Operations Associate

About the role

The Operations Associate provides hands-on operational support with primary responsibility for daily food and nutrition operations at the Damar East campus, including food preparation, reheating, portioning, meal service, special diets, sanitation, and required documentation. This role is part of Damar East's integrated operations team, supporting environmental services, facility readiness, inventory, and basic maintenance coordination as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Performs assigned food preparation, cooking, reheating, holding, portioning, and meal service duties according to approved menus, recipes, production records, meal counts, diet instructions, and supervisor direction.
• Reviews meal counts and production information to ensure adequate and accurate preparation of meals, snacks, beverages, and supplemental items.
• Safely and accurately prepares regular meals, special diets, texture-modified meals, allergen-controlled meals, and medically tailored meals.
• Verifies food quality, portion size, temperature, appearance, and accuracy before meals are served or distributed.
• Aids in receiving, loading, unloading, organizing, transporting, and distributing food, meal carts, snacks, beverages, and operational supplies.
• Maintains safe food temperatures during receiving, storage, preparation, holding, transport, and service.
• Completes required records, including temperature logs, production records, cleaning records, receiving records, inventory sheets, and meal-count documentation.
• Limits, dates, stores, rotates, and disposes of food and supplies according to established procedures and FIFO practices.
• Cleans and sanitizes equipment, utensils, preparation surfaces, carts, service areas, floors, storage areas, and other assigned spaces.
• Fulfills established requirements for food safety, sanitation, handwashing, personal hygiene, allergen control, chemical use, and cross-contamination prevention.
• Assists with opening, closing, end-of-shift cleaning, and preparation for future meal service.
• Monitors food, beverage, paper, cleaning, and operational supplies and communicates shortages, damaged products, or ordering needs to the Operations Manager.
• Supports room setup, breakdown, supply distribution, and operational preparation for meetings, client activities, special events, and campus programs.
• Cross-trains and assists with foodservice, environmental services, stocking, delivery, campus-readiness, and other operational assignments based on daily needs.
• Works collaboratively and interacts respectfully and professionally with clients, families, staff, visitors, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Attends required meetings and training, completes incident reporting and mandatory documentation, and follows all Damar policies and safety expectations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Prior experience in a commercial or institutional kitchen strongly preferred.
• Experience with food preparation, meal service, sanitation, inventory management, receiving, and recordkeeping preferred.
• Experience with special diets, allergen awareness, food safety, and regulatory requirements preferred.
• Experience supporting environmental services, housekeeping, facility readiness, or basic maintenance coordination preferred.
• Experience working in a healthcare, residential, school, behavioral health, or human services environment preferred.
• ServSafe certification required or must be obtained within 18 months of hire.
• Must complete required training in food safety, sanitation, allergen awareness, special diets, cleaning procedures, and chemical safety.
• Maintain all required continuing education, certifications, and department-related training requirements as applicable.

Qualifications

• Ability to pass and maintain CPR Certification.
• Minimum age of 21 per licensure requirements.
• Must meet and maintain background screening requirements for all Damar programs as detailed in policy 1.HR.02 Pre-Employment and Employee Background Checks.

Benefits

• Eligible for the Damar Advantage including discounts at Damar Health Services and Damar Pharmacy.
• Comprehensive training in verbal intervention and physical management techniques.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance options.
• Up to $3,000 per year in Tuition Assistance.
• Save for your retirement with our 401(k) Plan.
• Participation in Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance options.
• Paid Holidays to spend time with loved ones.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) for rest and renewal.

Skills

• Food preparation and service skills.
• Sanitation and safety protocols.
• Inventory management and recordkeeping.
• Special diets and allergen awareness.
• Facility readiness and maintenance coordination.
• Collaborative and professional communication skills.

Benefits

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance options.
• Paid Holidays to spend time with loved ones.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) for rest and renewal.