Akers Culinary Platform Attendant

Michigan State University; East Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

Michigan State University is seeking an Akers Culinary Platform Attendant to join Residential Dining. The role involves preparing, organizing, and supplying food across multiple stations, with emphasis on food safety and customer service.

You will work with a diverse team, handle station prep, ingredient weighing, portioning, and assisting cooks, with steady hours and opportunities to build foundational culinary skills. Evening shifts and on-site dining.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1 year full-time experience in food preparation recommended.
• Knowledge of kitchen safety practices.
• Ability to read weights and measures; weigh and measure ingredients.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers and fractions.
• Experience with various preparation methods (sautéing, frying, grilling, steaming).
• Ability to use knives and standard kitchen equipment.
• Occasional lifting of 26–75 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Set up, replenish, and maintain salad bars, hot/cold stations, and to-order service areas.
• Support cooks by combining ingredients, measuring portions, and assembling meals to order.
• Apply proper food handling, rotation, and storage techniques to prevent waste and spoilage.
• Serve meals directly to students, staff, and guests with a welcoming demeanor.
• Work with a diverse team to maintain dining hall operations.

Skills

Kitchen safety

Weights & measures

Arithmetic ability

Heavy lifting

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Working/Functional Title

Akers Culinary Platform Attendant

Position Summary

We offer a supportive, team-oriented kitchen culture that celebrates diversity and values your unique contributions. This position provides steady hours, a fast-paced and energetic work environment, and excellent opportunities to build foundational culinary skills. If you enjoy interacting with people, love great food, and want to be part of a welcoming team, this is the perfect place for you!

The Residential Dining Culinary Platform Assistant will prepare, organize, and supply food items across multiple dining stations, including salad bars, cold/hot stations, and to-order service areas. This role supports the culinary team by combining ingredients and portioning meals while ensuring the highest standards of food safety, waste reduction, and customer service. You will work within a diverse team environment and interact directly with our campus community daily.

Key Responsibilities

• Station Prep & Organization: Set up, replenish, and maintain salad bars, hot/cold stations, and to-order service areas.
• Culinary Assistance: Support cooks by combining ingredients, measuring portions, and assembling meals to order.
• Food Safety and Quality: Apply proper food handling, rotation, and storage techniques to eliminate waste and prevent spoilage.
• Customer Service: Serve meals directly to students, staff, and guests with a friendly and welcoming demeanor.
• Team Collaboration: Work effectively within a diverse workforce to maintain efficient dining hall operations.

All positions in RHS are designated as critical status. In the event of a university closure, modification, or suspension of operations due to snow or emergency condition, persons in this position are expected to make all reasonable attempts to report to work as scheduled for the duration of the closure/suspension. If a person has an approved remote work agreement to work a portion of their normally scheduled work hours remotely, they upon to work on-site to serve the MSU community.

Minimum Requirements

• Graduation from high school or equivalent combination of education and experience is necessary.
• One year of full-time experience in food preparation and use of kitchen equipment.
• Knowledge of kitchen safety practices.
• Ability to read weights and measures and the ability to weigh and measure ingredients.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers and fractions.
• Knowledge of various methods of food preparation including sautéing, display cooking, deep frying, grilling and steaming, etc.
• Ability to properly use knives and standard kitchen equipment.
• Ability and skill to prepare items utilizing proper methods and production timing to assure freshly cooked products are ready for continuous service.
• Occasional lifting of 26 to 75 pounds.

Desired Qualifications

Experience: One year of satisfactory food service experience, or an equivalent mix of education and training.

ProactiveApproach: Ability to anticipate changes in services needs and shifting customer demands.

Initiative: Skilled at taking independent action to solve problems before they accelerate.

Flexibility: Highly adaptable to changing tasks, fast-paced environments, and schedule needs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume

Work Hours

Monday 2:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Tuesday off, Wednesday through Friday 2:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 2:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., alternating weekends off.

Building Location

E AKERS HALL

Website

CAREERS.MSU.EDU

Summary of Physical Demands

Occasional lifting of 26 to 75 pounds.

Bidding eligibility ends October 20, 2026 at 11:55 P.M.