Dietary & Food Service Aide I - (Per diem)

About the Role

This role focuses on support services functions, including dietary and food services, environmental services, general facilities, repair and maintenance, parking, sterilization, and transportation. The position primarily involves preparing and serving meals based on general or special diets, operating and maintaining kitchens, cafeterias, and counters, managing food inventories, scheduling vendor deliveries, food preparation, and menu planning while adhering to regulatory guidelines.

This position serves as a point of contact for daily operations of the Food and Nutrition Department, including catering, reservations, bookings, and other related services. The role involves working in various food preparation locations, including retail, patient, and catering operations, and encompasses all aspects of food services such as menu selection, food preparation, delivery, kitchen cleanliness, and sanitation.

This experienced staff member is trained in multiple areas within the department and may assist with training and informal supervision of less experienced staff.

Schedule

Per diem, varied 1st and 2nd shifts. Rotating weekends and holidays are required.

Location

MelroseWakefield Hospital - Dietary Call Center

Responsibilities

• Maintains and communicates accurate and updated diet order information to ensure patients receive appropriate meals, nourishments, and commercial enteral products.
• Elicits patient information regarding food preferences, intolerances, likes, and dislikes, and alerts the Clinical Dietitian to any nutritional problems.
• Assists patients with menu selection and writes/corrects regular and modified diets for patients.
• Ensures a high level of accuracy and appropriateness of patient trays, delivers trays to patients, and picks up trays from patients.
• Follows all precautions on patient units by donning and doffing PPE appropriately and performs hand hygiene according to standards.
• Prepares and places orders for food, paper, chemicals, office supplies, or equipment, and completes online ordering as required.
• Receives and coordinates special functions and participates in setup.
• Works with managers and supervises staff for menu planning and cleanup.
• Prepares weekly and monthly reports, including patient meals, floor stock, catering, free meals, requisitions, and inventory.
• Oversees food service staff, provides training assistance, leadership, and direction.
• Completes performance evaluations, test tray audits, and sanitation audits as assigned.
• Serves as a point of contact for the department and food-related services, communicating with internal and external clients, customers, and patients.
• May assist in coordinating projects, including preparing and maintaining project plans, budgets, and staffing requirements.
• Tracks progress and identifies resources, obstacles, and opportunities.
• Complies with all safety and risk management policies and procedures, participates in safety meetings and trainings, and reports accidents and injuries in a timely manner.
• Attends training programs (classroom and virtual) and adapts to changes, especially in crisis situations.

Requirements

• Food service experience.
• ServSafe certification within 6 months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• One (1) year in hospital food services.

Physical Requirements

• Standing and walking for 95% of the day.
• Straining and lifting approximately 30 lbs.
• Manual dexterity to handle money, work a cash register, and prepare food.
• Exposure to infectious diseases due to interacting with sick patients.
• Possible exposure to hazardous chemicals due to cleaning and sanitation.
• Exposure to heat, cold, steam, chemicals, and hot equipment.
• Frequent exposure to garbage and trash.

Skills & Abilities

• Understanding of HAACP food safety standards, including sanitary food handling principles to minimize foodborne illness.
• Good organizational and communication skills, both verbal and written in English.
• Good computer skills.
• Ability to perform cash handling.
• Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous tasks and prioritize according to established criteria and protocols.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and adaptability to changing deadlines.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to change.
• Ability to read recipes, interpret ingredient measurements, and determine appropriate amounts for ordering.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries.
• 403(b) retirement plan with company match.
• Free on-campus parking.

Pay

Pay Range: $17.00 - $19.09 per hour.

About MelroseWakefield Hospital

MelroseWakefield Hospital, part of the Tufts Medicine system, has been providing high-quality and accessible healthcare to the local community for over 130 years. With two hospital campuses, a Level III Trauma Center, Level III Special Care Nursery, Breast Health Center, Cardiovascular Center, and over 20 locations offering 50 specialties, MelroseWakefield Hospital offers many opportunities for career growth.

MelroseWakefield Hospital and Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford serve the north suburban Boston community with a focus on reducing health disparities through over 40 local health programs across a system of hospitals, urgent care locations, outpatient services, and community physicians.