Food Services Worker

Food Service Worker

Starting Rate: $18 /hour

Environment: Special Education Program, Grades K-12

Spectrum Center Schools and Programs, a growing, dynamic organization with a social mission to offer hope, is seeking a Food Service Worker to join our award-winning Special Education team and perform meaningful work in a culture that welcomes innovation, encourages creative expression and offers limitless potential for personal and professional satisfaction!

If you thrive in a dynamic, student-centered school environment, value meaningful work that supports student success, and bring strong food service, organizational, safety, and relationship-building skills to everything you do — We Should Talk!

As a Food Service Worker, you will oversee the school's daily meal program, ensuring students receive safe, nutritious, and efficiently delivered services. This role manages food and supply purchasing, inventory, budgets, student meal accounts, free and reduced-price lunch documentation, and compliance with all applicable food-handling regulations. The Food Service Worker also trains and supervises students participating in the Workability Program, providing meaningful opportunities to build workplace readiness and independent living skills.

Responsibilities Include:

• Managing the Food Services Department budget, monitoring expenditures, maintaining accurate financial records, and ensuring operations remain within established guidelines.
• Evaluating inventory needs and ordering food, beverages, kitchen supplies, Student Store merchandise, and other operational materials.
• Organizing food, supplies, and merchandise while maintaining accurate inventory levels and minimizing waste.
• Preparing and serving safe, nutritious, and appealing daily meals in accordance with established menus and program requirements.
• Operating the Student Store during designated hours and efficiently distributing merchandise and other items to students.
• Coordinating with contractors, vendors, and school district partners to purchase food, kitchen supplies, and related materials.
• Scheduling, training, and supervising students participating as food services assistants through the Workability Program.
• Coaching student workers in workplace expectations, customer service, food-service procedures, safety practices, and job-readiness skills.
• Building positive and professional relationships with students, families, colleagues, vendors, and other school departments.
• Enforcing established safety policies and taking prompt corrective action to address hazardous conditions or unsafe practices.
• Ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local food preparation, sanitation, food-handler, and school meal program requirements.
• Monitoring food-service operations regularly to identify and resolve potential safety, sanitation, or regulatory concerns.
• Maintaining a clean, sanitized, organized, and welcoming kitchen, serving area, Student Store, and office environment.
• Recording student meal purchases, account balances, payments, and related transactions accurately and promptly.
• Tracking daily student participation in free and reduced-price meal programs and maintaining all required supporting documentation.
• Processing free and reduced-price lunch applications for newly enrolled and currently attending students.
• Managing meal-program files, applications, reports, and related records in accordance with confidentiality and record-retention requirements.
• Planning and coordinating menus, meals, and refreshments for in-service programs, staff meetings, and other school events.
• Supporting student supervision and behavior management while serving as a transportation aide, or "rider," in Spectrum-owned vehicles at applicable campuses.
• Transporting students to and from school in a Spectrum-owned vehicle at applicable campuses and when authorized by school leadership.
• Following all school, agency, vehicle-safety, and student-transportation policies and procedures.
• Maintaining a valid and appropriate driver's license, an acceptable driving record, and all other qualifications required to operate a company vehicle when transportation duties apply.
• Completing required motor vehicle record reviews and transportation-related documentation when assigned driving responsibilities.
• Assisting with additional food-service, Student Store, campus, and student-support duties as operational needs arise.
• Performing other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent with passage of basic skills test.
• Hold currently or have the ability to obtain a valid CA state drivers license.
• Hold currently or have the ability to obtain a food handlers (managers) certification.
• Ability to obtain and maintain certification in company approved crisis management training.
• Prior experience, education and/or vocational training in food services and/or preparation highly preferred.
• Prior experience working with children, preferably in an alternative, special education, and/or behavioral health program setting.
• Highly skilled in working with children with learning disabilities, emotional behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders and/or other related disabilities.
• Proven ability to effectively prioritize tasks and meet deadlines while maintaining organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze, interpret and apply concepts of basic math.
• Proficiency in providing motivation and having critical conversations with students that help move them toward realistic goals
• Highly skilled in building relationships with students, parents, teachers and community and/or business partners.
• Ability to think and act quickly and calmly in an emergency and make independent decisions.
• Advanced oral and written communication, organization, conflict resolution, multitasking, problem solving, and decision-making ability.
• Well-versed in the use of relevant technology including experience with computers, Microsoft Office Suite, database entry and basic office equipment.

Spectrum Center Schools and Programs is a division of ChanceLight Behavioral Health, Therapy, & Education, the nation's leading provider of alternative and special education programs for children and young adults. For more than 50 years, and in partnership with over 235 school districts nationwide, we have helped change the direction of more than 240,000 student lives!

At ChanceLight we believe in providing more than just a job, as a member of our team you'll receive the opportunity to make meaningful impacts, the support needed to achieve success, and all the tools essential to reaching your personal & professional fulfillment! Your path to a truly rewarding career starts here – where growth, empowerment, and collaboration define our culture; and every day is a Chance to transform lives through education!

Perks and Benefits Include:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
• FREE Telehealth and Virtual Counseling Sessions
• FREE Health Advocacy Services and 24/7 Nurse Line
• Company Paid Life & Disability Insurance
• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Personal Protection Insurance Plans
• Cigna Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Babies Program
• Legal Services Insurance
• Pet Health Insurance
• Accrual-based Paid Time Off
• School Hours and Paid Holiday Schedule
• Extensive Personal and Life Event Paid Leave Policy
• 401k Retirement Saving Plan
• Perks at Work Employee Discount Program
• Opportunities for Growth & Development
• And So Much More!

If you're ready to start making lasting impacts on the lives of students and contribute to the creation of a brighter future — This Is Your Chance!

Join us and together, we can empower students to overcome challenges, build confidence and unlock their full potential!