Cafeteria Aide

The Lowell General Hospital; Lowell (MA); On-site; USD 23,419 - 26,174; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-campus parking

Tuition reimbursement

Guaranteed hours & set schedule

Job summary

The Lowell General Hospital is seeking a dedicated food service team member to support patient meals, menu selection, and delivery across hospital units. This role emphasizes accurate diet orders and tray assembly, with attention to sanitary standards and customer service in a fast-paced hospital setting.

Responsibilities include assisting with diets, delivering trays, stocking pantries, and maintaining logs.

Qualifications

• Food service experience.
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• One year in hospital food services.

Responsibilities

• Maintains and communicates accurate and updated diet order information through the system to ensure patients receive appropriate meals.
• Delivers trays to patients and collects trays from patients.
• Assists patients with menu selection and writes and corrects regular and modified diets.
• Stocks nursing unit pantries with nourishment and dietary supplies, utilizing first‑in, first‑out system.
• Maintains accurate sanitation and temperature logs in work area according to regulatory requirements.
• Remains mindful of PPE usage and hand hygiene standards on patient units.

Skills

Food service experience

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

One year in hospital food services

Job description

Job Profile Summary

Tufts Medicine is a leading integrated health system bringing together the best of academic and community health care to deliver exceptional, connected and accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts. Comprised of Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, Melrose/Wakefield Healthcare, an expansive home‑care network and a large clinically integrated physician network, Tufts Medicine has more than 15,000 dedicated employees and caregivers.

Job Overview

This role focuses on activities related to support services functions, such as dietary and food services, environmental services, general facilities, repair and maintenance, parking, sterilization and transportation to ensure all required support activities are completed in a timely manner and meet the organization’s quality standards and expectations. Under general supervision, this position works in any location where food is prepared—including retail, patient and catering operations—and is involved in all aspects of food services, including assisting with menu selection, food preparation, food delivery, kitchen cleanliness and sanitation. A majority of the time is spent in the delivery of support services or activities, typically under supervision.

What We Offer

Competitive salaries & benefits that start on day one, 403(b) retirement with company match, tuition reimbursement, free on‑campus parking, career growth opportunities, guaranteed hours and a set schedule.

Location & Hours

Location: Lowell General Hospital – 295 Varnum Avenue – Lowell, MA.

Hours: 40 hours per week, between 6:30am and 8:30pm. Every other weekend (Saturday/Sunday) and every other holiday are required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Food service experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• One year in hospital food services.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains and communicates accurate and updated diet order information through the system to ensure patients receive appropriate meals, nourishment, and commercial enteral products in accordance with current diet order.
• Elicits patient information regarding food preferences, intolerances, likes and dislikes; alerts the Clinical Dietitian to any actual or potential nutritional problems of patients.
• Assists patients with menu selection and writes and corrects regular and assigned modified diets for patients; maintains a high level of accuracy and appropriateness of patient trays.
• Delivers trays to patients and collects trays from patients.
• Follows all precautions on patient units by donning and doffing PPE appropriately; performs hand hygiene according to standards.
• Stocks nursing unit pantries with nourishment and dietary supplies, utilizing first‑in, first‑out system.
• Ensures accurate tray assembly on patient tray line; prepares normal menu items, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and special items.
• Operates a variety of kitchen utensils to weigh, measure, mix, wash, peel, cut, grind, stir, strain, season, and knead food items for cooking, serving and storing.
• Assists in the preparation of hot and/or cold foods, and properly stores food, utilizing knowledge of temperature requirements and spoilage.
• Maintains accurate sanitation and temperature logs in work area according to regulatory requirements.
• Assists with setup, stocking, serving and delivering of food from counters, steam tables and work stations.
• Responsible for cleaning and sanitizing dishware, equipment and work stations; strips, sanitizes, stacks, packs patients’ trays and utensils in dish room; reassembles tray line; cleans and sanitizes pots, utensils, equipment, floors, walls and dish machine.
• Removes trash from assigned workstation or kitchen to specified area; returns empty bottles and cans to recycle bin in receiving/loading dock area; removes crushed cardboard to designated areas.
• Maintains collaborative, team relationships with peers and colleagues to effectively contribute to the working group’s achievement of goals, helping to foster a positive work environment.
• May prepare special nutritional products such as infant formulas, modular tube feedings, or powdered nutritionals for high‑risk adult patients.
• May operate a cash register (or equivalent), receiving payments of cash, checks and charges from customers or employees for goods or services, making change and issuing receipts or tickets.

Physical Requirements

• Standing and walking for 95% of the day, straining and lifting approximately 30lbs, pushing loaded carts (approximately 400lbs).
• Requires manual dexterity to handle money, work cash register, prepare food.
• Exposure to infectious diseases due to interacting with sick patients.
• Possible exposure to hazardous chemicals due to cleaning and sanitation.
• Requires ability to hear phoned patient orders, supervisor instructions.
• Exposure to heat, cold, steam, chemicals and hot equipment.
• Frequent exposure to garbage and trash.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to read, write, and understand written instructions.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to interact with patients, patient care team and employees.
• Familiarity with therapeutic diets.
• Knowledge of sterile food handling techniques.
• Ability to operate simple mechanical devices such as coffee urn, dish machine, slicer, trash compactor.
• Ability to use a knife for slicing, cutting, dicing.

About Lowell General

For more than 125 years, Lowell General has served the Greater Lowell community with pride. We balance the first‑rate care of a premier medical center with the warmth of a four‑time Magnet‑recognized community hospital. As a member of our team, you’ll join over 3,000 dedicated care providers to offer complete, connected care when and where patients need it most.

Magnet Designation

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) honored Lowell General Hospital with Magnet Recognition for excellence in nursing care, our fourth designation achieved in March 2025. The Magnet Recognition Program acknowledges healthcare organizations dedicated to nursing excellence, professionalism, and patient‑focused care. It is the highest level of recognition an organization can receive for providing the very best quality in patient care. Only nine percent of hospitals in the United States have achieved Magnet status and fewer than one percent have achieved a fourth consecutive Magnet designation.

Pay Range

$17.00 - $19.09

Our Values

At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals while rewarding the important work you do every day. Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth—one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it.