Kitchen Assistant - Part-Time

Mountains-Community-Hospital; Lake Arrowhead (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Mountains Community Hospital is seeking a dependable Kitchen Assistant to support the Nutritional Services Department in providing safe, nutritious meals to patients, employees, visitors, and Meals on Wheels clients. The Kitchen Assistant assists with food preparation, meal service, dishwashing, cleaning, and maintaining a safe and sanitary kitchen environment.

This position follows established menus, therapeutic diet guidelines, standard recipes, portion control requirements, food safety

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• 1–3 months of related food service or hospitality experience preferred.
• Healthcare or institutional kitchen experience preferred but not required.
• Ability to follow therapeutic diet guidelines and portion control.

Responsibilities

• Assist with preparation and service of meals per menus and recipes.
• Prepare food items as directed by supervisor.
• Assist with patient meal trays and ensure accuracy.
• Support meal service for employees, visitors, and Meals on Wheels.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, and personal hygiene.
• Keep kitchen, storage, serving, and dining areas clean.
• Operate kitchen equipment safely and report malfunctions.
• Assist with receiving, storing, and organizing food supplies.
• Maintain inventory levels and report shortages.

Skills

Food preparation basics

Kitchen sanitation practices

Follow recipes and procedures

Therapeutic diet knowledge

Attention to detail

Team communication

Dependability attendance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Kitchen Assistant

Department: Nutritional Services
Reports To: Nutritional Services Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Position Summary

Mountains Community Hospital is seeking a dependable and team-oriented Kitchen Assistant to support the Nutritional Services Department in providing safe, nutritious, and appetizing meals to patients, employees, visitors, and Meals on Wheels clients.

The Kitchen Assistant assists with food preparation, meal service, dishwashing, cleaning, and maintaining a safe and sanitary kitchen environment. This position follows established menus, therapeutic diet guidelines, standard recipes, portion control requirements, food safety regulations, and hospital policies and procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation and service of meals in accordance with established menus, standard recipes, portion control requirements, and therapeutic diet guidelines.
• Prepare food items and ingredients as assigned by the Nutritional Services Manager or designated supervisor.
• Assist with patient meal tray assembly and ensure meals are prepared and served accurately.
• Support meal service for employees, visitors, and Meals on Wheels clients, as applicable.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, infection prevention, and personal hygiene requirements.
• Maintain clean and sanitary food preparation, storage, serving, and dining areas.
• Wash dishes, utensils, pots, pans, and kitchen equipment according to established procedures.
• Assist with receiving, storing, rotating, and organizing food and supplies.
• Follow proper food storage, labeling, dating, and temperature-monitoring procedures.
• Assist with maintaining appropriate inventory levels and reporting shortages or concerns to the supervisor.
• Properly operate kitchen equipment and report malfunctioning or unsafe equipment.
• Follow all Mountains Community Hospital policies, procedures, and safety requirements.
• Work collaboratively with other Nutritional Services team members to provide excellent service.
• Assist in training or providing guidance to support staff as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or General Education Degree (GED) preferred.
• One to three months of related food service, kitchen, dietary, or hospitality experience preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in a healthcare, institutional, or commercial kitchen environment is preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic food preparation and kitchen sanitation practices.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, recipes, menus, and established procedures.
• Ability to understand and follow therapeutic diet guidelines and portion control requirements.
• Knowledge of safe food handling and sanitation practices.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining effective communication with supervisors and team members.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to cleanliness and food safety.
• Ability to provide courteous and professional service to patients, residents, employees, visitors, and community members.
• Ability to maintain regular and reliable attendance.

Why Join Mountains Community Hospital?

At Mountains Community Hospital, every employee plays an important role in supporting our patients, coworkers, and community. As a member of our Nutritional Services team, you will contribute directly to the health and well-being of those we serve while working in an environment guided by our core values:

Compassion | Accountability | Respect | Excellence | Service

Mountains Community Hospital is an equal opportunity employer.