Food Service Specialist

Issaquah Chamber; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 40,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Sick leave

Bonus week off between winter holidays

Job summary

Encompass is seeking a part-time Food Service Specialist to lead meal planning and delivery for our preschool program in the greater Seattle area. The role emphasizes nutritious, culturally inclusive menus and adherence to CACFP guidelines.

Responsibilities include creating monthly menus, coordinating with classrooms, and ensuring safe food handling. A high school diploma and background checks are required; CPR/First Aid training can be completed within 45 days.

Qualifications

• Experience in food service, either professional or volunteer.
• Passion for supporting children’s health and development.
• Ability to collaborate in a team-centered, child-focused environment.

Responsibilities

• Design nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks aligned with USDA and CACFP guidelines.
• Create monthly menus for multiple sites and share with teaching teams.
• Collaborate with classroom staff to reflect children’s preferences and inclusivity.
• Adapt menus to meet individual dietary needs, including allergies.
• Source fresh, seasonal foods while maintaining cost effectiveness.
• Ensure all food preparation meets health, safety, and sanitation standards.
• Maintain clean, safe kitchen aligned with licensing and health requirements.
• Keep production records and track participation for program compliance.
• Prepare and present meals to be appealing and developmentally appropriate.
• Deliver meals to classrooms to support family-style dining.
• Partner with educators to foster independence, social skills, and positive eating habits.

Skills

Experience in food service

Child health advocacy

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Hourly $21.00 - $28.74 DOE

Encompass Carnation Preschool location

20 hours per week, 39 weeks per year

School Year-Based Program

Applicants must live in the greater Seattle area.

Benefits

• 401(k) & Employer Match
• Sick Leave/EAP/Wellness Program
• Bonus paid week off between winter holidays

About the Role

The Food Service Specialist plays a vital role in the daily success, growth, and well-being of young children in our early learning programs. More than preparing meals, this role helps fuel curiosity, connection, and learning in a play-based preschool environment.

You will be part of a warm, collaborative community where mealtimes are an extension of the classroom—supporting social development, independence, and positive relationships with food. Your work directly contributes to creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging space where children can thrive.

SCOPE: The Food Service Specialist leads all food service planning, preparation, and delivery for early learning programs, ensuring that every meal supports healthy development, joyful experiences, and the unique needs of each child.

Key Responsibilities

• Design nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snack menus aligned with USDA and CACFP guidelines
• Create monthly menus for multiple sites and share with teaching teams
• Collaborate with classroom staff to ensure meals reflect children’s preferences and cultural inclusivity
• Adapt menus to meet individual dietary needs, including allergies and lifestyle preferences
• Source fresh, seasonal foods while maintaining cost effectiveness
• Ensure all food preparation meets strict health, safety, and sanitation standards

Kitchen Operations (10%)

• Maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming kitchen aligned with licensing and health requirements
• Uphold best practices in food handling, sanitation, and storage
• Conduct deep cleaning and maintain organized food preparation spaces

Documentation & Compliance (10%)

• Maintain accurate production records for all meals served
• Track participation and ensure compliance with program requirements
• Keep dietary accommodation records current and accessible
• Upload required documentation to program databases

Meal Experience & Delivery (70%)

• Prepare and present meals in a way that is appealing, developmentally appropriate, and inviting for young children
• Deliver meals to classrooms to support family-style dining, a key part of the play-based learning model
• Partner with educators to ensure mealtimes foster independence, social skills, and positive eating habits
• Collect, clean, and sanitize dishes and maintain adequate inventory of kitchen supplies

Qualifications

• Experience in food service (professional or volunteer)
• Passion for supporting children’s health and development
• Ability to collaborate in a team-centered, child-focused environment

Required Certifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Background check and required health screenings
• CPR/First Aid (within 45 days)
• Completion of early learning and safety trainings as required

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs
• Ability to stand for extended periods (up to 8 hours/day)

Why This Role Matters

In our play-based preschool programs, every part of the day is an opportunity for learning—including mealtime. The Food Service Specialist is essential in helping children:

• Build healthy relationships with food
• Practice independence and social skills
• Feel safe, cared for, and ready to learn

The information in this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this job. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees in this job.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

Encompass is a private nonprofit serving the Snoqualmie Valley and Issaquah communities for over 50 years. Our mission is to partner with families to build healthy foundations for children. We believe what happens early in life matters. We offer high quality, leading edge early childhood educational and therapeutic services to all children in our communities.

Encompass is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on gender, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, age, or the presence of a non job related medical condition or handicap.