School Cook & Cafeteria Associate

LIVIT Staffing Solutions; West Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

LIVIT Staffing Solutions seeks a dependable School Cook / Food Service Associate for a High School in West Des Moines, IA. You will lead breakfast service, help prepare lunch, and assist with cashiering and student interactions in a fast-paced school kitchen.

The ideal candidate has prior cafeteria or food-service experience, can work independently in breakfast and with the team at lunch, and maintains food-safety standards with a professional, friendly approach around students and staff.

Qualifications

• Experience in cooking, cafeteria, restaurant, or food-service preferred.
• Comfortable preparing breakfast and basic food prep.
• Reliable attendance and punctuality required.
• Ability to stand for extended periods in a school setting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and serve breakfast items during morning service.
• Manage breakfast service timing and restock for lunch.
• Prepare items and stations for lunch; assist with serving.
• Operate POS system and handle light cashier duties.
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of kitchen and serving areas.

Skills

Breakfast service

Cashier / POS handling

Food safety

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Tools

POS system

Job description

School Cook / Food Service AssociateLocation: High School Food ServiceSchedule: Monday-Friday, 6:00AM - 2:30PMEmployment Type: Full-Time or Part-TimePay: Based on experiencePosition OverviewWe are seeking a dependable and friendly School Cook / Food Service Associate to support daily food-service operations in a high school setting. This position will take the lead during breakfast service, prepare food and supplies for lunch, and assist with cashiering and customer service.The ideal candidate enjoys working in a fast-paced kitchen, is comfortable interacting with students and school staff, and understands the importance of food safety and professionalism when working in a school environment.ResponsibilitiesPrepare, cook, and serve breakfast items during morning service.Manage the breakfast service period, ensuring food is prepared and available on time.Monitor food quality, temperature, portion size, and presentation.Clean and reset the breakfast area following service.Prep ingredients, food items, and serving stations for lunch.Assist the kitchen team during lunch service as needed.Operate a point-of-sale system and handle light cashier duties.Provide friendly and professional service to students, teachers, and school staff.Restock food, beverages, utensils, and service supplies.Maintain a clean and organized kitchen, serving line, and work area.Follow established food-safety, sanitation, and allergen-handling procedures.Complete opening, closing, and routine cleaning duties.Follow all school policies regarding appropriate conduct and interactions with students.QualificationsPrevious cooking, cafeteria, restaurant, or food-service experience preferred.Comfortable preparing breakfast foods and performing basic food prep.Ability to work independently during breakfast service and as part of a team during lunch.Basic cashier/POS and customer-service skills.Dependable attendance and punctuality are essential.Able to stand for extended periods and perform normal food-service activities, including lifting and carrying supplies.Must be comfortable working in a school environment around minors.Employment is contingent upon successfully completing all background screening required for the position and school environment.Food-handler or food-safety certification preferred or ability to obtain if required.Ideal CandidateWe are looking for someone who is:Dependable and punctualFriendly and approachableComfortable working around high school studentsOrganized and able to manage morning serviceSafety and sanitation focusedAble to transition quickly from breakfast service into lunch preparationProfessional when interacting with students, staff, and visitorsTypical Daily FlowMorning: Set up, prepare, and manage breakfast serviceAfter breakfast: Clean, restock, and transition the kitchen for lunchLate morning: Food preparation and setup for lunchLunch: Assist with serving, cashiering, and customer serviceAfter service: Cleanup, restocking, and preparation for the next service periodWhy This RoleThis is a great opportunity for someone with restaurant, cafeteria, catering, or institutional food-service experience who wants a consistent weekday schedule in a school setting. The position offers variety without requiring traditional evening restaurant hours.Equal Opportunity Employer: Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.