Dietary Assistant ll

Chattanooga; Chattanooga, Northern (TN, KY); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Chattanooga is hiring a Dietary Assistant II for the Head Start/Early Head Start program. You will prepare meals, manage monthly inventory, place orders, and ensure food safety and regulatory compliance. This role supports multiple campuses and requires reliable transportation and strong teamwork.

Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma or GED; ServSafe certification is preferred. Schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 2:00 pm, with 240 workdays per year.

Qualifications

• Food service preparation experience in large-scale settings.
• Inventory management and purchasing experience.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and accurately complete required paperwork.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve nutritious meals daily following planned menus.
• Maintain monthly inventory counts and place weekly food orders.
• Ensure cleanliness, sanitation, and compliance with health standards.

Skills

Food service preparation

Inventory management

Reading & paperwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED

ServSafe certification (preferred)

Job description

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City," the first of its kind in the United States.

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

Salary: $19.00 / hour

FLSA Status: This is a non-exempt position.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 2:00 pm

This position works 240 days per year, 6 hours per day. Schedules may vary due to work assignments and projects.

Department: Early Learning

Location: This position supports one of the Head Start/Early Head Start Campuses: James A Henry (1241 Grove St), Avondale (2302 Ocoee St), Cedar Hill (4701 Divine Ave), or Daisy (9531 Ridge Trail Rd, Soddy Daisy).

SUMMARY:
Chattanooga Head Start is a grant-funded program and is subject to reapplication every 5 years.
The Dietary Assistant II provides meals to meet the needs of the Head Start and Early Head Start children by preparing and serving food according to the planned cycle menus. The Dietary Assistant II does the monthly inventory, follows production plans, makes food orders, and completes other required paperwork. This position is scheduled to work six hours a day for 240 days a year, unless specified otherwise.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The following duties are NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities.

Meal Preparation & Service:
Prepare and serve nutritious, family-style breakfasts, lunches, and snacks daily, strictly following planned cycle menus and production plans.

Provide specialized items like infant formula and baby food for our Early Head Start classrooms, ensuring the highest level of safety.

Organize and set up meal carts for timely and efficient delivery to classrooms.

Kitchen Administration & Inventory:
Take the lead on conducting monthly inventory counts, ensuring accuracy for budgeting and planning.

Create and place weekly food orders with approved vendors to keep the kitchen well-stocked.

Diligently maintain all required documentation, including food purchasing records, production logs, and inventory reports.

Safety, Sanitation & Compliance:
Uphold impeccable standards of cleanliness and sanitation throughout the kitchen and storage areas.
Ensure the facility is always prepared for and maintains a passing score on Hamilton County Health Department and Tennessee

State Licensure inspections.

Adhere to all agency policies and procedures, demonstrating exemplary work habits.

Team & Community Engagement:
Participate in required meetings and professional development training to enhance job performance.

Assist the program team with nutrition education activities for children and parents.

As needed, use your own reliable transportation to obtain supplies off-site to support program needs.

Support parent meetings and help guide community volunteers, fostering a welcoming and collaborative center.

Demonstrates work habits that comply with agency personnel policies and procedures, and completes special assignments from immediate supervisor or Head Start/EHS Director.

Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
High School Diploma or GED required.
A minimum of one year of experience in quantity food preparation (e.g., school, hospital, or large-scale restaurant) is required.
Demonstrated experience with inventory management, food ordering, and maintaining production records.
A current ServSafe certification is highly preferred.
Must possess a valid driver's license and have continuous access to reliable, insured transportation.
Ability to read, comprehend, and accurately complete all required paperwork.
Must be a dependable and confidential team player with a strong work ethic.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS: None.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of:
Food service preparation
Food service safety
Inventory control and purchasing
Record keeping

Skills in:
Must be able to read and comprehend all required paperwork.
Must be dependable, able to work together as a member of a team, able to maintain confidentiality, and attend scheduled training to enhance job performance.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Positions in this class typically require: walking, standing, reaching, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

This position is classified as Medium Work in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, which require all staff—regardless of job function—to support the health and safety of children. This may include the direct supervision of children and/or the ability to respond promptly and effectively during emergencies at a Head Start center.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Safety Sensitive: N
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: Y

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
This position is subject to pre-employment screenings, which include a background check, drug screening, lift test, TB screening questionnaire and/or TB skin test (as determined by initial results), complete physical examination, Hepatitis B titer, and fingerprinting. Ongoing requirements include a physical reexamination on an annual or bi-annual basis and fingerprint clearance every five years.

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

KNV 8/12/2026