Utility Lead

Swarthmore College; Swarthmore (Delaware County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Swarthmore College’s dining services seeks a dishwasher/pot room supervisor to oversee the dish and pot team, ensure sanitation, and support daily service in a fast-paced campus setting. The role requires supervisory experience in a food service environment and strong customer service and communication skills.

The position emphasizes teamwork, adherence to safety protocols, and reliable performance during peak meal times, with pay at $28.29 per hour and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• High school degree or equivalent with 1 year of supervisory experience in a food service establishment.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

• Be sure the team is in place and ready to work according to schedule.
• Checks all warewashing chemical and machine temperature levels to ensure they are meeting the standard.
• Reports to manager on duty of any discrepancies.
• Ensures the team is performing assigned tasks during meal times and following up with sanitation assignments through their shifts.
• Ensures employees follow their break schedules.
• Assist manager with feedback for performance reviews
• Ensure the cleaning procedures checklist is complete in the dishroom, pulper room, and extruder rooms.
• Load and unload the dishwasher. Transport dishes, utensils, pots and pans and other smallwares to serving lines, pot racks, and catering storage.
• Sorts silverware into proper dispensers to ensure continuous availability throughout the meal period.
• Transports and sets up dishes, glassware, trays and utensils to the serving lines throughout the meal period.
• Washes/scrubs by hand and stores pots, pans, and utensils in order to ensure cleanliness and availability for future use.
• Monitors cleaning chemicals on the dish machine, pot sink, pulper room and extruders to ensure proper sanitation of equipment.
• Monitors temperature levels and reports any malfunctions to a manager.
• Sweep and mop floors as well as walk in boxes and storage rooms.
• Removes trash, recyclables and compostables and places incorrect receptacles.
• Keeps the loading dock clean and organized.
• Assists receivers in down time.
• Wash daily all carts including food and pot carts
• Breaks down and clean area of dish machine, pulper and extruders as instructed by task sheet posted at the dish room

Skills

Supervisory experience

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ServSafe certification

Job description

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‑acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

Swarthmore Dining is dedicated to serving our community with nutritious and satisfying food in a welcoming environment everyday. Our mission is to offer a diverse menu that features high-quality ingredients, emphasizing locally grown and sustainably produced products whenever possible. We are committed to inclusive dining by ensuring vegetarian, vegan, and accommodations for dietary restrictions are always available. As a self-operated dining program encompassing Residential Dining, we pride ourselves on providing a work-life balance that is often difficult to find in the restaurant industry. Join us at Swarthmore Dining to be a part of a vibrant community committed to quality, sustainability, and exceptional service in a state-of-the-art kitchen setting.

The opportunity:

Oversees the Utility (Dish & Pots) team to ensure that all staff are following proper cleaning and sanitation protocols and procedures. Ensures proper chemicals are being used and accurate dish machine temperatures are maintained. Provides timely and reliable cleaning and maintenance support for Swarthmore Dining. Ensures the availability of a clean and sanitary supply of dishware, glassware, trays, pots, pans, utensils, and/or other smallwares. Responsible for cleaning of equipment, kitchen, and floors as needed throughout each meal period. Maintains and sanitizes the dish machine & pot area, pulper room and extruder room. Ensures a clean dining service facility. Must interact well with customers, co-workers and supervisors. Must work effectively, both independently and as a team member. Typical duties and expectations are described below, but may also include other duties as assigned.

Essential Responsibilities

• Be sure the team is in place and ready to work according to schedule.
• Checks all warewashing chemical and machine temperature levels to ensure they are meeting the standard.
• Reports to manager on duty of any discrepancies.
• Ensures the team is performing assigned tasks during meal times and following up with sanitation assignments through their shifts.
• Ensures employees follow their break schedules.
• Assist manager with feedback for performance reviews
• Ensure the cleaning procedures checklist is complete in the dishroom, pulper room, and extruder rooms.
• Load and unload the dishwasher. Transport dishes, utensils, pots and pans and other smallwares to serving lines, pot racks, and catering storage.
• Sorts silverware into proper dispensers to ensure continuous availability throughout the meal period.
• Transports and sets up dishes, glassware, trays and utensils to the serving lines throughout the meal period.
• Washes/scrubs by hand and stores pots, pans, and utensils in order to ensure cleanliness and availability for future use.
• Monitors cleaning chemicals on the dish machine, pot sink, pulper room and extruders to ensure proper sanitation of equipment.
• Monitors temperature levels and reports any malfunctions to a manager.
• Sweep and mop floors as well as walk in boxes and storage rooms.
• Removes trash, recyclables and compostables and places incorrect receptacles.
• Keeps the loading dock clean and organized.
• Assists receivers in down time.
• Wash daily all carts including food and pot carts
• Breaks down and clean area of dish machine, pulper and extruders as instructed by task sheet posted at the dish room

Additional Responsibilities

• Familiar with the location and information on the MSDS that describes the cleaning chemicals used, and how to use them safely.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises the day-to-day work of approximately 6-8 staff per shift.
• Effectively performs the following:
  • Organize workflow and ensure employees understand their duties or delegated tasks.
  • Provide fair, constructive, and timely feedback.
  • Communicate with the Associate Residential Manager to elevate performance or attendance issues.
• Participate in supervisory training opportunities.
• Maintains a safe, diverse, and inclusive work environment.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• High school degree or equivalent with 1 year of supervisory experience in a food service establishment.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly.

Preferred Qualifications

• High School degree with 1-2 years supervisory experience in a food service establishment
• ServSafe certified

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role!

The pay for this position is $28.29 per hour, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Preview our Benefits Flyer . We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2026 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.

Advertised:

Aug 26 2026 Eastern Daylight Time