Kitchen Assistant

West Ottawa Public Schools; Michigan; On-site; USD 16,531 - 22,041; Part time

Job summary

West Ottawa Public Schools is seeking a part-time Kitchen Assistant to join our school dining program. You will assist with light food preparation, maintain a clean workspace, and support serving students during meal periods in a fast-paced kitchen.

The role requires physical stamina, ability to stand for long periods, and readiness to follow food safety guidelines. Prior school cafeteria experience is preferred, with ServSafe certification a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a school kitchen or cafeteria preferred.
• ServSafe certified preferred.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 40 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Food Preparation: light prep, follow recipes, maintain clean work area.
• Sanitation: follow food safety guidelines, clean surfaces and equipment.
• Serving Students: assist during meals and address questions about items.
• Other: physical, ability to push/pull/lift up to 40 lbs; fast-paced environment.

Skills

School cafeteria experience

Food safety knowledge

ServSafe certification

Job description

Position Information

Kitchen Assistant JobID: 4069

Position Type: Food Service

Date Posted: 7/22/2026

Date Available: August 2026

Posting Dates: July 22, 2026 – Until Filled

Reports To: Food Director

Beginning: August 2026

Hours: 25 hours per week Monday to Friday School Year/Part Time

Qualifications

• Experience working in a school kitchen or cafeteria preferred.
• ServSafe certified preferred.

Job Responsibilities

• Food Preparation: Responsible for light food prep. Follow recipes and portion guidelines to ensure consistency and quality. Maintain a clean and organized work area at all times.
• Sanitation: Adhere to proper sanitation and food safety guidelines at all times. Clean and sanitize food preparation surfaces, equipment, and utensils. Monitor food temperatures and storage to prevent spoilage and contamination.
• Serving Students: Greet students and staff in a friendly and courteous manner. Serve food items according to portion sizes and dietary restrictions. Assist students with their meals and answer any questions about menu items.
• Other: Physically demanding job. Must be able to push, pull, lift, carry up to 40 lbs. Able to stand for extended periods and work in a fast-paced kitchen environment.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles. Must be able to lift, carry, push and/or pull up to 40pounds
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken work; those activities where detailed or import spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• The worker is subject to environmental conditions.
• The worker should provide consistent and reliable in person attendance.