Food Service Specialist - IDEA Elsa (Immediate Opening)

IDEA Public Schools; Texas; On-site; USD 20,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Family Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Mental Health Benefits

Dental & Vision

Vacation time

Relocation assistance

Job summary

IDEA Public Schools is seeking a Food Service Specialist for an on-site role in Texas. You will assist with food preparation, maintain safety standards, and provide daily customer service to students, staff, and families.

The position requires standing for long periods and lifting up to 50 pounds, with duties including operating cafeteria equipment and cleaning spaces. Benefits include paid family leave, tuition reimbursement, mental health support, and other standard health plans.

Qualifications

• Experience in food service or cafeteria operations.
• Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to follow recipes and campus meal schedules.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the food preparation and maintain food safety and quality.
• Provide customer service and interact with staff, students and families daily.
• Operate cafeteria equipment and keep spaces clean and orderly.
• Load and unload weekly food and non-food products.

Skills

Customer service

Food safety

Multi-tasking

Tools

POS system

Job description

Description

Mission: The mission of the CNP Food Service Specialist (FSS) is a professional who assists with the operation of a food preparation and service establishment. FSS are tasked to serve customers, stock supplies, equipment operation, maintain clean areas and operate point of sales (POS). Food service specialists work under the supervision of Cafeteria manager.. A food service specialist often serves food for large groups of people, such as students. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to: cutting/chopping fruits and vegetables, following recipes, adhering to established kitchen processes, monitoring of students during meal periods (i.e monitoring for appropriate behavior, encouraging students to consume more fresh fruits and vegetables, no sharing of food, etc.) and kitchen cleaning duties (sweeping, mopping, wiping tables, washing dishes, disposing of trash).

What We Offer

Compensation

• Compensation for this role is set at an hourly rate ranging between $14.38 for 0 years of experienceand $16.54


• This role is also eligible for a performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.

Other Benefits

• Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.


• Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.


• Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face‑to‑face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work‑life services available at no cost.

Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, generous vacation time, referral bonuses and professional development. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Supervisory Responsibilities

No Supervisor responsibilities

Location

This is a full‑time on‑site position.

Travel Expectations

No travel required

Essential Duties

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities

• Assist in the food preparation, food safety and food quality assurance for the students.


• Provide customer service and interact with staff, students and family on a daily basis.


• Operate food service equipment and maintain food service spaces and equipment, notify manager of equipment malfunction


• Assist in various cafeteria cleaning duties to include: sweeping, mopping, wiping tables, washing dishes, disposing of trash, moving cafeteria tables and mobile work vending stations.


• Loading and unloading on a weekly basis of food and non food products.

Additional Duties And Responsibilities

• Encourage students to participate in our meal program, especially when they are seen not eating.


• Ensure counts of student meals are accurate and performed as the meal is delivered.


• Ensure reimbursable meals are offered to students


• Ensure meals are ready as per campus meal schedules for breakfast, lunch, snack and supper


• Follow all recipes and report errors to Cafeteria Manager


• Follow all established processes and procedures; discuss with Cafeteria Manager situations in which it seems they cannot be followed fully.

Knowledge and Skills – Competencies

Make Strategic Decisions

This individual is able to gather relevant information, consider various options, and make choices that are in line with their current responsibilities and the team’s goals.

Manage Work and Teams

This individual focuses on managing their own work effectively. They develop skills in time management, task prioritization, and self‑organization, ensuring that they meet their personal objectives and contribute effectively to their teams.

Grow Self and Others

This individual actively seeks feedback, embraces challenges as learning opportunities, and engages in professional development activities to enhance their own skills and performance.

Build a Culture of Trust

This individual focuses on awareness of their own emotional states and biases. They practice transparency and honesty in their interactions, contributing positively to team morale and trust.

Communicate Deliberately

This individual can express ideas clearly and listen actively. They practice direct communication in their daily interactions and can adjust message based on immediate feedback and audience understanding with support.

Required Experience

• 1 + years work experience in a job that demonstrates the ability to handle physical activity for multiple hours on feet.


• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds via solo lift and up to 50pounds with a partner , bend, pull, push, twist, stand, and walk while on duty or during a work shift.


• Ability to obtain locally‑recognized manager food safety certification.

Preferred Experience

N/A

Physical Requirements

• The ability to handle Intermittent standing, walking, pushing, and pulling.


• The ability to perform frequent stooping, bending, kneeling, and climbing (ladder).


• Ability to withstand moderate exposure to extreme hot and cold temperatures and ability to move and handle mixed weights to include: cafeteria tables, carts, trash cans/bags.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.