Food Service Worker Jobs

The Opportunity: Do you have a food service background working at a restaurant, cafeteria, kitchen, or similar environment? Are you interested in expanding your experience to a food service setting within a Head Start center, where you and your colleagues are making a difference in the lives of children three to five years old? This is an exciting opportunity to continue your food service career in an early learning setting while counting on a stable workplace with excellent health/retirement benefits and a generous paid time off package.
Skagit/Islands Head Start is accepting applications for a Food Service Worker position located in our Oak Harbor centers. Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families by providing comprehensive services in early learning, health, and family well-being. The Food Service Worker position purchases food and prepares meals, maintains meal records, and cleans and sanitizes dishes, utensils, and food preparation equipment and service areas. Additionally, this position may clean and sanitize restrooms, perform general cleaning tasks for the Center such as dusting and trash removal, provide clean-up of activities in classroom areas, and assist with the supervision of Head Start students. Food Service Worker positions work under direct supervision and report to the Center Manager.
These are classified, grant-funded, 10 to 11-month full-time positions, working 40 hours per week. These positions are eligible for excellent employer-sponsored benefits. The incumbents will usually work on a 10-month cyclic to 11-month schedule. Cyclic positions (those less than 12 months) will be on leave without pay during non-working periods (employer-sponsored benefits will remain in effect). The exact schedule is provided annually. These positions are grant-funded dependent upon continued funding. Applications submitted may be considered for future vacancies that occur.
The current vacancy is located at sites in Oak Harbor.
The Location: Skagit Valley College is on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish People’s, especially on Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Samish Indian Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe. Located in a geographically diverse region between the dynamic metropolitan hubs of Seattle and Vancouver, BC, SVC is never far from world-class outdoor recreation, urban arts scenes, and local cultural events. SVC serves our local communities with a campus in Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, and centers in Friday Harbor, a Marine Technology Center in Anacortes, and a Brewing Academy in Burlington.
Mission: Skagit Valley College cultivates student learning and achievement; contributes to the educational, personal, and economic success of students; and promotes equitable and thriving communities.
Vision: The primary focus of Skagit Valley College is student-centered teaching and learning. We are committed to:

• The development of our employees;
• A diverse and inclusive college community where everyone belongs.
• Equitable student outcomes in access, achievement, and community;
• Decisions based on strategy and evidence;
• Our Guiding Principles;

• Friendly, supportive, and diverse work environments.
• Diverse cultural and environmental benefits of rural, suburban, and urban lifestyles.
• Exciting opportunities for personal and career growth.
• Excellent benefits include competitive leave packages and an array of health, dental, vision, and retirement plans to meet your current and future needs.
• An unrelenting focus on our mission to improve the lives of our students and to strengthen our diverse community.
• Support for innovative teaching, learning, and scholarship.

• Empty garbage, trash, and recycling containers;
• Perform periodic cleaning of cupboards, high and low dusting, cleaning inside windows, and other general Center cleaning tasks assigned;
• Prepare food for breakfast, and/or snacks, and prepare and/or serve lunches at the Center;
• May assist children in modeling family-style eating routines;
• Clean up after breakfast and lunch, utilizing proper dishwashing methods to assure sanitization of dishes and food service equipment;
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Purchase food required for the Center's menu as necessary;
• May wash, dry, fold, and put away laundered items;
• Follow appropriate food handling practices, using disposable gloves, keeping foods at the proper temperature, and recording food temperatures as required;
• Review and follow a cycle menu, assuring appropriate USDA elements and adequate food portions are available for the number and age of the children enrolled;
• May assist staff with clean-up activities from the classroom;
• Clean up after breakfast, lunch, and snack, utilizing proper dishwashing methods to assure sanitization of dishes and food service equipment. Sanitizes tables where children eat, the food preparation area, and any food transportation equipment used;
• May assist in the supervision of children upon arrival/departure, on the playground, and in the classroom and/or bathrooms;
• Maintain required records of food purchases and preparation as requested by the Health Content Lead;
• Dispose of food waste using an appropriate container;
• Keep accurate records of daily attendance and USDA-eligible meals served;
• Participate in training as hours will allow;
• May assist in children's self-help skills;
• Maintain awareness of children's special dietary needs, assuring substitutions are provided as appropriate;
• Disposes of food waste using an appropriate method;
• Sanitize tables where children eat, the food preparation area, and any food transportation equipment used;
• Clean and sanitizes classrooms including cleaning and disinfecting tables, and counters, sweeping, mopping, and or vacuuming floors, and cleaning and sanitizing restrooms;
• Support classroom staff in ensuring appropriate serving sizes are offered, including identifying correct serving utensils;
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with Head Start policies and procedures;
• May wash, dry, fold, and put away laundered items;

