Kitchen Assistant

West Ottawa Public Schools; White Hall (AR); On-site; USD 18,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

West Ottawa Public Schools seeks a Kitchen Assistant at West Ottawa High School, starting August 2026, for about 26.25 hours per week, Monday through Friday, during the school year.

Light food prep, sanitation, serving students, operating a cash register, and dishwashing are core duties; the role requires physical stamina and the ability to work in a fast-paced school kitchen.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Food preparation for breakfast and lunch, following recipes and portions.
• Maintain sanitation and monitor temperatures and storage.
• Serve meals to students and staff; assist with questions.
• Run cash register, process transactions, balance drawer.
• Dishwashing and ware washing; ensure proper storage.
• Physical: lift up to 40 lbs; stand for extended periods.

Job description

Notice of Support Staff Posting
Position: Kitchen Assistant Posting # 4107

• West Ottawa High School

Posting Dates: August 26, 2026 Until Filled
Reports To: Food Director
Beginning: August, 2026
Hours: 26.25 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 including 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 their meals and answer any questions about menu items.
• Running Register: Operate cash register and accurately process transactions. Handle cash in accordance with established procedures. Balance cash drawer at the end of each shift.
• 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.
• 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 40 pounds
• 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.