Food Service Assistant I (Rotating Shifts)

Johns Hopkins Medicine; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 22,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Medicine in Saint Petersburg, FL, seeks a Food Service Assistant I to support patient meal service and kitchen operations. You will ensure meals meet dietary orders, verify accuracy, and contribute to a safe, sanitary, patient-centered environment.

You will assist with basic food preparation, respond to patient requests, maintain confidentiality, and follow food safety guidelines as you work with a diverse dietary team.

Qualifications

• HS diploma or equivalent required.
• Less than 2 years of experience in food service or hospitality.
• Ability to adapt to changing patient needs and workflow demands.
• Strong written and verbal communication with patients, visitors, and staff.
• Attention to detail to ensure accuracy of patient meal orders and dietary compliance.
• Follow established procedures and prioritize tasks within general guidelines.
• Basic understanding of food safety, sanitation practices, and workplace safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Delivers patient meals accurately and timely according to diet orders, allergies, and special dietary restrictions.
• Serves food while following portion control standards and modified diet requirements.
• Verifies patient identification and meal accuracy before service to ensure compliance with dietary prescriptions.
• Responds courteously to patient requests, questions, and concerns related to meals and tray service.
• Communicates patient feedback and issues to supervisors or diet office staff to support continuous service improvement.
• Supports chefs and culinary staff with routine tasks to ensure efficient kitchen operations.
• Assists with basic food preparation tasks, including chopping vegetables, assembling ingredients, portioning foods, and preparing simple dishes.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and respects privacy at all times in accordance with organizational policies.
• Adheres strictly to food safety, sanitation, infection prevention, and workplace safety guidelines.
• Ensures safe handling of food items to prevent cross-contamination and foodborne illness.
• Delivers patient meals accurately and timely according to diet orders, allergies, and special dietary restrictions.

Skills

Adaptability

Communication

Attention to detail

Procedures following

Food safety basics

Confidentiality

Teamwork

Decision making

Problem solving

Culinary basics

Computer skills

Education

High School Diploma/GED or equivalent

Tools

Diet office software

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Food Service Assistant I support patient service and kitchen operations by assisting with meal service and direct patient meal support. This role places a strong emphasis on patient satisfaction, accuracy of dietary orders and safe meal delivery, ensuring meals prescribed diets and individual patient needs. This role also supports basic food preparation and contributes to a safe, sanitary and patient-centered food service environment within a healthcare setting.

JOB FUNCTIONS

• Delivers patient meals accurately and timely according to diet orders, allergies, and special dietary restrictions.


• Serves food while following portion control standards and modified diet requirements.


• Verifies patient identification and meal accuracy before service to ensure compliance with dietary prescriptions.


• Responds courteously to patient requests, questions, and concerns related to meals and tray service.


• Communicates patient feedback and issues to supervisors or diet office staff to support continuous service improvement.


• Supports chefs and culinary staff with routine tasks to ensure efficient kitchen operations.


• Assists with basic food preparation tasks, including chopping vegetables, assembling ingredients, portioning foods, and preparing simple dishes.


• Maintains patient confidentiality and respects privacy at all times in accordance with organizational policies.


• Adheres strictly to food safety, sanitation, infection prevention, and workplace safety guidelines.


• Ensures safe handling of food items to prevent cross-contamination and foodborne illness.


• Delivers patient meals accurately and timely according to diet orders, allergies, and special dietary restrictions.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED or equivalent


• Less than 2 years of experience in food service or hospitality

Qualifications Continued

• Ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations, including evolving patient needs and workflow demands.


• Proficient written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with patients, visitors, and staff.


• Strong attention to detail to ensure accuracy of patient meal orders and dietary compliance.


• Ability to follow established procedures, prioritize tasks, and organize work within general guidelines.


• Basic understanding of food safety, sanitation practices, and workplace safety regulations.


• Demonstrates ethical behavior by maintaining confidentiality and prioritizing patient well-being.


• Works collaboratively within diverse, multidisciplinary teams to support patient-centered care.


• Makes routine and non-routine decisions with some latitude, subject to review.


• Solves basic to moderately complex technical or operational challenges.


• Working knowledge of Culinary Arts fundamentals and standard food service practices.


• Performs work thoroughly, efficiently, and productively in a cost-conscious manner.


• Basic computer skills; ability to use departmental or diet office applications as required.

Salary Range

Minimum 16.25/hour - Maximum 25.11/hour. Compensation will be commensurate with equity and experience for roles of similar scope and responsibility. In cases where the range is displayed as a $0 amount, salary discussions will occur during candidate screening calls, before any subsequent compensation discussion is held between the candidate and any hiring authority.

The Hospital reserves the right to modify employee schedules as needed.

We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, where we embrace and celebrate our differences, where all employees feel valued, contribute to our mission of serving the community, and engage in equitable healthcare delivery and workforce practices.

Johns Hopkins Health System and its affiliates are drug-free workplace employers.