• The safe use of cleaning chemicals.
• Kitchens and dining routines involved in preparing and serving food;
• Foodservice cleanliness and sanitary conditions;
• Operation of standard kitchen appliances and equipment;
• Housekeeping practices and custodial cleaning techniques;
• Personal hygiene;

• Perform clean-up in a variety of environments that may include, and around blood, vomit, body fluids, and excretions;
• Recognize the value of cultural, ethnic, gender, and other individual differences in people and create an environment of valuing, encouraging, and supporting differences;
• Plan and manage time effectively in order to meet deadlines;
• Earn the trust, respect, and confidence of staff, children, families, and community partners by consistent honesty, forthrightness, and professionalism in all interactions;
• Twist, climb, bend, kneel, squat, stand, walk, sit, lift, and carry;
• Understand and follow applicable laws, regulations, and other standards to establish and or maintain a safe work environment;
• Identify, access, and apply appropriate policies, regulations, and procedures; Effectively read, understand, and interpret information and ideas;
• Work effectively as a member of a team;
• Effectively communicate information for the purpose of having others learn, understand, and apply specific principles, techniques, or information using language that is appropriate to both the complexity of the topic and the knowledge and understanding of the audience.
• Actively contribute to a work environment that embraces diversity and uses diverse perspectives to enhance the attainment of organizational goals;
• Adapt to changing needs, processes, working conditions, and duties;
• Communicate orally and in writing with a variety of people in a friendly, knowledgeable, and professional manner;
• Maintain confidentiality of information;

Minimum Qualifications:

• Possession of or eligibility to obtain a food handler's permit.
• One (1) year of food service experience or equivalent education and experience;
• High School completion, GED, or equivalent;

• Two (2) or more years of experience in food service;
• Experience in an early learning setting.

• This position is eligible for overtime pay in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and is dependent upon continued grant funding.
• Retirement, medical, and insurance benefits are provided in accordance with state regulations. Additional information on benefits can be found at https://fortress.wa.gov/hca/pebbhealthplan/compare.aspx.
• Salary is based on Range 32, Step C, $ 2,827 per month with periodic increments to $3,480 per month. Starting salary may be dependent on education, qualifications, and experience. Salary and benefits are subject to change in accordance with legislative mandates and collective bargaining agreements.
• This is a union-represented position subject to a collective bargaining agreement.

• Prior to employment, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. Additionally, pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080, applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or are currently being investigated for, or have left a position during an investigation into, a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicant’s current or past employer. By law, post-secondary education institutions cannot hire an applicant who refuses to declare the existence or non-existence of an investigation or findings subject to this statute.

• In the interest of providing a healthy, safe, and secure educational and work environment, and in order to meet the requirements of federal legislation, it is the policy of Skagit Valley College to maintain an alcohol and drug-free workplace for our employees and students.
• A criminal history background clearance with the Department of Children, Youth, and Family;
• If hired you will be required to provide proof that you are either 1) a U.S. citizen, or 2) an immigrant whose status permits you to lawfully work in this country.

• Proof a Tuberculosis (TB) test taken within 12 months prior to the initial employment date;
• An initial health examination indicating freedom from communicable diseases;
• Have or ability to obtain, a Washington State driver's license and proof of auto insurance;
• CPR/First Aid card;
• Within 30 days of hire, have or obtain the following:
  • An initial health examination indicating freedom from communicable diseases;
  • Proof a Tuberculosis (TB) test taken within 12 months prior to the initial employment date;
  • Proof immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination OR proof of immunity from measles;
  • CPR/First Aid card;
  • A current Food Handlers permit;
• Proof immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination OR proof of immunity from measles;
• A current Food Handlers permit;
• This classification is included in the classified staff bargaining unit, represented by the Washington Public Employees Association, WPEA.
• Meet all federally mandated requirements related to Head Start including but not limited to continuing education requirements and all Washington State laws and College policies related to Head Start and SVC employment;

• Meet the minimum qualifications and;
• Submit a complete application to the online recruitment system at www.skagit.edu that includes the following:

• The online application, which includes answers to all supplemental questions and contact information for at least three (3) professional references;
• A cover letter addressing how your education and experience relate to the duties and responsibilities of the position (Attachment: Cover Letter).
• A current resume; (Attachment: Resume)