Participate in set-up and break-down of packaging equipment, including cleaning and sanitizing of all equipment.
Clean and maintain equipment and food preparation and storage areas in sanitary conditions to meet mandated health standards.
Work at school site kitchens or cafeterias when assigned.
Report equipment needs and malfunction to the appropriate supervisor.
Perform work within scope of authority and training, and in compliance with OUSD policies and quality standards.
Demonstrate courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with students, clients, visitors, and OUSD staff; act in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace environment.
Promote the Superintendent's goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures.
Maintain confidentiality issues, records and OUSD information.
Perform other related duties as required.