Food Service Worker - Virginia State University

Thompson-Hospitality; Petersburg (VA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Thompson Hospitality is hiring Food Service Workers to support Virginia State University's campus dining facility. You will help prepare meals, serve guests, and maintain a clean, welcoming environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Join a team that values hospitality, safety, and teamwork. Prior food service experience is helpful, but training is provided to ensure high quality service in a fast-paced setting on campus.

Qualifications

• Prior food service experience preferred but not required.
• Customer-oriented with strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Adaptability and physical stamina for a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare menu items following recipes and portion sizes for consistent quality and timely service.
• Provide exceptional customer service, taking orders, answering inquiries, and addressing concerns.
• Maintain dining, kitchen, and serving area cleanliness following safety standards.
• Assist with receiving, organizing, and stocking supplies and equipment.
• Follow food safety and health regulations and cooperate with team members to ensure smooth dining operations.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Communication

Adaptability

Stamina

Job description

Overview

Are you passionate about food and great service? Our campus dining facility is looking for dedicated, friendly, and hardworking individuals to join us as Food Service Workers — an essential part of creating a welcoming and enjoyable dining experience for our students, faculty, and staff.

You’ll play a vital role in day-to-day operations, from preparing delicious meals to maintaining a clean and inviting environment. You'll help ensure that every guest is served with a smile and that our kitchen and dining areas run smoothly.

Responsibilities

• Prepare menu items following recipes and portion sizes for consistent quality and timely service.
• Provide exceptional customer service, taking orders, answering inquiries, and addressing concerns.
• Maintain dining, kitchen, and serving area cleanliness following safety standards.
• Assist with receiving, organizing, and stocking supplies and equipment.
• Follow food safety and health regulations and cooperate with team members to ensure smooth dining operations.

Qualifications

• Prior food service experience preferred but not required.
• Customer-oriented with strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Adaptability and physical stamina for a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds (supplies, trays, equipment)
• Ability to reach, bend, stoop, kneel, and perform repetitive motions as required
• Manual dexterity to handle food, utensils, cleaning tools, and kitchen equipment safely
• Ability to work in a fast-paced food service environment with exposure to heat, cold, moisture, and noise

Who We Are:

Virginia State University, a proud 1890 Land-Grant HBCU, is dedicated to empowering a diverse community of learners through high-impact academics, innovative research, and community-focused outreach. With a mission rooted in lifelong learning and leadership, VSU equips students to become ethical, globally competitive professionals ready to serve and succeed. Guided by a bold vision of sustained excellence, VSU offers a transformative educational experience that nurtures intellect, integrity, and impact. At Virginia State University, education is more than a degree — it’s a launchpad for greatness.

Thompson Hospitality is of the largest restaurants, food service, and facilities management companies in the country. We are highly built upon our values, do the right thing, do the best you can, and treat others how you want to be treated, which are shaped by more than 33 years of relationships with our clients, guests, and communities. We offer competitive benefits, see our website for more. https://www.thompsonhospitality.com/

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local laws.