Substitute - Student Nutrition Services

ReNEW Schools; California, Northern (MO, KY); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Part time

Job summary

San José Unified is seeking a Substitute Student Nutrition team member to ensure students have access to nutritious meals in a safe, welcoming environment. Your flexibility and reliability help maintain continuity of service so students feel supported, cared for, and ready to learn each day.

By stepping in where needed, you directly support the operation of school meal programs and the district's commitment to student health, equity, and success.

Qualifications

• Completion of 10th grade, or any combination of education, experience and training which is equivalent.
• Dependable and adaptable professional who works well with students and staff.
• Able to follow procedures, learn routines quickly and maintain cleanliness and safety.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation and service of nutritious meals per district menus and guidelines.
• Follow food safety, sanitation, and hygiene procedures to keep a clean service area.
• Set up and clean food service areas and equipment before, during, and after meals.
• Operate kitchen equipment safely as trained.
• Support inventory organization, storage, and proper rotation of supplies.
• Assist with meal counts and basic documentation as required.
• Provide friendly, respectful customer service to students, staff, and visitors.
• Work collaboratively with site staff to ensure meals run smoothly and on schedule.
• Adapt quickly to different school sites, schedules, and teams.
• Report equipment, safety, or food service concerns promptly to supervisors.
• Performing other related duties as assigned to support food service operations.

Skills

Customer service

Food safety

Teamwork

Adaptability

Education

Completion of 10th grade or equivalent

Tools

Kitchen equipment operation

Job description

The impact you will have:

As a Substitute Student Nutrition team member, you play an important role in ensuring students have access to nutritious meals in a safe, welcoming environment—especially when regular staff are absent. Your flexibility and reliability help maintain continuity of service so students feel supported, cared for, and ready to learn each day. By stepping in where needed, you directly support the smooth operation of school meal programs and San José Unified’s commitment to student health, equity, and success.

Who you are:

You are a dependable, adaptable professional who enjoys working with students and supporting school communities. You are comfortable stepping into new environments, following established procedures, and learning routines quickly. You bring strong attention to cleanliness, food safety, and customer service, and you understand the importance of teamwork and professionalism. You are flexible, responsive, and committed to providing a positive experience for students, staff, and families.

As a Substitute Student Nutrition team member, responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting with the preparation and service of nutritious meals in accordance with district menus, portion standards, and nutrition guidelines.
• Following all food safety, sanitation, and hygiene procedures to ensure a clean and compliant food service environment.
• Setting up and cleaning food service areas and equipment before, during, and after meal service.
• Operating kitchen equipment safely and efficiently, as trained.
• Supporting inventory organization, food storage, and proper rotation of supplies.
• Assisting with meal counts and basic documentation, as required.
• Providing friendly, respectful customer service to students, staff, and visitors.
• Working collaboratively with site staff to ensure meal service runs smoothly and on schedule.
• Adapting quickly to different school sites, schedules, and team structures.
• Reporting equipment, safety, or food service concerns promptly to site supervisors.
• Performing other related duties as assigned to support food service operations.

What you need for this position:

• Completion of 10th grade, or any combination of education, experience and training which is equivalent
• Resume

Location:

• Student Nutrition Services Department

SB 848 Child Safety & Employment Disclosure Requirement

Effective January 1, 2026, in accordance with California Senate Bill 848 (School Employee Misconduct/Child Abuse Prevention Act), applicants for employment with San José Unified are subject to enhanced child safety, training, and employment disclosure requirements.

Under SB 848, schools are required to strengthen background vetting procedures and obtain employment history information related to allegations of egregious misconduct involving students. Former employers may be contacted to release records regarding substantiated findings of misconduct as permitted by law. Failure to provide complete and accurate information regarding prior educational employment or relevant misconduct findings may result in disqualification from the hiring process or withdrawal of an offer of employment.

SB 848 also expands mandated reporter requirements and requires annual child abuse prevention training for employees and certain volunteers by July 1, 2026. All employees must comply with district-adopted child safety policies, including procedures for supervising and protecting students.

San José Unified is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and will review all disclosures and employment records in accordance with state law.

• When will you hear back from us: Within a short period of applying, we will inform you if you will be moving forward in our hiring process and share next steps. If there is a delayed response, feel free to reach out to [e-mail].