FOOD SUPPORT WORKER - 80082736 1

State of Florida; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Florida, Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Gainesville, FL, is seeking a Food Support Worker to handle storage, preparation and serving of meals for youth and staff. Duties include following menus, maintaining hygiene standards, and assisting with inventory and records.

Work involves rotating shifts, overtime, and adherence to food safety guidelines. The position requires readiness for background checks and drug screening, with pay based on state schedules and benefits per

Qualifications

• Knowledge of general food safety and sanitation practices.
• Ability to operate kitchen equipment required for the role.
• Ability to stand long periods and perform some heavy lifting.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical tasks such as measuring and portioning.

Responsibilities

• Storage, preparation and serving of food to youth and staff in a secure facility.
• Prepare and cook foods according to recipes and dietary requirements.
• Follow set menus and dietary orders; interpret menus for youth and staff meals.
• Set up and break down the food service line as assigned.
• Maintain general cleaning duties and sanitation across kitchen areas and equipment.
• Assist in unloading and loading delivery trucks.
• Complete documentation for Child Nutrition Programs; temperature logs and production records.
• Conduct inventory of food, supplies and equipment as needed.
• Operate all food service equipment as required.
• Adhere to HACCP and food safety guidelines throughout cooking, storing, and cleaning.
• Verify food temperatures and document accordingly.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Equipment operation

Stamina and mobility

Basic math skills

Education

Vocational/technical training in food service

Age 19+

Job description

Requisition Information

Requisition No: 874441

Agency: Juvenile Justice

Working Title: FOOD SUPPORT WORKER - 80082736 1

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 80082736

Salary: $1,368.71 Bi-Weekly

Posting Closing Date: 09/30/2026

Location Information: Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center, 3440 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609

Contact Person: Tanya Williams, Administrative Assistant II, [phone], [e-mail]

Minimum Biweekly Rate of Pay: $1,368.71 (In accordance with current spending restrictions, an internal promotion into the position will be filled at the minimum of the pay grade or up to 5% of the employee’s current rate, whichever is higher.)

Description

• Responsible for storage, preparation and serving of food to youth and staff in a secure facility. Works at all assigned stations in the food service area. Prepares all types of foods from preliminary stage and cooks those foods to a finished state. Prepares and cooks all foods and supplemental items necessary for all diets. Prepares food in accordance to recipe and pull sheets.
• Responsible for following set menu or special diet order as directed by the Food Service Director or other administrative staff. Interprets the menu and correctly fill youth and staff meals according to the established menu.
• Sets up and breaks down food service line as assigned.
• Responsible for specific general cleaning duties in the general kitchen, storage, dish room and food service line. Responsible for using appropriate cleaning products and following instructions provided on the cleaning products. Wash dishes, pots, pans, and other utensils following approved sanitation methods. Carry trash and/or refuse to garbage disposal and dumpster. Clean trash cans.
• Assist in the unloading and loading of delivery trucks.
• Responsible for completing documentation for Child Nutrition Programs; temperature logs, storage records and production records.
• Responsible for assisting in or conducting inventory of food, supplies, small wares and equipment as needed.
• Must be able to use all food service equipment. May be asked to use a food processor, slicer, fryer or mixer to prepare meals.
• Adheres to appropriate food safety guidelines during all stages of cooking, storing and cleaning process. Must be able to understand and follow Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point requirements.
• Verifies that foods are stored, prepared, and served at the accurate temperatures. Prepares assigned reports to support that accurate temperatures are followed.
• Attends training and incorporates information learned into daily job duties and responsibilities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Knowledgeable of and understand general food safety and sanitation practices.
• Ability to utilize equipment required for the position.
• Ability to stand for long periods, some heavy lifting, pulling and squatting.
• Ability to do basic mathematical skills, measuring, adding, and deducting.

Preferred Qualifications

• One year of food service experience; or completion of a program of study from a vocational/ technical school in food service area.
• Be at least 19 years of age.
• Experience preparing meals for a large number of customers or clients.

Special Notes

An incomplete Candidate Profile will not be accepted. Please make sure that all parts of the profile are complete and accurate. ‘See Resume’ is not an acceptable response. All periods of employment and non-employment should be included with correct start/end dates.

Employees in this position will be required to work overtime with little or no notice and may be required to flex out or after work schedules.

Due to the facility hours of 24/7, this position requires shift schedules and employees are required to work a shift schedule, which includes rotating shifts, evenings, weekends and holidays with varying days off.

Candidates must successfully complete a drug screening and background screening prior to employment.

All prospective candidates will be subject to a sex offender check, criminal background checks (state, local, and national) and pre-employment drug screening for direct care positions.

DJJ participates in E-VERIFY (Employment Eligibility).

When identified on a position description, a valid driver’s license is required. If initially hired with an out-of-state license, the Florida resident must obtain a valid Florida state driver’s license within 30 days of hire. Licenses suspended or revoked for any reason, work permits (Business purpose/Employment/education only licenses) and some types of restricted licenses are not acceptable. Licenses that have Corrective Lenses Restriction are acceptable, provided the driver wears corrective lenses while operating the vehicle.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE

Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.