Café Associate (Full Time)

Position Overview & General Responsibilities

The Café Associate is a full-time, multi-functional role on the dining services team. This position combines light cooking duties, food preparation, the ability to provide top-notch customer service duties. This position supports daily café operations by preparing fresh food items, assisting residents and guests with dine-in and take-out orders, and ensuring a welcoming experience to all who enter.

Food Preparation & Cooking

• Prepare fresh breakfast items and café menu offerings in accordance with established recipes, production sheets, and food safety standards
• Aid with light prep duties
• Prepare, package, label, and date items for the grab-and-go refrigerator (e.g., sandwiches, salads, snacks)
• Aid with basic cooking, warming, plating, and portioning of food items for service
• Read and follow instructions related to recipes
• Ensure proper food temperatures are maintained during preparation and service
• Properly store, cover, label, date, rotate, and discard food items in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Greet residents and guests warmly and provide friendly, attentive service
• Maintain knowledge of daily specials and menu offerings
• Serve food to residents and guests dining in the café
• Take phone and in-person orders accurately and efficiently
• Answer basic menu questions and accommodate reasonable dietary needs and preferences
• Collaborate with kitchen and dining team members to support smooth daily operations
• Comfortable operating cashless operation (card-based payments + resident accounts) for food and beverage purchases. Accurately handle credit, and account charges
• Bus and reset tables and prepare dining and service areas for the next shift
• Operate equipment such as dishwashers, microwaves, griddles, toasters, and garbage disposals as needed
• Stock food and supplies using First-In, First-Out (FIFO) method
• Check labeling, expiration dates, and food quality by the end of each shift
• Assist with stocking café displays, supplies, and delivered food items
• Demonstrate proper personal hygiene practices in compliance with company policies, food safety standards, and Federal/State regulations.
• Follow proper sanitation, handwashing, and hygiene standards at all times
• Clean and sanitize food preparation and service areas; properly store cleaning chemicals and sanitizing solutions
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary café, kitchen, dining, and service areas
• Collaborate with kitchen and dining team members to support smooth daily operations
• Assist in training new employees as assigned
• Work special functions and events as needed
• Maintain required licensure or certifications in accordance with company policy and regulatory standards
• Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and safety guidelines
• Attend required in-services, training sessions, and meetings
• Demonstrate dependability, reliability, and punctuality
• Perform other duties as assigned

Physical & Environmental Considerations

• This job operates in a kitchen or dining environment, housed with equipment such as an oven, stove, dishwasher, slicer, coffee machine, steamer, mixer and chef’s knives.
• The employee is frequently exposed to heat, steam, fire and noise.
• Work assignments and schedules are based on resident needs and staffing requirements and may be changed as needed.
• Weekend/holiday work schedules are part of regular scheduling.
• Overtime may be required as needed.

Wage and Salary Description

$13.00 - $18.49/hr