Lead Food Service Worker S04, Cornell Dining - Multiple Positions Available

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 33,062 - 34,440; Full time

Job summary

Cornell University is seeking a Lead Food Service Worker to assist in the preparation and presentation of food items. This role requires strong customer service skills and effective communication. The position involves tasks like coordinating work assignments, processing transactions, and maintaining cleanliness and organization.

Preferred candidates will have experience in food service, and the position starts at $24.55 per hour with various schedules required. The role may also involve evening, weekend, and holiday hours, with an anticipated start date of August 10, 2026.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of relevant experience in food service or cash handling.
• Must be able to lift 30 lbs. occasionally and up to 50 lbs.
• Basic proficiency in English involving reading, writing, and verbal articulation.

Responsibilities

• Preparation, delivery, and presentation of food items.
• Coordination of work assignments and monitoring food productions.
• Processing sales transactions and ensuring proper security procedures.

Skills

Customer-service driven

Effective interpersonal skills

Knife skills

Flexibility

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

SO-04 Lead Food Service Worker

Under general supervision, the SO-04 Lead Food Service Worker will serve as a role model for the team by assisting with the preparation, delivery, and presentation of food items as well as coordinating work assignments, monitoring food productions, and assisting with operating the register in a variety of dining units.

Posting is for multiple positions across dining with various schedules. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Anticipated start date: August 10, 2026.
Location and schedule assignments will be based on business needs. The position may require regular evening, weekend, and holiday hours. Daily tasks, locations, and schedules may be subject to change, including the potential for seasonal lay‑offs.

Likely daily tasks include:

• Interacting directly with customers and serving as a role model for other staff members through regular support and mentoring.
• Assisting with the coordination of work assignments, including their own, for the preparation, presentation, and/or service of various food items at a variety of stations to ensure timeliness and customer satisfaction.
• Processing sales transactions, including cash, check, credit, and meal‑plan card transactions, and ensuring established security procedures are followed. Tabulating daily cash and credit‑card transactions for accuracy and preparing for deposit.
• Maintaining cleanliness, stock levels, and organization of assigned areas.
• Assisting with maintaining portion control as specified and helping maintain production sheets by recording amounts of food prepared, served, and leftover in a standardized service‑line worksheet.
• Ensuring that sanitary, HACCP, and NY State Health codes and procedures are maintained in assigned areas, including temperatures, safe handling procedures, proper sanitary restraints, and uniforms.

A successful SO-04 Lead Food Service Worker will be customer‑service driven and flexible, demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills, and be able to work with a varied clientele and coworkers. This role should also commit to learning and instructing others in a team‑oriented way and embrace Cornell Dining’s Code of Professionalism to support the organization’s overarching mission.

This position is part of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. The collective bargaining agreement lists the current rate of pay and the position starts at $24.55 per hour.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and at least 2 years of relevant experience related to food service, barista or cash handling, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Basic proficiency in English involving reading, writing, math, and verbal articulation.
• Must be able to lift 30 lbs. occasionally and up to 50 lbs. (minimal). Must reach overhead, stand for long periods, squat occasionally, bend frequently, and perform repetitive motions such as chopping, stirring, and mixing. Must withstand frequent/continuous exposure to temperature changes and various environmental and sensory impacts, including cold, heat, steam, smoke, slippery floors, and food waste areas. Must be comfortable using kitchen equipment and able to learn the use of advanced cooking equipment as needed.
• Must demonstrate proficient knife skills (applicable to the position) and successfully complete a cooking demonstration as part of the interview process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional education and experience in higher education food service or related restaurant experience is preferred. Knowledge of proper sanitation and HACCP procedures is helpful. ServSafe certification is preferred.

No relocation assistance is provided for this position. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world‑class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy‑related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.