Food Service Worker

Akima; Brownsville (TX); On-site; USD 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A company operating in the food service sector is seeking a Food Service Worker in Brownsville, TX. The role involves preparing and serving meals in a large industrial kitchen within a detention facility. Candidates should have a minimum of one year in food service, hold a high school diploma or GED, and possess a Texas Food Handlers Permit. Exceptional skills in communication and working in diverse environments are essential for success in this position.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of experience as a Food Service Worker or related position.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.
• Must possess a valid Texas food handlers permit.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present meals per dietician certified menus.
• Serve meals to detainees and staff.
• Maintain cleanliness of kitchen and dining areas.

Skills

Fluent English

Dexterity and motor skills

Ability to work with diverse populations

Education

High school diploma or GED

State of Texas Food Handlers Permit

Job description

AIP is looking for a Food Service Worker to work in Brownsville, TX. To join our team of outstanding professionals, apply today!

Responsibilities

• Serves as a kitchen worker in a large industrial detention center kitchen performing or assisting with the following duties under supervision:
• Preparation and presentation of meals: measuring, mixing, slicing, chopping, etc.
• Using prepared ingredients and following repetitive steps, prepares certain routine menu items, e.g., sandwiches.
• Plating accurately measured portions in accordance with dietician certified menus.
• Delivery and serving meals to detainees in housing units.
• Packs sack lunches and delivers to processing hold rooms and transportation.
• Plates, wraps, and serves staff meals.
• Drives box truck for delivery of meals to housing units.
• Receives food orders, unloads trucks, and stocks food stores for dry, cold, and freezer.
• Either manually or with use of mechanical machines, washes dishes and food prep items.
• Cleaning dining and kitchen areas floors, tables, chairs.
• Cleaning grease traps and hoods.
• Cleaning storage areas.
• Cleans other facility areas as directed by AIP management.
• Other duties as needed.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Must speak, read, and write fluent English.
• Possess ability to read and follow instructions and recipes in English.
• Possesses dexterity and use of motor skills to execute required kitchen tasks.
• Ability to work with a diverse population, speaking numerous languages and from different cultures and countries around the world.

Core Competencies

• Commitment to Excellence - Identifies what needs to be accomplished and takes action to achieve a standard of excellence beyond job expectations.
• Corporate Values - Understands, embraces, and integrates AKIMA corporate values into everyday duties and responsibilities.
• Customer Service - Identifies and responds to current and future needs by providing excellent service to internal and external customers.
• Safety and Security - Promotes a safe work environment for co‑workers and customers.
• Teamwork - Resourceful team player that builds, strengthens, and maintains collaborative relationships with others inside or outside the organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum one‑year experience as a Food Service Worker or related position in a commercial or industrial kitchen.
• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• Possess a State of Texas Food Handlers Permit.
• Ability to become First Aid, CPR and AED certified with initial training and maintain certification.
• US citizen or a person lawfully admitted into the United States for permanent residence and have resided in the U.S. for at least the last five years.
• Pass a criminal background and consumer credit check (no criminal record).
• Obtain and maintain a DHS/ICE government clearance.
• Pass all pre‑employment and random drug tests.
• Pass a medical examination and meet health requirements.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Possess current/valid Texas food handlers permit.
• Knowledge of day‑to‑day operation of an industrial kitchen.
• Capability of following and understanding written and verbal orders, policies and regulations.
• Incumbent shall be literate and able to interpret printed rules and regulations, recipes, and detailed instructions.
• Incumbent must exercise good judgment, alertness, an even temperament, and render satisfactory performance through his/her responsibilities.
• Ability to maintain poise and self‑control during situations that involve mental stress, such as fires, explosions, disturbances and building evacuations.
• Maintain a professional personal appearance and calm demeanor.
• Possess a high degree of integrity, accountability and ability to adhere to the American Correctional Association and DHS ICE standards.
• Demonstrate an ability to work with a diverse population of people, including people of different cultures, with different values and lifestyles, with a cross‑cultural perspective.
• Maintain current/physical residence in the continental United States.

Working Environment

The majority of the work is performed in an indoor industrial kitchen in a detention facility often working side by side with detainee workers.

Essential Job Functions And Physical Demands

The position is required to work most hours in an indoor detention facility environment, standing and walking most of the time, while maintaining a degree of physical fitness to respond quickly to changes in work demands, emerging situations and emergencies. The position is frequently required to work in extreme weather conditions to accomplish food service delivery outdoors including cold, heat, heavy rain, and winds. At a minimum, the Food Service Worker must be able to perform the following physical activities with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• Stand for 4 or more hours between breaks.
• Walk, talk, hear, taste, smell, and feel.
• Use fine motor skills (ability to make movements using the small muscles in hands and wrists).
• Use manual dexterity in food preparation.
• Use close vision, distance vision, and color vision.
• Reach with hands and arms.
• Work safely on uneven and/or slippery surfaces.
• Occasionally climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds; frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Provide CPR and first aid to others.

Job ID: 2026‑22406

Work Type: On‑Site