Catering Sr. Food Service Worker (On-site)

University of California, Merced; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 29,590 - 34,674; Full time

Job summary

The University of California, Merced is seeking a Senior Food Service Worker to support on-site kitchen operations in campus dining facilities. You will prepare meals, assist with service, maintain cleanliness and compliance with HACCP standards.

Responsibilities include food preparation, stocking, sanitation, training newer staff, and supporting supervisors to ensure timely service and quality dining experiences for students and staff on campus.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; 6 months of food preparation/maintenance experience preferred.
• Food handler certification preferred.
• Ability to supervise and train student workers or junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and portion food for service in cafeteria or dining areas.
• Assist in cold/hot food preparation and assembly of meals.
• Maintain HACCP guidelines and sanitation in kitchen operations.
• Stock supplies and rotate inventory.
• Train and guide student workers and junior staff.
• Ensure safety and cleanliness of all kitchen areas.

Skills

Food service

Sanitation

Customer service

Staff training

Safety compliance

Kitchen equipment use

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Hiring Range

The University of California, Merced is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. The salary or hourly range for this position is $21.48hr – $25.17/hr. Please note the realized minimum pay for this position will be $25/hr; steps less than $25/hr will include an additional amount elevating to $25/hr.

Job Closing Date

This posting will remain open until filled with initial applicant review expected to be on or around July 24, 2026.

Remote/Hybrid Eligibility

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. With bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs, strong research and academic partnerships and a growing community in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, the UC Merced campus is continually evolving and requires talented, knowledgeable and dynamic educators, researchers, management and staff.

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 is uniquely equipped to provide world class educational opportunities to dynamic and enterprising students in the Valley and throughout the state. In partnership with UC San Francisco, UC Merced has launched a rigorous medical education program that will 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, is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design and is accelerating the continued economic development of the region.

About The Job

Under supervision, incumbents perform semi‑skilled food preparation, serving and general maintenance duties in a kitchen or dining area. Incumbents may serve in a lead capacity over a small group of Food Service Workers (typically less than 5 full‑time‑equivalent employees). The Senior Food Service Worker differs from the Food Service Worker in that the duties performed usually require previous experience or training in food preparation, serving and general maintenance in a kitchen or dining area, and also require greater knowledge of the complexities of the area serviced.

Key Responsibilities

Food Service Preparation, Service, Cleaning and Stocking

• Incumbents serve food on a cafeteria steam line or in a dining area with portion control responsibility.
• May prepare desserts and/or salads to be served in a cafeteria or dining room operation.
• Perform cold food preparation including cutting, slicing, chopping, peeling and preparation of sandwiches, salads and a variety of express‑to‑go meals.
• As assigned, 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, 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 bring to the attention of the supervisor.
• In a diet kitchen, incumbents prepare special orders under close supervision of a dietitian.
• Prepare food items for catered events or special meals, ensuring that items meet the client’s needs.
• As general maintenance workers, dish‑machine attendants, pot and pan‑machine attendants, incumbents perform a wider variety of duties than is typical of the entry level, with less supervision, and greater responsibility for the maintenance of the equipment used.
• Wash and restock pots, pans, food preparation bowls and dishes following HACCP guidelines.
• Perform a full range of kitchen cleaning and organizing tasks.
• Use hand tools, sweep, mop, dust, polish silverware, vacuum, and wash equipment and dishes and areas of the facility.
• Stock front of the house and back of the house and execute dining‑room attendant duties as assigned.
• Bus dishes, food, and trash byproduct as needed from the dining area.
• Clean and sanitize tables.
• May supervise Food Service Workers in the performance of food preparation duties and in the maintenance of sanitation and safety standards in a campus kitchen.
• Provide training and support to less experienced staff.
• Guide, delegate, and assign a wide range of tasks to student assistants.
• Maintain general security of the unit food, equipment, and supplies.
• Offer guidance to food service workers and/or student workers.
• Staff training in food production and sanitation.
• Serve on interview committees as needed.
• Assure that standards for freshness and quality of product are consistently met.
• Assure that food service worker and/or student staff is utilizing appropriate cleaning agents for each job.
• Assist in assigning specific jobs to food service worker and/or student staff throughout the shift, keeping staff on task and able to meet multiple deadlines.

