Room Service Assistant - Room Service

About the role

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a leading institution focused on cancer care, research, education, and prevention. The Room Service Assistant plays an important role in supporting patient nutrition services and ensuring a positive dining experience for patients, customers, and guests. The Room Service Assistant serves as a key point of contact for meal ordering, nutrition support, and customer service. At UT MD Anderson, the Room Service Assistant helps deliver high-quality nutrition services through accurate meal ordering, compliance with prescribed diets, and collaboration with clinical and food service teams. The Room Service Assistant supports patient care by maintaining operational readiness, ensuring food safety standards, and contributing to an exceptional service experience. The Room Service Assistant also assists with meal production, documentation, and communication processes that support daily operations. The ideal candidate has experience supporting customer service, food service, nutrition operations, or healthcare environments. Candidates should be able to accurately document information, communicate effectively with patients and colleagues, work efficiently with computerized systems, and maintain high standards of food safety, confidentiality, and service excellence.

Responsibilities

Meal Ordering, Alternate Nutrition & Snack Production

• Answer patient and customer meal order calls promptly and professionally following departmental procedures and productivity standards
• Enter meal selections accurately into the menu management system while ensuring compliance with prescribed diet orders and preferences
• Communicate unavailable menu items, dietary restrictions, portion limits, and delivery schedules while providing compliant alternatives
• Confirm orders and provide a consistently friendly, service-oriented experience
• Assist patients and customers with meal selections that align with diet prescriptions, allergies, and preferences
• Assess patients' and customers' ability to place orders and escalate questions or concerns to managers and leads as appropriate
• Monitor and restock snacks, nutrition supplements, enteral feeding supplies, and nursing stock preparation areas
• Receive and verify deliveries and ensure proper storage of nutrition supplements and snacks
• Prepare unit snacks, oral nutrition supplements, enteral feedings, and labels according to established processes, diet prescriptions, and customer orders
• Maintain safety, sanitation, and quality standards in food and formulary preparation areas

Documentation, Systems & Operational Support

• Generate and modify customer, catering, and patient menus for individuals requiring modified diets
• Accurately document and update food intake records, physician orders, patient data, and food service information within menu management, catering, and point-of-sale systems
• Reconcile patient and customer information between the menu management system, Electronic Medical Record systems, and related platforms
• Clarify and resolve data discrepancies to maintain accurate records
• Operate and troubleshoot Voice Over Internet Protocol communication systems to support efficient operations
• Generate reports from menu management, catering, and point-of-sale systems as assigned

Customer Service & Human Experience

• Ensure all orders comply with prescribed diets while meeting patient, customer, and guest preferences
• Provide courteous, timely, and professional service to patients, customers, guests, and colleagues
• Model UT MD Anderson Core Values and Standards of Conduct in every interaction
• Proactively communicate and anticipate service needs related to patient care and operational procedures
• Utilize the HEAL (Hear, Empathize, Address, Learn) framework to resolve service concerns and restore trust
• Report patient, customer, guest, and colleague concerns or safety issues appropriately and promptly
• Maintain strict confidentiality of patient information in accordance with regulatory and institutional requirements

Kitchen & Line Support

• Serve as line starter to facilitate efficient order workflow and meal assembly
• Assist with meal staging to support timely meal delivery
• Collaborate with kitchen staff to resolve meal discrepancies and ensure service accuracy

Additional Duties

• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Preferred: Associate's Degree in Communication, Nutrition or related field

Work Experience

• Required: One year experience in a high volume call center, telephone communications, hospitality, nutrition or food service
• Required: No experience required with Associate's degree
• Successful completion of the MD Anderson apprenticeship program or 9 months completion of the program can be substituted for a maximum of one year of experience

Licenses and Certifications

• Required: Food Handlers Card State of Texas within 30 days

Other Requirements

• Must pass pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources

Benefits

Join UT MD Anderson and contribute directly to an organization dedicated to ending cancer. This role supports patient care by ensuring individuals receive meals that meet their nutritional needs, preferences, and prescribed diets while providing outstanding service. Team members have opportunities to develop customer service, healthcare, nutrition support, and operational skills in a mission-driven environment that values professional growth and work-life balance.

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs

Pay

Minimum Salary: USD 40,000 | Midpoint Salary: USD 46,000 | Maximum Salary: USD 52,000. FLSA: non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay.

Schedule

The typical work schedule varies based on operational needs. Candidates must be available Monday through Friday and participate in a rotating weekend and holiday schedule (there is not a set shift). Shift hours: 6:15am – 11:15am. Work location: Onsite. Work week includes day/evening and weekends.

Requisition ID: 183591 | Employment Status: Part-Time, Benefits Eligible, Regular | Fund Type: Hard | Pivotal Position: No | Referral Bonus: No | Relocation Assistance: No