Sr. Food Service Worker (On-site)
Hiring range: Step 1: $26.69 - Step 10: $31.89 per hour. The salary the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $27.22/hr.
This posting will remain open until filled with initial applicant review expected on or around September 8, 2026.
This position is fully on-site.
About UC Merced
The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system's 10 campuses and one of the youngest universities to be designated an R1 research university. With approximately 9,100 undergraduate and graduate students, UC Merced is a smaller, more intimate campus compared to its sister campuses, while equipped and staffed as a cutting-edge, 21st-century research institution. Offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, UC Merced has strong research and academic partnerships and a growing community in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley.
Ranked in the top 30 among the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and #1 for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal, UC Merced provides world-class educational opportunities to dynamic and enterprising students. In partnership with UC San Francisco, UC Merced has launched a rigorous medical education program to supply the Valley with culturally competent providers dedicated to improving local access to quality care. The campus enjoys a special connection with nearby Yosemite National Park, leads in sustainability in construction and design, and accelerates economic development in the region.
About the Role
Under supervision, incumbents perform semi-skilled food preparation, serving, and general maintenance duties in a kitchen or dining area. The Senior Food Service Worker may serve in a lead capacity over a small group of Food Service Workers (typically fewer than 5 full-time-equivalent employees). This role requires previous experience or training in food preparation, serving, and general maintenance, along with greater knowledge of the complexities of the area serviced.
Responsibilities
- Food Service Preparation, Service, Cleaning, and Stocking
- Serve food on a cafeteria steam line or in a dining area with portion control responsibility.
- Prepare desserts and/or salads for cafeteria or dining room service.
- Perform cold food preparation, including cutting, slicing, chopping, peeling, and assembling sandwiches, salads, and express-to-go meals.
- Perform hot food preparation, including reheating, baking, steaming, and roasting.
- Assemble and heat food as requested by customer orders or production needs using various kitchen equipment.
- Prepare dressings, soups, sauces, gravies, salads, and desserts.
- Work with perishable products, inspecting for freshness and safety during production, service, and storage.
- Adjust refrigeration and heating techniques to ensure products remain safe for consumption; identify problem areas and report to supervisor.
- In a diet kitchen, prepare special orders under close supervision of a dietitian.
- Prepare food items for catered events or special meals, ensuring client needs are met.
- Perform general maintenance duties, including washing and restocking pots, pans, food preparation bowls, and dishes following HACCP guidelines.
- Perform a full range of kitchen cleaning and organizing tasks, including sweeping, mopping, dusting, polishing silverware, vacuuming, and washing equipment and dishes.
- Stock front and back of the house; execute dining room attendant duties as assigned.
- Bus dishes, food, and trash byproducts from the dining area.
- Clean and sanitize tables.
- Supervise Food Service Workers in food preparation and maintenance of sanitation and safety standards.
- Provide training and support to less experienced staff; guide, delegate, and assign tasks to student assistants.
- Maintain general security of unit food, equipment, and supplies.
- Serve on interview committees as needed.
- Ensure standards for freshness and quality of product are consistently met.
- Assure appropriate use of cleaning agents by food service and/or student staff.
- Assist in assigning specific jobs to staff throughout the shift to meet multiple deadlines.
- Safety and Sanitation
- Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Keep work area clean and debris-free; identify and correct hazards.
- Set up and clean equipment, work tables, sinks, and drains in kitchen areas at the beginning and end of shifts.
- Ensure compliance with State and Federal Sanitation Guidelines.
- Use appropriate cleaning agents for general kitchen maintenance; notify management of maintenance problems.
- Safely use, assemble, disassemble, and train others to use kitchen equipment following University Dining Services standards.
- Ensure food quality and safety guidelines are maintained to achieve high public health standards and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
- Record daily HACCP time and temperature logs.
- Adhere to HACCP guidelines to ensure continued compliance with State and Federal Sanitation Guidelines.
- Monitor kitchen facilities, property, and staff for safety and security in conjunction with Unit Management.
- Oversee staff in utilizing appropriate cleaning agents for assigned jobs.
- Scrape out containers, repurpose leftovers/scraps (e.g., for soup), and follow production flow plans.
- Wash pots, pans, food preparation bowls, and dishes.
- Perform a full range of kitchen cleaning tasks, including sweeping, mopping, and polishing silverware.
- Sustainability
- Sort waste for recycling and pre/post-consumer composting.
- Share sustainability knowledge with staff.
- Maintain security of unit equipment and supplies.
- Empty trash and recycling receptacles.
- Maintain adequate supply closets.
- Customer Service and Professional Communication
- Interact with internal and external customers by demonstrating professionalism, enthusiasm, and integrity.
- Convey a welcoming attitude; greet customers and interact pleasantly.
- Anticipate customer needs and display a positive demeanor.
- Participate in production and unit/departmental meetings, workshops, and conferences.
- Ensure a positive guest experience by accommodating special requests and making suggestions.
- Listen carefully to customer concerns/questions and respond appropriately.
- Act professionally, ensuring tone, body language, and attentiveness reflect a high level of helpfulness and commitment.
- Encourage collaboration and problem-solving with co-workers.
Requirements
- High School Diploma, General Equivalency Degree (GED), or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) or equivalent.
- Six months of experience in food preparation and general maintenance in a kitchen or dining area; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Previous Food Handler Certification (preferred).
Skills
- Experience following production schedules within specified timelines.
- Customer service experience to cooperate with the public and staff, conveying a helpful, positive attitude.
- Skill in using proper tools or materials to perform a full range of general kitchen cleaning tasks.
- Experience using standard industrial custodial and kitchen cleaning equipment.
- Knowledge to maintain a sanitary, safe, and organized personal work area using specified cleaning materials and solutions.
- Skill in guiding a wide range of tasks for student assistants and kitchen support staff.
- Skill in differentiating products' composition, biodegradability, nutrition, etc.
- Interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with and provide excellent customer service to a diverse campus community.
- Problem-solving skills to troubleshoot issues, find alternate solutions, and implement them efficiently.
- Knowledge of proper procedures for lifting, handling broken glass, and using wet floor signs when mopping or cleaning spills.
- Skill in verifying proper concentration of sanitized solution using test strips.
- Successful completion of a certified, company-approved program in Sanitation/Food Borne Illness prevention within 90 days of hire.
A background check is required for this position.