Food Service Specialist - IDEA Los Encinos (Immediate Opening)

IDEA Public Schools; McAllen (TX); On-site; USD 20,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Family Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Mental Health Support

Dental & Vision

Job summary

IDEA Public Schools in McAllen, TX is seeking a Food Service Specialist to assist with student meals, stock supplies and operate POS and kitchen equipment. The role requires physical activity, on-site work, and adherence to food safety and service standards.

Responsibilities include helping with meal preparation, serving students, maintaining clean spaces, and supporting daily cafeteria operations. A focus on teamwork, customer service and food quality is essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of work experience in a role involving physical activity for extended periods on feet.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds solo and up to 50 pounds with a partner; bend, push, pull, twist, stand and walk during shifts.
• Ability to obtain a locally-recognized manager food safety certification.

Responsibilities

• Assist in food preparation, food safety and quality assurance for students.
• Provide daily customer service to staff, students and families.
• Operate cafeteria equipment and maintain food service spaces; notify manager of malfunctions.
• Perform cleaning duties: sweeping, mopping, wiping tables, washing dishes, trash disposal.

Skills

Customer service

Food safety

Food quality

Time management

Teamwork

Communication

Tools

POS equipment

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 experience and $16.54

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

Other Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:

• 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

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities

Essential Duties:

• 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 50 pounds 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 a bility to move and handle mix ed weights to include: cafeteria tables, carts, trash cans/bags.