Kitchen Assistant - High School Student (part-time)

Bowdoinham Country Store; Brunswick (ME); On-site; USD 19,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, is seeking a part-time Kitchen Assistant/Dining Hall Assistant to support food production and service in our Dining Halls. The role is entry-level and onsite, with opportunities to assist both front and back of house.

The position emphasizes safety, teamwork, and dependable scheduling in a fast-paced campus dining environment. The hourly rate is $16.80, with applicable shift differentials.

Qualifications

• 9th grade education or higher is required; must be at least 16 years of age.
• Current ServSafe certification or complete the online food safety course upon hire.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Strong commitment to dependability and punctuality.
• Ability to understand and practice recycling and sustainability practices.
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to follow written and verbal direction.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Working knowledge of good personal hygiene practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist with ingredient preparation for recipes for hot and cold foods.
• Assist with servery setup, service, and replenishment.
• Prepare and display food; ensure portion control.
• Assist in dishwashing and cleanup tasks across kitchen and dining areas.
• Perform sanitation duties and maintain cleanliness of prep stations and lines.
• Greet and assist dining service patrons; provide coverage as needed.

Skills

ServSafe certification

Problem solving

Dependability

Teamwork

Sustainability practices

Fast-paced environment

Follow directions

Hygiene practices

Knife skills

Education

9th grade education or higher

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

If selected as a finalist, you will be required to submit information for three references, including name, email address, phone number and how you know the reference.

Title

Posting Number

Posting Number C00432JP

Department

Job Summary

Located in Brunswick, Maine, Bowdoin College boasts a student population of almost 2000. Our Dining Services Department makes everything from scratch and are consistently rated in the top 10 for college dining! We have our own butcher shop, bakeshop, and organic garden that all supply food to our two dining halls and three retail locations. Under supervision of dining supervisors and regular staff, we are seeking a Kitchen Assistant/Dining Hall Assistant to join our team. This is a part-time, entry-level role that supports food production and service operations at Bowdoin College's Dining Halls. Responsibilities include:

• Assisting with ingredient preparation for use in recipes for both hot and cold food production, being mindful of cross contamination of foods
• Assisting with servery set-up, service, and replenishment
• Following appropriate food prepping, handling and storage procedures; Preparing food as a display or egg cook; Serving food while adhering to portion control and serving procedures
• Assisting in dishwashing tasks including scraping dirty dishes, loading and unloading pot and dish machine, and stacking clean dishware
• Assisting in sanitation duties including cleaning preparation station and hot line, holding and dispensing equipment, sweeping and mopping kitchen, dining room and service area, and wiping walls, tables and chairs
• Greeting and assisting dining service patrons
• Providing coverage for the front and back of the house, filling in as needed

The hourly rate for this position is $16.80 per hour. Shift differentials (2nd shift - 10% shift differential, 3rd shift - 15% shift differential, plus an additional $1.00/hour during weekend working hours).

Education/Skills Requirements

• 9th grade education or higher is required; must be at least 16 years of age
• Current ServSafe certification or complete the online food safety course upon hire
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Strong commitment to dependability and punctuality
• Ability to understand and practice recycling and sustainability practices
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to follow written and verbal direction
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Working knowledge of good personal hygiene practices

Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents

• Entry level position, no prior work experience required
• At least one year of experience inbasic food production and/or ingredient preparation techniques and basic knife skills (i.e. chopping, dicing, slicing) highly preferred

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications in this posting to be considered for hire.

Standard Work Days and Hours

• This is an onsite, part-time, non-benefit eligible position working less than 20 hours/ week
• There is opportunity for flexible scheduling with shifts available in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
• Scheduling accommodations are available based on the candidate’s availability

Employment at Bowdoin College is contingent upon satisfactory completion of applicable background checks including but not limited to: criminal records, educational verifications, driving records (when job-related), and/or credit history (when job related). We regret that Bowdoin College is unable to provide visa sponsorship for staff positions.

About Bowdoin

Bowdoin embraces diversity in all forms, and the College is home to talented students, faculty and staff— with a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; religious beliefs; and gender identities, among other factors. We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College’s multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed. Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin's reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine. Bowdoin's campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.

Shift

Shift N/A

Employment Category

Employment Category Casual

Benefits Eligible

Benefits Eligible No

Pay Type

Pay Type Hourly

Background Check Package Requirements Support Staff

Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Bowdoin vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job?

Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Bowdoin vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job? No

Is a pre-placement physical required for this position?

Is a pre-placement physical required for this position? Yes

Posting Date

Posting Date 08/07/2026

Applications Accepted Until

Open Until Filled No

Type of Posting

Type of Posting Internal/External

Special Instructions to Applicants

If selected as a finalist, you will be required to submit information for three references, including name, email address, phone number and how you know the reference.

EEO Information

Bowdoin College complies with applicable provisions of federal and state laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment, admission, or access to its educational or extracurricular programs, activities, or facilities based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry and national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, place of birth, genetic predisposition, veteran status, or against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities on the basis of disability, or any other legally protected statuses.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this position?
  • Indeed.com
  • Chronicle of Higher Education
  • Diverse Issues in Higher Ed
  • Facebook
  • Glassdoor
  • Google Search
  • HigherEdJobs.com
  • InsideHigherEd.com
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • MANP
  • Maine Job Link
  • LiveandWorkinMaine.com
  • Employee Referral
  • Bowdoin College Website
  • Radio Ad
  • TechMaine
  • NCAA
  • CASE
  • Other
• If you answered Employee Referral or Other, please specify here:

  (Open Ended Question)

• * What days are you available to work during the week? (list days available)

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Are there any days of the week and hours that you are unavailable to work?

  (Open Ended Question)