Kitchen Staff

Position summary

The kitchen team member will help prepare breakfast and/or lunch items, support the serving line, and take part in occasional catering events. The role involves working across multiple kitchen stations and contributing wherever needed.

About the employer

Opaa! Food Management, Inc. serves schools and communities across 8 Midwestern states. Pay varies by state and role, and exact compensation will be discussed by a hiring manager during the selection process.

Core duties

This role includes food production, service support, cleanliness, food safety, administrative support, and other kitchen-related tasks as assigned.

Production duties

• Help set up serving lines each day and ensure all food stays at the correct temperature; make sure milk coolers are stocked and ready.
• Assist with food preparation based on the menu plan and company recipes, including advance prep for the following day.
• Use slicers, mixers, grinders, and similar equipment when properly certified to do so.
• Keep work areas orderly, sanitary, and well organized.
• Clean kitchen and cafeteria spaces, including equipment and dishes.
• Maintain organized inventory, follow FIFO practices, and keep cooler and storage racks clean and free of debris.
• Clean and monitor dishwashing-area equipment and chemical use; remove cleaned dishes and place them in serving areas.
• Request needed food and supply quantities through the Kitchen Manager.
• Prepare baked items such as bread, cakes, and cookies as required, and present them attractively.
• Use batch cooking methods to preserve quality and presentation.
• Set up serving and buffet lines, verify correct food temperatures, and clean/restock as needed.
• Serve food with proper portions and utensils while maintaining a high standard of presentation and customer service.
• Keep condiment stations, napkins, silverware, dishes, and other serving items stocked.

Compliance duties

• Prepare meals strictly according to the menu plan and company recipes.
• Convert and follow standardized recipes to keep food quality consistent.
• Identify reimbursable meals and follow meal-pattern rules under HHFKA and CACFP.
• Maintain accurate daily production records for each grade group as scheduled.
• Follow HACCP procedures and complete daily, weekly, and monthly food-safety logs, including hot and cold temperature records.
• Follow all safety rules from the company safety manual and act carefully at work.
• Report unsafe conditions to the proper supervisor and take part in the safety incentive program.
• Participate in the daily dish routine.
• Attend required meetings and training sessions, and complete annual continuing-education hours required under HHFKA.
• Support the company's core values: act in the best interest of students, schools, and communities; be honest; serve others with passion; and commit to continuous improvement.
• Comply fully with the company's timekeeping policy.

Administrative duties

• Handle customer payments during service when required, including making change and operating a cash register or computer; only reimbursable meals may be processed through the POS system.
• Complete paperwork, tray counts, and daily meal-reconciliation tasks.
• Record work hours correctly by clocking in and out in ADP or by submitting an edit sheet for missed time.
• Give the DNS at least 24 hours' notice if unable to cover an assigned shift; in an emergency, notify the DNS as soon as practically possible.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical requirements

This position requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, squatting, climbing, balancing, kneeling, crawling, pushing, pulling, grasping, feeling, tasting, smelling, speaking, hearing, and reaching with the hands and arms. The employee must occasionally exert more than 60 pounds of force and/or frequently lift, carry, push, pull, or move items weighing up to 25 pounds. Required vision abilities include focused attention, depth perception, sharp focus, and color vision.

Working conditions

The job may involve both indoor and outdoor work. The employee will frequently work near moving machinery and will often be exposed to wet or humid conditions and high heat. There may also be occasional exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals and extreme cold. Noise levels are usually loud.

Education and qualifications

A high school diploma or GED is preferred. Candidates may also qualify with up to one month of related experience, training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills and abilities

The role calls for the ability to read and understand simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos; write basic correspondence; and communicate clearly with customers, clients, and coworkers in one-on-one and small-group settings. It also requires basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, rate, ratio, percent calculations, and interpreting bar graphs. The candidate should be able to use common sense to follow detailed instructions and solve simple problems in standardized situations.

Equipment used

Common tools and systems in this job include a dishwasher, steamer/kettle, mixer, oven, stove, fryers, slicer, thermometers, gauges, knives, box cutters, meal-counting software, desktop computers, calculator, telephone, fax machine, scanner, copier, and printer.

Equal opportunity

Opaa! is committed to maintaining a diverse workplace and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Compensation note

No fixed pay amount was provided for this posting. Compensation is said to vary by state and position and will be discussed directly with the hiring manager.