Food Service Assistant

Job Summary

The Food Service Assistant supports the daily operation of the childcare center's nutrition program by preparing, serving, and maintaining healthy meals and snacks for infants, toddlers, preschool-age children, and school-age participants in afterschool and summer camp programs. This position ensures compliance with state licensing regulations, health and sanitation standards, food safety requirements, and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines. The Food Service Assistant works collaboratively with kitchen staff, teachers, and administration to provide nutritious meals in a safe, clean, and child-friendly environment.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Prepare menus in accordance with CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) guidelines, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) meal patterns, and Texas Child Care Licensing and Health Department regulations.
• Assist with cooking, serving, and cleaning duties.
• Ensure food is prepared, cooked, and served within appropriate guidelines.
• Store food in designated areas; distribute supplies, utensils, and portable equipment; keep work areas clean; and segregate and remove garbage to maintain quality.
• Avoid food waste and ensure efficient use of resources.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

• Learn and support the YWCA mission, vision, and policies to meet the goals of the organization without compromise.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in food service, catering and customer service.
• Any appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Present self professionally in appearance and mannerism at all times.
• Pass a criminal history background check and FBI fingerprint check.
• Maintain ServSafe certification.
• Self-starter, positive attitude, and good leadership skills.
• Good organizational and analytical skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with staff and public.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to operate standard kitchen equipment including but not limited to stove top, oven, mixer, etc.
• Ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide for computation in menus, recipes, and food service reports.
• Flexibility to work irregular hours from time to time, including evenings or weekends.
• Infrequent travel: 0-10 days/year.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly sit, stand, bend, crouch, stoop, walk, climb stairs, use hands and fingers, reach with hands and arms, feel, talk, hear, and see.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Work on foot for up to eight hours a day.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Work in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment.

Work Environment

• Noise level varies between moderate and loud.
• Pace varies between moderate and fast.