Food Champion

Taco Bell; Lakewood (CA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401K Plan

Vacation-Sick Leave

Job summary

Alvarado Restaurant Nation seeks a Team Member (Food Champion) in California. The role prepares menu items to exact specs, maintains cleanliness and safety, and communicates clearly with team members to deliver a consistent dining experience.

This non-exempt position reports to the Restaurant Leader and offers benefits after one year, with a pay range of California $16.50-$20.25 hourly. Expect a fast-paced environment supporting guest satisfaction and food quality.

Qualifications

• Must have detailed knowledge of menu items and ability to prepare them accurately.
• Strong communication skills required.
• Team-oriented mindset and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of safety and quality standards is essential.
• Maintain cleanliness in workstations and equipment.
• Strong organizational skills to keep line well-stocked and clean.

Responsibilities

• Be an expert on the menu and build menu items to proper specifications.
• Mark customizations using current procedures.
• Communicate effectively between the line and the front counter and drive-thru.
• Assist the expediter and provide good customer service during handoffs.
• Keep the workstation clean and ensure safety and quality standards are met.
• Check temperatures of food regularly and monitor temps in coolers.
• Clean equipment including grills, melters, taco rail, and crumb tray.
• Use and manage portioning tools and monitor ingredient levels on the line.

Skills

Menu knowledge

Communication

Teamwork

Safety standards

Cleanliness

Organization

Job description

Title: Team Member (Food Champion)State: California Reports to:Restaurant Leader Supervises: N/A FLSA:Non-Exempt Department:Operations Revision/Creation Date:January 1, 2026 Pay Range:California $16.50-$20.25 /HourlyLos Angeles $ 17.87.-$20.25/ Hourly

Position Mission:

The mission of the Team Member (Food Champion) is to ensure the highest quality of food and service for ourguests by meticulously preparing menu items to exact specifications, maintaining cleanliness and safety standards, and effectively communicating with team members. This role is pivotal in providing a consistent and exceptional dining experience.

Responsibilities Include:

• Be an expert on the menu and build menu items to proper specifications.
• Mark customizations using current procedures.
• Communicate effectively between the line and the front counter and drive-thru.
• Assist the expediter and provide good customer service during handoffs.
• Keep the workstation clean and ensure safety and quality standards are met.
• Check temperatures of food on a regular basis and monitor food temps in the reach-in coolers.
• Clean equipment including but not limited to grills, melters, taco rail, and crumb tray.
• Use proper portioning tools and monitor ingredient levels on the line.
• Wear a headset on the drive-thru line.
• Stock the line with wraps, trays, bowls, lids, boxes, and bags.
• Use and clean fryers, monitor their status, and refresh items on the line.

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Detailed knowledge of menu items and ability to prepare them accurately.
• Strong communication skills.
• Team-oriented mindset.
• Knowledge of safety and quality standards.
• Ability to maintain cleanliness in workstations and equipment.
• Strong organizational skills to ensure a well-stocked and clean line.

Other Attributes:

• Must be a self-starter, process and solutions focused
• Enthusiastic and strong driver of the company's Mission and Core Values
• Action oriented
• Independent problem solver

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance -Based upon hour worked, may be eligible after one year.
• 401K Plan -Eligible after one year.
• Vacation- Sick-Granted per state requirement.

Physical Demands:

• Withstand temperatures of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or less and 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
• Move throughout the restaurant for extended periods (up to 10-12 hours per day).
• Move 50 lbs. for distances of up to 10 feet.
• Balance and move up to 25 lbs. for distances of up to 50 feet.
• Understand and respond to team members' and guests' requests in a loud environment.
• Stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Talk or hear; taste or smell.
• Specific vision abilities required: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The duties of this position may change from time to time. Alvarado Restaurant Nation reserves the right to add ordeleteduties and responsibilities at the discretion of Alvarado Restaurant Nation.This position is descriptive and is intended to describe the general level of work being performed.It is not intended to beall-inclusive.

Alvarado Restaurant Nation (ARN) is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Weprovideequal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by law. ARN is committed tocomplying withall applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and tofosteringan inclusive and accessible workplace for all.

Hiring Decisions are based on skill, qualifications, and experience

Application Deadline:Evergreen