Food Service Assistant (Part-Time): Houston, TX

As a Food Service Assistant at Bezos Academy, you will organize and serve meals to children at one of our tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschools. You will manage the day-to-day operations in our school kitchen. You will organize the kitchen shelves, prepare the meals for children, manage vendor deliveries, and other related tasks, to ensure Bezos Academy provides delicious and nutritious meals to our preschoolers.

Assuming full ownership of the kitchen and food operations at the school, you will serve meals in accordance with USDA requirements, Bezos Academy policies, and local childcare regulations. Beyond the kitchen, you will occasionally assist school staff and administration with a variety of tasks including inventory checks, laundry, and other ad hoc duties. You will become an integral part of your school team working to improve processes and provide an excellent preschool experience where we nurture every child’s full potential.

LOCATION

We are actively hiring for a part-time Food Service Assistant at our preschool in Houston- Denver Harbor (6402 Market St, Houston, TX 77020).

SCHEDULE, BENEFITS, & COMPENSATION

• You will work a 5-hour shift Monday through Friday (25 hours per week). The precise hours may change based on staff, student, and community needs, but will generally be the following:
  • Houston- Denver Harbor: 8:30am-1:30pm
• This is a benefits-eligible, non-exempt/hourly position.
• Compensation for this position is $21-$31 per hour. The upper third of the compensation range is typically reserved for existing employees who demonstrate strong performance over time. Starting compensation will vary by qualifications and prior experience.
• This role includes 22 paid days of scheduled breaks, 7 paid days of vacation, 3 paid days of personal time off, 7 paid days of sick (care) time, 10 paid holidays, and additional time off if required by applicable law. Benefits for this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match, paid parental leave, an employer-matched flexible spending account for dependent care, and more. Please see here for details. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS  

• Age 18 with high school diploma or GED  
• Ability to pass background checks and complete all trainings required by the state of Texas upon hire
• Knowledge of cooking methods and procedures, including various types of preparation
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand for long periods of time, and perform a variety of repetitive tasks to prepare and serve food safely
• Experience working in an institutional or highly regulated kitchen/food setting with a clear understanding of food preparation best practices and protocols
• Active food manager and food handler certifications completed prior to start of hire (http://www.servsafe.com/servsafe-manager) 
• Ability to speak, read, and write English fluently
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• Experience working within the guidelines of the US Department of Agriculture and Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA/CACFP)
• Two or more years of experience working in a school (preschool, early childhood education, daycare, or K-12 environment) or similar kitchen setting
• Working knowledge of food allergens, intolerances, preferences, and accommodations
• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage delivery, preparation, safe storage, handling, and service of all food for children in the school
• Apply best practices for safe and sanitary food handling when storing, preparing, and serving food
• Maintain kitchen and related environmental/area sanitization, including all small wares, dry storage, coolers, and freezers
• Exercise good judgment in approving invoices and managing food inventory including labeling, dating, rotating, and ensuring foods nearing expiration are properly discarded
• Record and log food temperatures prior to each meal service
• Use technology to place and track orders online and using internal Bezos Academy tracking systems
• Evaluate consumption trends to effectively manage inventory and determine future ordering needs
• Clean, sanitize, and polish work area/kitchen, serving utensils, cookware, and dishes
• Assist in serving meals during family engagement and school events as needed
• Organize and set up meals, snacks, and utensils for meal service
• Ensure accommodation of special dietary needs of children, including but not limited to food allergies and other special needs
• Lift up to 50 pounds, stand for long periods of time, and perform a variety of repetitive tasks to handle and prepare food as needed 
• Assist the Head of School and school staff in other operational duties in the school as necessary when the kitchen work is complete: (e.g., support with laundry, front desk support, and other duties as assigned by the Head of School)
• Consistently attend work as scheduled

Please click here for the full job description.

Bezos Academy participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employee Form I-9 Information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. Bezos Academy only uses E-Verify once a candidate has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. If E-Verify cannot confirm that an employee is authorized to work, Bezos Academy will give the employee written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so the employee can begin to resolve the issue before any adverse employment action is taken. For more information about your right to work, please see the Notice of Right to Work.