Kitchen Assistant

Applitrack; Michigan; On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

West Ottawa Public Schools is seeking a part-time cafeteria helper to assist with food preparation for breakfast and lunch programs. You will work under the food director, ensuring timely service and compliance with safety guidelines in a fast-paced kitchen.

The role requires ability to stand for long periods, lift up to 40 lbs, and maintain a clean work area. Prior kitchen experience in a school environment is preferred; ServSafe certification is a plus.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Food preparation: assist the main cook of breakfast and lunch, follow recipes for consistency.
• Sanitation: maintain safe food handling and sanitize surfaces/equipment.
• Serving students: assist with meal service and accommodate dietary needs.
• Running register: operate cash register and process transactions, balance drawer.
• Dishwashing: clean and sanitize dishes, carts, and utensils.

Skills

School kitchen experience

ServSafe certification

Job description

Frontline Applicant Tracking - West Ottawa Public Schools

• Riley Farms Elementary School

Reports To: Food Director

Beginning: October, 2026

Hours: 29.75 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: Assist the main cook of all breakfast and lunch meals. 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 meal selections and answer any questions about food items.
• Running Register: Operate the cash register and accurately process transactions.Handle cash in accordance with established procedures. Balance cash drawer at the end of each shift.
• Dishwashing: Dishwashing duties as needed, including washing, rinsing, and sanitizing dishes, carts and utensils. Ensure that all dishes are properly cleaned and stored for future use.
• Stocking/Ordering: Assist with putting away GFS order in dry storage, coolers and freezers.
• 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.