School Nutrition Assistant Maple Grove Middle

Osseo Ind School District 279•Maple Grove, MN

About The Position

The School Nutrition Assistant assists in preparing and serving quality, nutritious meals to students and staff and contributes to a positive kitchen team. The role supports the school meal program, including breakfast, lunch, and special events and programs, and helps provide timely meal service despite challenges involving food, equipment, or staffing. The position supports food preparation, equipment use, sanitation, inventory, and meal production documentation. It follows food safety, USDA and MDE meal pattern, local and district health, and uniform and hygiene requirements. The assistant also collaborates with nutrition staff, school staff, families, students, and community members to build positive relationships, respond to concerns, and help maintain a safe and welcoming work environment.

Requirements

Ability to interact positively and build relationships with stakeholders.
Ability to use commercial kitchen equipment properly and minimize accident, safety, and sanitation concerns.
Ability to move quickly and adapt to changing needs.
Attention to detail.
Ability to make quick, logical, and decisive decisions as daily challenges arise.
Ability to create a safe and caring work environment where staff feel welcome and valued.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to understand and follow Nutrition Services processes, including standardized recipes, labels, safety data sheets, and cooking and cleaning procedures.

Responsibilities

Assist with breakfast, lunch, and special meal events and programs, including the Fruit and Vegetable Grant, After School Snack Program, Dinner Program, and Summer Programs.
Help serve quality meals on time, including when food, equipment, or staffing challenges arise.
Assist with determining and ordering appropriate quantities of food and supplies as needed.
Prepare and serve meals, wash dishes, and clean equipment and facilities as needed.
Follow proper safety procedures for food service equipment and assist with training others in its use.
Help calculate daily food preparation quantities while minimizing food waste.
Use standardized recipes and assist with training staff in their use to ensure food safety and USDA requirements are met.
Maintain temperature logs when necessary.
Follow proper receiving and storage procedures and current sanitation guidelines.
Support department continuous improvement goals.
Provide the manager with accurate and complete daily menu and food production records.
Collaborate with nutrition staff, building staff, and community members.
Respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner and work proactively with others to find solutions.
Connect with students, seek their input, and build positive relationships with students, families, staff, and community members.
Follow USDA and MDE meal pattern regulations and local and district health and safety codes.
Complete annual health and safety training and follow uniform and personal hygiene procedures.
Help pass bi-annual health inspections.