Kitchen Assistant

West Ottawa Public Schools; United States; On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

Lakewood Elementary School is seeking a part-time cafeteria assistant for 10 hours per week, Monday through Friday, beginning September 2026. You will greet students, assist with meals, and keep a clean, welcoming dining area.

Responsibilities include sanitation, dishwashing, light food preparation, and occasional cash register duties. The job is physically demanding, requiring standing, lifting up to 40 lbs, and a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Cafeteria Monitoring: Greet students and staff in a friendly and courteous manner.
• Sanitation: Clean and sanitize surfaces, monitor food temperatures and storage.
• Dishwashing: Wash, rinse, and sanitize dishes and utensils.
• Food Preparation: May assist with light food preparation and portioning.
• Running Register: May assist with operating the cash register.
• Other: Able to lift up to 40 lbs and work in a fast-paced kitchen.

Skills

Experience in school kitchen

Food safety

ServSafe certified

Customer service

Job description

Lakewood Elementary School

Posting Dates: September 23, 2026 – Until Filled

Reports To: Food Director

Beginning: September, 2026

Hours: 10 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:

• Cafeteria Monitoring: Greet students and staff in a friendly and courteous manner. Keep a clean and welcoming cafeteria environment. Wash and lift tables at the end of the lunch period. Empty full trash bins and take trash to outside dumpster. Assist students with their meals and answer any questions about menu items.
• 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.
• Dishwashing: Assist with 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.
• Food Preparation: May assist with light food preparation. Follow recipes and portion guidelines to ensure consistency and quality. Maintain a clean and organized work area at all times.
• Running Register: May assist with operating the cash register.
• 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.