Food and Beverage Specialist II

UCF; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 22,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending

Employee Assistance Program

Paid time off

Retirement savings options

Employee discounts

Education assistance

Job summary

University of Central Florida in Orlando is seeking a Food and Beverage Specialist II to support undergraduate culinary labs, assist chefs, and help deliver high-quality catering events on campus. The role emphasizes hands-on lab life, safety, and excellence in service in an academic setting.

The position requires real kitchen experience, a Class E driver's license, and flexibility to work evenings/weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• 1. 2+ years in a fast-paced culinary/restaurant environment.
• 2. Experience training or guiding others in food service or kitchen settings.
• 3. Basic knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and safe handling practices.
• 4. Experience supporting catered events, banquets, or large-volume prep.
• 5. Prior work in a higher education food lab or similar setting is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist chefs and senior staff in training UCF undergrad students during labs.
• Plan and execute advanced catered events on Rosen Campus.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and safety of culinary labs and equipment.
• Ensure proper receiving, storage, and FIFO practices for food supplies; assist with deliveries.
• Perform additional duties as needed by department leadership.

Skills

Culinary experience

Training & mentoring

Food safety knowledge

Catering events

Higher ed kitchen experience

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Job description

Rosen College of Hospitality Management:

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management is comprised of approximately 100 wide-ranging faculty and staff members that represent over 18 different countries and are recognized for their research, teaching skills, and industry impact. Rosen College students are exposed to some of the most modern and well-designed learning laboratories as they pursue one of the many B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. majors offered.

Learn more about UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

The Opportunity:

The UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management is one of the most renowned hospitality programs in the world, and the students who move through its culinary labs are the next generation of industry leaders. As a Food and Beverage Specialist II, you'll be right in the middle of that experience — working alongside the college's Chefs to support hands‑on undergraduate culinary lab sessions, maintain the quality and safety of the culinary and beverage lab environments, and help bring large-scale catered events to life.

We are currently seeking a Food and Beverage Specialist II, who brings real kitchen experience and takes pride in both craft and consistency to join this dynamic team. You'll play a meaningful role in shaping the day-to-day learning environment for students while contributing to the operational excellence that Rosen College is known for. If you're passionate about food service and ready to bring your expertise into an academic setting where it truly makes an impact — this is your opportunity.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the Chefs and/or Food & Beverage Specialist III, in training UCF undergraduate students during lab sessions and maintain organization and cleanliness in the culinary and beverage labs.
• Assist the Food & Beverage Specialist III in planning and executing advanced and complex catered events, internal or external, on the Rosen Campus.
• Sustain the cleanliness, organization, and safety of all food and beverage supplies, equipment, and facilities on the Rosen College Campus.
• Adhere to and ensure proper receiving, storage, and inventory (FIFO) practices, and assist with the pickup and delivery of food and beverage products and supplies.
• Additional duties as assigned based on the needs of the department, college, and UCF as directed by the department head, chair, and dean.

Minimum Qualifications:

High School Diploma or Equivalent and 4+ years of relevant experience oran equivalent combination of education and experiencepursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience working in a fast-paced culinary, restaurant, or fast-food environment.
• Experience assisting with training, mentoring, or guiding others in a food service or kitchen environment.
• Basic knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and safe food handling practices.
• Experience supporting catered events, banquets, or large-volume food preparation.
• Previous experience working in a higher education food lab or similar setting is highly desirable.

The most successful candidates may possess the following qualities:

• Adaptability and willingness to learn new techniques and processes.
• Effective collaboration within a team, with the ability to work independently when required.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a customer service–focused approach.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

Position requires a valid Class E driver’s license. The position may involve driving to various locations on and off campus to conduct University business.

The anticipated hourly range for this position is $15.66 to $17.23 per hour. The final rate will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

Additional evening or weekend hours may be required to support business needs, events, or project deadlines.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H‑1B transfers or employment‑based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next‑generation public research university and Forbes‑ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 12 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program
• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays
• Retirement savings options
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions
• Education assistance
• And more… For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Department

Rosen College of Hospitality Management (RCHM) - Hospitality Leadership

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

$15.66 to Negotiable

Job Posting End Date

11-19-2026-12-00-AM

Veteran’s Preference:

Preference will be given to eligible veterans and their eligible spouses in accordance with Chapter 295 of the Florida Statutes. Applicants claiming preference are responsible for providing required documentation by the closing date of the position. For more information on Veterans’ Preference, please visit http://hr.ucf.edu/files/VeteransPreference.pdf

The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke‑free campus and an E‑Verify employer.