Substitute School Cafeteria Assistant

Swing Education; Vista (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus for high-need requests

Refer-a-friend bonus $100

Weekly pay

Job summary

Swing Education seeks a Substitute School Cafeteria Assistant (Child Nutrition Services) in Vista, CA, earning $22/hr with weekly pay. Monday–Friday hours align with breakfast and lunch service; no nights or weekends. Work on-site at Vista Unified and nearby campuses, choosing single-day or multi-week assignments.

You will prep and serve meals, operate the POS system, load carts, keep kitchens clean, and follow safety standards. Training and benefits accompany the role.

Qualifications

• Food Handler Card (current San Diego County Card) required before first assignment.
• Background check (Live Scan) and TB risk assessment; scan costs reimbursed after 10th day.
• Experience in a school cafeteria, restaurant kitchen, catering, or other food service.
• Reliable, punctual and able to stand for long periods, lift and carry supplies.
• W-2 employee eligible for medical and 401(k) options.

Responsibilities

• Prep breakfast and lunch items following menus, recipes and portions.
• Serve meals at the line, maintain a friendly service, and keep the line moving.
• Run the register, count meals and use the POS system.
• Load and unload meal carts for service.
• Maintain clean kitchen areas and follow food safety rules.

Skills

Food Handler Card

Background Check

Food service experience

Reliability

Physical endurance

Tools

POS system

Job description

Substitute School Cafeteria Assistant (Child Nutrition Services)

$22/hr, paid weekly | Monday to Friday, school hours | No nights or weekends | Vista, CA

The Opportunity

Vista Unified School District needs dependable Child Nutrition Services (CNS) Assistants to prep and serve breakfast and lunch in its school cafeterias. Pick up day-to-day assignments that fit your week, or take a long-term assignment at one school kitchen. You’ll work alongside each site’s nutrition team so students get breakfast before class and a hot lunch midday.

What You’ll Do Each Day

• Prep the food: Prepare breakfast and lunch items following set menus, recipes, and portion sizes.
• Serve students: Set up the serving line, serve meals with a friendly attitude, and keep the line moving.
• Run the register: Count meals and check students through on the point-of-sale system.
• Load meal carts: Pack and unload hot and cold carts for service.
• Keep the kitchen clean: Wash dishes, pots, and pans, clean work areas, and put away deliveries.
• Follow food safety rules: Handle, store, and label food safely, and follow health and sanitation standards.

What You Bring

• Food Handler Card: A current San Diego County Food Handler Card, required before your first assignment.
• Clearances: A background check (Live Scan fingerprinting) and a quick TB risk assessment. Live Scan cost reimbursed in your paycheck after your 10th day worked.
• Experience (a big plus): Work in a school cafeteria, restaurant kitchen, catering, or other food service setting. Prep cook, line cook, dishwasher, and cashier experience all carry over.
• Physical requirements: Comfortable standing for most of your shift and lifting and carrying food and supplies in a busy kitchen.
• Reliability: You show up on time and help wherever the kitchen needs you.

First time in a school kitchen is fine. If you’ve worked food service anywhere, you already know most of the job.

Where You’ll Work & Your Schedule

• Location: On-site at Vista Unified schools and other North County San Diego schools. An easy commute from Oceanside, San Marcos, Escondido, Carlsbad, and Fallbrook.
• Schedule: Monday through Friday, built around breakfast and lunch service. Hours vary by site. No nights or weekends.
• Flexibility: Choose single-day assignments or long-term assignments that run several weeks.
• Getting oriented: You’ll learn the kitchen, menu, and routines at check-in on day one.
• Pay: $22 per hour, paid weekly every Friday.
• Employment type: W-2 employee with access to medical and 401(k) options.
• Bonuses: Extra pay for high-need and last-minute requests, plus $100 when you refer a friend.
• Priority access: Show up consistently and you may earn Swing Hero status, giving you first look at local requests.
• Free training: Skill-building resources to grow your confidence on the job.

What to Expect After You Apply

• Create your account: Set up your Swing profile in about 10 minutes.
• Upload your Food Handler Card: Add your San Diego County Food Handler Card to your profile so we can verify it.
• Sign your offer letter, then book Live Scan right away: Live Scan is the step that takes the longest, and results can take up to a few weeks, so booking early gets you working sooner.
• Finish your hiring steps online: TB risk assessment, I-9, payroll setup, and a short orientation.
• Pick your first assignment: Most new subs finish onboarding in about three weeks. Then you can choose your first Vista request.

Our support team can help with any step along the way.