Student Food Service Assistant — Kitchen & Cashier

University at Buffalo Campus Dining & Shops; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 20,664 - 24,796; Part time

Job summary

University at Buffalo Campus Dining & Shops is hiring for part-time positions to assist with food preparation, cooking, and service. Students will help provide high-quality meals to the campus community and ensure customer satisfaction. Responsibilities include maintaining sanitation standards, operating food service equipment, and performing general cleaning duties. Applicants must be registered students and able to lift 30+ pounds. This role is ideal for students looking for flexible job opportunities while attending classes.

Qualifications

• Must be able to work quickly and efficiently in a high-volume operation.
• Must be positive, respectful, and friendly with guests.
• Professional appearance, demeanor, and good hygiene are required.
• Ability to lift 30+ pounds and remain standing or move about on feet for the entire shift.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with the preparation, cooking, and serving of food.
• Cleaning and maintaining sanitation standards in food preparation.
• Direct interaction with customers including handling money.

Skills

Ability to work efficiently

Positive attitude

Customer service

Ability to lift 30+ pounds

Good hygiene

Education

Must be registered as a student

Job description

Brief Description

Please be advised that this position is for the Fall 2026 Semester and students that are hired will not receive schedules to work until August 2026 at the start of the Fall Semester.

Job Classification

Part Time

May incur lay-offs during University recess periods

Present Schedule

You will receive a set schedule once you are hired for the entire semester. Schedules are based on business needs and we work around your availability/class schedule.

Position Summary

Campus Dining and Shops is one of the largest student employers on campus. We depend on our student employees to help run our operations effectively and provide high quality meals to students, faculty, staff and visitors in a timely manner with an emphasis on customer service. Duties of this role entail assisting our full time staff members with the preparation, cooking, and serving of food in our various locations. It may also include cashiering and general food service duties and cleaning. Employees are responsible for maintaining sanitation standards in food preparation, service, and dining room facilities. Employees in this role may be working a register, washing dishes, performing general cleaning duties, or working in the kitchen with our cooks and chefs to cut, dice, slice, and chop fresh vegetables, fruit, preparing and serving various meats (pork, chicken, beef) and seafood, following recipes, and following food safety protocols. In this role you will be trained in relevant food service regulations, standards, and guidelines to ensure the safe handling and serving of all meals to our guests.

Brief Description

Please be advised that this position is for the Fall 2026 Semester and students that are hired will not receive schedules to work until August 2026 at the start of the Fall Semester.

Job Classification

Student Food Service EmployeeDepartmentCampus Dining and Shops- Food Service (may be assigned to work in any food service location on either North or South campus - we attempt to schedule near classes/residential address of employee)StatusPart Time

May incur lay-offs during University recess periodsStarting RateMinimum WagePresent Schedule

Note that stated hours and days may vary based on company needs, late nights and weekends ARE required. You will receive a set schedule once you are hired for the entire semester. Schedules are based on business needs and we work around your availability/class schedule.

Position Summary

Campus Dining and Shops is one of the largest student employers on campus. We depend on our student employees to help run our operations effectively and provide high quality meals to students, faculty, staff and visitors in a timely manner with an emphasis on customer service. Duties of this role entail assisting our full time staff members with the preparation, cooking, and serving of food in our various locations. It may also include cashiering and general food service duties and cleaning. Employees are responsible for maintaining sanitation standards in food preparation, service, and dining room facilities. Employees in this role may be working a register, washing dishes, performing general cleaning duties, or working in the kitchen with our cooks and chefs to cut, dice, slice, and chop fresh vegetables, fruit, preparing and serving various meats (pork, chicken, beef) and seafood, following recipes, and following food safety protocols. In this role you will be trained in relevant food service regulations, standards, and guidelines to ensure the safe handling and serving of all meals to our guests.

Job Requirements

• Must be able to work quickly and efficiently in a high-volume operation.
• Must be positive and respectful and friendly with guests.
• Must be able to work late nights (12:30am), weekends, very few shifts are available for early mornings (7am) and/or shifts based on the business needs on either North or South Campus.
• Professional appearance, demeanor, and good hygiene are required.
• The ability to lift 30+ pounds, remain in a stationary standing position, or move about on your feet for the entire shift scheduled, as well as position oneself as the job requires.
• Take direction from all members of management, including student leaders.
• Regular attendance for scheduled shifts is required.
• Must attend any required training sessions or classes which may be virtual or in person.
• Student employees must be registered for classes at the University or show proof of registration from another institution.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must be able to work a minimum of 4 hours per shift, for a minimum of 12 hours per week. Students are required to be scheduled at least 12 hours per week and must maintain a minimum of 12 hours worked on a weekly basis. Schedules and shifts are based on business needs, shifts may vary in length.
  
  
  

Job Assignments

• Typical job duties may include but are not limited to cooking, preparing, and serving food in our food service operations.
• General food service/preparation duties including handling a knife and chopping vegetables and cutting/preparing various meats.
• Must be able to handle meat (chicken, beef, pork, seafood) with gloves on, handling meat products is a requirement of the role and essential function of the position.
• General clean up duties including cleaning up dishes or prep areas.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Station set up, breakdown, and restocking.
• Direct interaction with customer including handling money and UB cards.
• Keep a neat, clean, and sanitized work area.
• Must work consistently and productively during entire shift.
• General cleaning including dish washing and other food service duties or tasks as requested by management and supervisors.
• Additional duties as assigned and requested by management.
  
  
  

Work Environment

• The work environment can be loud and busy. There is exposure to kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and liquids, sharp knives, and slippery floors.
• The position operates in a kitchen environment where the employee is frequently exposed to heat, steam, fire, and noise.
• Work area maybe be limited in space and would require you to work in small spaces with other employees.
• Exposure to extreme temperatures in coolers and freezers.
• Work may take place in a refrigerated preparation cooler and temperature-controlled environment (working in a large refrigerated cooler).
  
  
  

Physical and Mental Demands

• The position is very active and the employee must be able to stand and walk for up to a minimum of 4 hours per shift for a minimum of 8 hours per week.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The position requires manual dexterity; auditory and visual skills; and the ability to follow written and oral instructions and procedures.
• The employee must have the ability to use hands to finger, manipulate fingers; and reach with hands and arms, to stir, measure, pour, cut, chop, dice, and decorate, etc.
• The position requires working taste buds, ability to smell, feel with fingers and visually inspect, include close and distance vision.
• The employee must frequently lift and or move up to 30 lbs. and occasionally lift and or move up to 50 lbs.
  
  
  

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Campus Dining and Shops is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, gender, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, veteran status, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the University community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely based upon a protected characteristic. Campus Dining and Shops policy is in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and harassment. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, and the New York State Human Rights Law. These laws prohibit discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual violence.