Community Kitchen Assistant - Morning Prep & Service

St. Mary's Center; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 29,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Mary’s Center is seeking a Food Services Assistant in Oakland, CA to support the Food Services Supervisor in delivering daily congregate breakfast and lunch to older adults. The role includes ingredient prep, beverage service, plating, and inventory management in a busy community kitchen.

The position is full-time, hourly, non-exempt, scheduled 5 days/week with rotating shifts, about 30+ hours weekly. Pay ranges from $21.00 to $24.00 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• ServSafe Food Handler certification is required or must be completed by end of first day.
• Knowledge of sanitation and cleaning systems, kitchen tools, and commercial kitchen equipment.
• Ability to follow written checklists, prep lists, and temperature logs accurately and honestly.
• Ability to communicate with seniors, preschool families, and community members in an engaging, respectful way.
• Ability to maintain positive working relationships within a multicultural team.
• Experience with older adults, including homeless or formerly homeless seniors, preferred.
• Experience in human services, homelessness, or nutrition preferred.
• Experience receiving deliveries and maintaining FIFO inventory in a kitchen preferred.
• Basic computer competence, including email and Microsoft Office.
• Valid California Driver License preferred.
• Multilingual abilities are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Open the kitchen and prep areas per daily checklist, ensuring surfaces and equipment are sanitized.
• Confirm refrigerator/freezer temperatures are logged and reported if out of spec.
• Assemble the tray line and set up beverages and service stations for meals.
• Prepare ingredients and portions so breakfast and lunch plating can finish on time.
• Wash, cut, thaw, portion, and stage ingredients for all five menu components.
• Plate and label special-diet plates and verify against the diet list.
• Hold hot foods hot and cold foods cold through service.
• Receive deliveries, check packaging and temperatures, and rotate inventory FIFO.
• Perform closing tasks and sanitize kitchen and dining areas.

Skills

Sanitation knowledge

Follow checklists

Communication with diverse groups

Team collaboration

Experience with seniors

Human services experience

Inventory FIFO

Basic computer skills

Driver license

Multilingual abilities

Education

ServSafe Food Handler certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

St. Mary’s Center is seeking a Food Services Assistant in Oakland, CA to support the Food Services Supervisor in delivering daily congregate breakfast and lunch to older adults. The role includes ingredient prep, beverage service, plating, and inventory management in a busy community kitchen.

The position is full-time, hourly, non-exempt, scheduled 5 days/week with rotating shifts, about 30+ hours weekly. Pay ranges from $21.00 to $24.00 per hour, commensurate with experience.