Food Service Helper (9mon, 1st)

Michigan Technological University; Houghton (MI); Hybrid; USD 20,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking 9-month, full-time Food Service Helpers for the Residential Dining department in Wadsworth Hall on the Main Campus in Houghton, MI. The role includes food preparation, production, customer service, equipment operation, and cashier duties.

The position requires a high school diploma and experience in food service; strong communication and customer service skills are essential.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in food service and serving customers.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct the activities of student food service workers in assigned area.
• Train and supervise student employees; maintain records and reports.
• Operate cash register and card readers; handle money and accounting.

Skills

Excellent communication

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Evenings and weekends flexibility

Education

High School diploma

Job description

Job No: 26115RP,26116RP, 26117RP
Department: Residential Dining
Work Type: Union
Location: Main Campus (Houghton, MI)
Full Time / Part Time: Full Time
Categories: Food Service
Applications Close:

Sub Department

Wadsworth Hall Food Service

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

Michigan Technological University is seeking (9 month, 40 hrs) Food Service Helpers for our Residential Dining department in Wadsworth Hall. They will perform in areas of food service to include food preparation and production, including customer service, equipment operation, and cashier duties.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

• Direct the activities of student food service workers in assigned area.
• Assist in the training and instructions of regular student employees in assigned area. Maintain records and prepare required reports in assigned area.
• Order food, maintain inventory, operate electronic cash register and card readers. Take money to accounting.
• Responsible for cleaning, sanitation, and safety in assigned area.
• Operate all equipment used in preparation and production of menu items employing safety procedures. Understand and interpret recipes.
• Perform catering duties including set-up, serving, delivering, cleaning, table service, and all aspects of clean-up. Interact with customers in a friendly and courteous manner.
• Maintain knowledge of portion size, food items, and ingredients of foods being served. Adhere to current uniform policy as posted.
• Participate in any training necessary to accommodate changes in operation which directly affect regular assigned duties.
• Responsible for garbage removal and cardboard recycling in assigned areas.
• Conduct daily, weekly, or monthly physical inventories in designated areas as assigned by supervisor.
• Functional supervision may be exercised over student assistants and other support staff.
• Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• High School diploma, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.

Required Experience

• Experience working in a food service operation working with food production in a commercial, institutional, restaurant or hotel kitchen or similar food service operation.
• Experience serving customers.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Excellent communication, customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and follow instructions.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with people in varying situations and in all areas assigned.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students, faculty and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work evenings and weekends, and at times be called in to work with very short notice.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to very loud
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus
While performing the duties of this job, the employee works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; work in high, precarious places, is exposed to fumes or airborne particles, and extreme heat and cold.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training

• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check: Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

1

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Appointment Term

9 months

Shift

1st Shift

Contractual

External candidates will receive the minimum amount $17.33/hr

Title of Position Supervisor

Director of Dining

Posting Type

Internal & External

Dependent on Funding

No

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

AFSCME Posting - 10/8/2026 - 10/15/2026

Additional Information

1st shift hours start between 5am and before noon -- base rate only

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech’s hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or [e-mail].

Other Conditions of Employment: Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.

In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use and distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.

Michigan Technological University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex and gender. Michigan Tech also prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Reports of misconduct, questions regarding Title IX , and concerns about noncompliance should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator . For a complete copy of the policy or more information, please contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).