Food Service Worker

The Food Service Worker position is a physically demanding dishwashing position requiring manual labour in a fast-paced kitchen environment. The Food Service Worker performs a variety of cleaning and kitchen tasks in a commercial kitchen. The Food Service Worker organizes, cleans and sanitizes the work area, busses and sorts food and waste into appropriate recycling bins, washes and puts away the pans, pots, dishes, and other equipment used in the kitchen, and executes various tasks to assist the other employees responsible for serving and preparing food and beverages including assisting in receiving and stocking supplies. The Food Service Worker maintains and operates commercial dishwashing equipment and reports any repair requirements. This position also oversees the work of volunteers under the guidance and support of the Kitchen Coordinator and Volunteer Program staff.

Specific Duties or Responsibilities

• Performs a variety of cleaning and kitchen tasks including washing, sanitizing, and putting away dishes, utensils, pots, pans, and other kitchen equipment.
• Ensures that the work area is clean, organized, and free from hazards.
• Ensures that all equipment in the dish pit is in clean, safe operating condition and reports any need for repair to the Food Services Coordinator.
• Assists other kitchen staff with receiving supplies and stocking.
• Ensures that dirty dishes are brought to the dish pit, and that food waste and garbage is sorted into appropriate recycling bins.
• Ensures that dishwashing practices (e.g. personal hygiene) are compliant with food safe requirements.
• Establishes and maintains positive relationships and appropriate professional boundaries with staff, volunteers, and community members.
• Works tactfully and compassionately with volunteers who may have drug/alcohol addictions and/or be isolated through poverty, homelessness, mental illness, or other factors of social exclusion.
• Supervises and provides guidance, support, direction and coaching to volunteers as needed in the kitchen and cafeteria.
• Deals tactfully with difficult issues and handles complaints from volunteers and patrons concerning the food services in the Centre, or directs complaints to the Food Services Coordinator.
• Maintains a safe, healthy, and positive environment for staff, volunteers, patrons, and community members to access food services.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Completion of tenth school grade, preferably supplemented with Food Safe training and some experience in dealing with socially and economically disadvantaged populations, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of the methods, supplies and equipment used to clean and sanitize dishes, pots, pans, utensils, equipment and working areas.
• Some knowledge of health hazards in food preparation and service and of necessary precautionary measures.
• Ability to operate modern dishwashing equipment.
• Ability to organize work area efficiently and to establish and maintain an effective work schedule.
• Ability to do physically demanding work in a fast paced, hot, humid environment for long periods of time.
• Ability to work in a standing position for a long period of time.
• Ability to use computer to check and respond to emails.
• Ability to understand and follow regulations, policies and procedures related to food services and Centre operations.