food service technician

COMHAR, Inc.; Walnutport (Northampton County); On-site; USD 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Job summary

COMHAR, Inc. invites you to join our Long Term Structured Residences team as a Food Service Technician in Walnutport, PA. You will prepare healthy meals and ensure safe food service within a structured, therapeutic residential program that supports adults with psychiatric and health-related needs.

The role emphasizes nutrition education, following menus, and collaborating with nursing staff to meet individual dietary guidelines while maintaining a clean, safe kitchen and orderly inventory.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Safe Serve Certificate (COMHAR will assist to complete the certification).
• Current Driver's License; satisfactory driving record; eligible to operate program vehicles.
• Experience with individuals with serious mental illness or behavioral health needs preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• The Food Technician/trainer works from a recovery framework within the team providing assistance in building cooking skills, nutritional meal plan education, cultural competence and trauma informed care to help individuals obtain their recovery goals.
• Preparation of residents' meals, ensuring that each resident is served a balanced and nutritional diet. Partnering with nursing staff and individuals to ensure that nutritious meals are prepared and planned and those individual dietary guidelines are considered and followed. Maintaining proper documentation of special diets.
• Preparation of weekly menus at least one week in advance for review by Nurse Manager. Posting of menu within the LTSR. Maintenance of menu file.
• Training individuals in: nutrition; menu planning; food preparation; appropriate storage of food and supplies; safety standards throughout all food preparation and storage areas; food shopping; inventory of food and supplies and orders food and supplies in sufficient quantities for weekly meals, etc.
• Maintenance of a clean and safe kitchen, kitchen appliances, and storage areas. Wet mopping kitchen floor at the end of each shift worked.
• Ordering and shopping of food supplies in partnership with individuals. Dating all incoming food supplies, maintenance of food inventories.
• Ensuring that all food purchasing is in compliance with budgetary provisions. Providing Director and Nurse a list of all goods intended for purchase for approval.
• Partnering with individuals to serve meals, set tables, dismantle tables, and clean up after meals.
• Preparing tray service for residents who are unable to be served in the dining room for any reason.
• Ensuring that all kitchen knives and other potentially dangerous appliances are secured at all times when not in use.

Skills

Driver's License

Experience with mental illness

Safety standards

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Safe Serve Certificate

Job description

Role

Food Service Technician

Location

Walnutport, PA

Program

LTSR

Description

**Looking for a career that makes a meaningful difference? If you are passionate about supporting adults with serious mental illness and ensuring their nutritional needs are met as part of a therapeutic residential program, COMHAR invites you to join our team as a Food Service Technician. Play a key role in helping residents thrive by providing safe, nutritious meals within a supportive, structured environment.**

Job Type

Full-time

Rate

$17.36/HR

Shift

Monday-Friday 7:00AM-3:00PM

Job Summary

COMHAR's Long Term Structured Residences (LTSR) provide 24/7 residential and intensive treatment supports for adults with psychiatric and health-related needs. These therapeutic programs deliver a variety of services, including individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, crisis intervention, and peer support. Residents live in a structured environment that promotes skill development, independence, and stabilization of psychiatric and physical health symptoms.

The Food Service Technician contributes to this therapeutic environment by ensuring residents receive healthy, balanced meals and safe food service practices that support their overall recovery and well-being.

Key Responsibilities

• The Food Technician/trainer works from a recovery framework within the team providing assistance in building cooking skills, nutritional meal plan education, cultural competence and trauma informed care to help individuals obtain their recovery goals.
• Preparation of residents' meals, ensuring that each resident is served a balanced and nutritional diet. Partnering with nursing staff and individuals to ensure that nutritious meals are prepared and planned and those individual dietary guidelines are considered and followed. Maintaining proper documentation of special diets.
• Preparation of weekly menus at least one week in advance for review by Nurse Manager. Posting of menu within the LTSR. Maintenance of menu file.
• Training individuals in: nutrition; menu planning; food preparation; appropriate storage of food and supplies; safety standards throughout all food preparation and storage areas; food shopping; inventory of food and supplies and orders food and supplies in sufficient quantities for weekly meals, etc. Such training will occur in both group and individual settings. Such skills will be necessary as individuals move on to less restrictive settings.
• Maintenance of a clean and safe kitchen, kitchen appliances, and storage areas. Wet mopping kitchen floor at the end of each shift worked.
• Ordering and shopping of food supplies in partnership with individuals. Dating all incoming food supplies, maintenance of food inventories.
• Ensuring that all food purchasing is in compliance with budgetary provisions. Providing Director and Nurse a list of all goods intended for purchase for approval.
• Partnering with individuals to serve meals, set tables, dismantle tables, and clean up after meals.
• Preparing tray service for residents who are unable to be served in the dining room for any reason.
• Ensuring that all kitchen knives and other potentially dangerous appliances are secured at all times when not in use.

Employees are eligible for generous benefit options including but not limited to:

• Full-time and Part-time employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, and dental insurance, life and disability coverage, a 403(b) retirement plan, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, an employee assistance program, and additional voluntary options such as disability, accident, and pet insurance. *****This is based on employment status*****

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Safe Serve Certificate require -COMHAR will assist any candidate hire on complete the certification.
• Current Driver's License; satisfactory driving record; eligible to operate program vehicles.
• Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, behavioral health needs, or justice involvement preferred but not required-COMHAR provides training.

About COMHAR

COMHAR is a nonprofit human-services organization dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and communities to live healthier, self-determined lives. Our mission is: "To provide health and human services that empower individuals, families and communities to live healthier, self-determined lives." Serving the Philadelphia region since 1975, COMHAR provides a wide continuum of behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disability, substance use, and social support services. With programs that include outpatient treatment, residential services, community-based recovery centers, supportive housing, and specialized services for children, families, and diverse populations, COMHAR delivers person-centered care rooted in dignity, respect, and community integration. Today, COMHAR's team supports more than 5,500 people each month, helping individuals build stability, independence, and meaningful connections in their communities. **COMHAR strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.**

***COMHAR is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We maintain a drug-free workplace. COMHAR, Inc. is a not-for-profit community-based health and human service organization founded in 1975. We do not discriminate in services or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, past or present receipt of disability-related services or supports, marital status, veteran status, or any other class of persons protected by federal, state or local law.***

Salary Description

$17.38/HR