Food Stylist Assistant

Shoptalk; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

People Inc. seeks a Food Stylist Assistant to support the Food Styling team with food preparation, kitchen cleanup, and grocery shopping. This role provides an entry point to a career in food styling and involves checking in groceries, prepping recipes per stylist instructions, and assisting on photo sets for high-quality content.

The position is on-site in Des Moines, IA, with 16–32 hours per week. Compensation is $18 per hour, via an agency worker arrangement with potential to extend beyond

Qualifications

• Internships or previous employment involving food preparation or purchasing is helpful.
• A culinary degree or test kitchen or photo studio experience is a plus.
• Ability to take direction and communicate with others.
• Ability to work independently on assigned projects.
• Thorough understanding of produce and food product selection for testing and photography.
• Knowledge of proper storage of fruits and vegetables to maintain quality for testing and photography.
• Ability to organize storage areas and maximize limited space.
• Proficient computer skills: email, Google Docs, spreadsheets; driving with a reliable vehicle; mileage reimbursed.

Responsibilities

• Assist food stylists
• Prepare food for photography as directed by food stylists
• Organize ingredients and pantry items for photo shoots
• Provide dishwashing and cleaning support for food stylists
• Select and purchase ingredients and cooking supplies for recipe testing and photography
• Act as a food stylist, recipe developer, and/or tester

Skills

Food preparation

Food purchasing

Direction taking

Independence

Communication

Education

Culinary degree

Tools

Google Docs

Spreadsheets

Email

Job description

This assignment posting is for an Agency Worker opportunity with People Inc. The Agency Worker is paid by a staffing agency employer. Agency Workers will receive a W2 from the staffing agency reporting their earnings for tax purposes.

Food Stylist Assistant

The Food Stylist Assistant assists the Food Styling team with food preparation, kitchen cleanup, and grocery shopping. This position is critical to supporting the studio's ability to meet production commitments in a sustainable way, and is a great entry point to a career in food styling.

The Food Stylist Assistant will check in and organize incoming groceries, prepare recipes as needed per stylist instructions, provide dishwashing and cleaning support for the food stylists, and provide shopping support as needed for the photo studio and also for the test kitchen as directed by the Test Kitchen Coordinator.

The Food Stylist Assistant will also be booked as a stylist on photo sets as needed when they are ready for a bit more challenge. In this capacity they will provide all the food items needed for photo and/or video shoots, prepare the recipes, and style the content within the specific parameters outlined by art and editorial teams. This role needs to be able to take direction from clients and photographers while also providing direction to their assistant and other support staff to ensure they are producing high quality content at a pace that keeps projects on or ahead of deadlines.

In addition to providing food styling services to clients this position may also be asked to develop editorial content and test recipes as needed.

Assignment Details:

16-32 hours a week, average

Start date: 12/1/2026

End date: 6 months with potential to extend

Hourly Rate: $18/hour

Location: On-site. Des Moines, IA - US

Assignment Responsibilities:

• Assist food stylists
• Prepare food for photography, as directed by food stylists.
• Organize ingredients and pantry items in preparation for photo shoots.
• Provide dishwashing and cleaning support for food stylists.
• Select and purchase ingredients and cooking supplies needed for recipe testing and food photography.
• Act as a food stylist, recipe developer, and/or tester.

Skills/Experience:

• Internships or previous employment involving food preparation and food purchasing is helpful. A culinary degree or any test kitchen or photo studio experience is a plus.
• The ability to take direction and communicate with others
• The ability to work independently on assigned projects.
• Thorough understanding of produce and food product selection as it relates to recipe testing and photography.
• Knowledge of the proper way to store fruits and vegetables to maintain quality for recipe testing and photography.
• The ability to organize storage areas and make the best possible use of limited space.
• Proficient computer skills for use of email, google docs, spreadsheets and expense reporting system. The ability to drive. Must have a reliable vehicle. Mileage will be reimbursed.

People Inc. is the largest print and digital publisher in America. Nearly 200 million people trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action, and find inspiration. People Inc.'s over 40 iconic brands include PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, Verywell, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Allrecipes, REAL SIMPLE, Investopedia, and Southern Living.