Safety & Sanitation

• Use appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Keep work area clean and debris free.
• Identify and correct hazards.
• Set up/clean equipment, work tables, sinks and drains in kitchen areas at the beginning and end of shift.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal sanitation guidelines.
• Use appropriate cleaning agents to perform general kitchen maintenance.
• Notify management of maintenance problems.
• Independently safely use, assemble, disassemble and train others to use kitchen equipment following university dining services standards.
• Ensure that food quality and safety guidelines are maintained to achieve the highest public health standards and reduce the risk of food‑borne illness.
• Record daily HACCP time and temperature logs.
• Adhere to HACCP guidelines to ensure practices are in continued compliance with state and federal sanitation guidelines.
• In conjunction with unit management, monitor kitchen facilities, property, and staff for safety and security.
• Oversee staff in utilizing appropriate cleaning agents for assigned job.
• Scrape out containers, use byproducts for soup, print double‑sided, follow production flow plans.
• Wash pots, pans, food preparation bowls and dishes.
• Perform full range of kitchen cleaning.
• Use hand tools, polish silverware and wash equipment and dishes.
• Sweep and mop stains and spillage.

Sustainability

• Sort waste for recycling and pre/post‑consumer composting.
• Share sustainability knowledge.
• Maintain security of unit equipment and supplies.
• Empty trash and recycling receptacles.
• Maintain adequate supply closets.

Customer Services and Professional Communication

• Interact with internal and external customers by demonstrating professionalism, enthusiasm and integrity.
• Convey welcoming attitude.
• Greet customers.
• Interact pleasantly.
• Anticipate customer needs.
• Display a positive demeanor.
• Participate in production and unit/departmental meetings, workshops and conferences regularly.
• Ensure positive guest experience by accommodating special requests and making suggestions.
• Listen carefully to customers’ concerns and answer appropriately.
• Act professionally; ensure the message, tone, body language and attentiveness exhibit a high level of helpfulness, commitment and customer service.
• Encourage collaboration and problem solving with co‑workers.

Qualifications

Education and Requirements

• High school diploma and/or equivalent certification, experience, or training.
• 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).

Critical Knowledge and Skills

• Experience following production schedules within specified timelines.
• Customer service experience to cooperate with the public and other staff members and convey a helpful, positive attitude.
• Skill to use proper tools or material 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 to guide a wide range of tasks to student assistants and kitchen support staff.
• Skill to differentiate products’ composition, biodegradability, nutrition, etc.
• Interpersonal skills to work effectively with and provide excellent customer service to a diverse campus community; communication skills to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Problem‑solving skills to troubleshoot problems as they arise, find alternate solutions, and implement solutions in a professional and efficient manner.
• Knowledge of proper procedures for lifting, handling broken glass and skill to use wet‑floor sign when mopping floors or cleaning up spills.
• Skill to verify 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 from the date of hire.

Background Check

Background check required.

How to Apply

An online application is required for each position to apply. The University of California, Merced is aware that some web‑based application processes may be cumbersome for differently abled applicants. Where appropriate, alternative accommodations will be provided. For applicants with disabilities who need additional assistance using TAM, or reasonable accommodations during the interview or search process, please contact [e-mail].

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy.

Smoke and Tobacco Free Policy

The University of California, Merced is a smoke and tobacco free workplace. Information and the Smoke and Tobacco Free policy is available at http://smokefree.ucmerced.edu.

E‑Verify

All employers who receive federal contracts and grants are required to comply with E‑Verify, an Internet‑based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E‑Verify electronically verifies employment eligibility by comparing information provided on the I‑9 form to records in the DHS and SSA databases. Certain positions funded by federal contracts/subcontracts require UC Merced to notify job applicants that an E‑Verify check will be conducted and the successful candidate must pass the E‑Verify check.

Pay, Benefits & Work Schedule

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University of California visit: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/