Kitchen Assistant

Douglas County School District; Crest Hill (IL); On-site; USD 24,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision

Dental

HSA

FSA

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability insurance

EAP

401(k)

403(b)

457 retirement plan options

Job summary

Douglas County School District is seeking a Kitchen Assistant for Cresthill Middle School in Crest Hill, IL. You will assist in daily lunch program prep, service and sanitation, while upholding safety and HACCP standards.

The role requires teamwork, strong communication skills and flexibility to handle diverse tasks across multiple schools as needed.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders.
• Strong English verbal and written communication.
• Good organizational and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Build positive relationships with students, staff, parents and community members.
• Maintain confidentiality of student information.
• Complete USDA Mandatory Professional Standards training hours annually.
• Operate Point of Sale (POS) system and reconcile monies daily.
• Assist in meal preparation, service and sanitation following HACCP standards.
• Assist in set up and cleanup of serving areas to ensure timely service.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Positive attitude

Policy compliance

Time management

Reading comprehension

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Job description

Job Posting Title

Kitchen Assistant

Job Description

Responsible for providing assistance in the daily preparation of the school lunch program. Develops and promotes good community relations among various community members and school clientele.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Frequent standing, reaching, lifting (including occasional overhead lifting), bending, kneeling, stooping, squatting, climbing, pushing, twisting, and pulling items weighing 40 lbs or less. Standing or walking 95% of the work day
• Occasional climbing and balancing using step stool
• Repetitive motions including lifting, keypad entry, chopping, filling and sealing packaging. Make fast repeated movements of fingers, hands and wrists.
• Use both hands to grasp, grip, move or operate objects or equipment

Responsibilities

Pursue opportunities to create positive relationships with the surrounding community, including other Nutrition Services staff, school staff, students and parents. Must have a focus on customer service. Must be pleasant, cooperative and able to work with a wide variety of people. Flexibility in learning new concepts, cooperates with others, and adapts to a variety of assignments and conditions.

Communicates effectively in both written and verbal form, including electronic mail and computers. Maintains confidentiality of all student information.

Participate in training to include PGI Classes. May lead training for other kitchen staff members. Must annually complete all USDA Mandatory Professional Standards training hours, as required by position category. Actively pursues upcoming regulatory changes and provides sustainable solutions.

Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

Willing to travel to multiple schools based on the needs of sites, if requested. Flexibility in work schedule to meet the demands of the kitchen sites.

Assist in the preparation, service, and sale of meals ensuring compliance with department regulations. Preparation of meals can include washing, cleaning, peeling, cutting and chopping fresh fruits, vegetables and meat items. Must follow standard recipe, proper portion sizes and verbal instructions.

Assist in the proper set up and cleanup of serving areas for timely service to students, including dishwashing and proper sanitation of work stations. Follows and understands all HACCP standards. Uses all kitchen equipment properly. Cleans equipment properly and follows all safety precautions.

Serve meals daily while complying with all school food regulations and ensure health department sanitation standards. This includes ensuring the proper cooking and serving temperatures of foods are taken and recorded as required by HACCP standards.

Independently follows menu and recipe instructions. Must produce and understand the regulations regarding preparation, proper food temperatures, appearance and portion sizes.

Assists in unloading and proper storage of delivered food items.

Learn and Operate Point of Sale system and reconcile monies daily to ensure accuracy.

Education

High School or Equivalent

Skills

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to support positive outcomes, Effective oral and written communication skills, Maintains a generally positive attitude, Observes all District policies and procedures, Strong organizational and time management skills, Verbal and written communication skills in English and a demonstrated ability to read and comprehend written/graphic and oral instructions

Position Type

Regular

Primary Location

Cresthill Middle School

One Year Only (Yes or No)

No

Scheduled Hours Per Week

30

FTE

0.75

Approx Scheduled Days Per Year

172 Work Days

• (260 days indicates a year-round position. Time off [or Off-Track Days] are then granted based on the position. Any exceptions to the normal off-track time will be noted in the Additional Position Details section above, as scheduled work days.)

Minimum Hire Rate

$17.39 USD Hourly

Maximum Hire Rate

$22.14 USD Hourly

Full Salary Range

$17.39 USD - $26.89 USD Hourly

Benefits

• health
• vision
• dental
• health savings account (HSA)
• flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• District paid and voluntary additional (supplemental) life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• short and long-term disability
• critical illness and accident voluntary insurance
• employee assistance program (EAP)
• voluntary 401(k)
• 403(b)
• 457 retirement plan options

Time Off Plans

• This position is eligible for paid sick and personal time.

This position will be open until filled, but will not be open past: December 16, 2026