Culinary Assistant

Title: Culinary Assistant
Division Name: Student Affairs
Department: Event Management, Dining and Hospitality

Job Summary

The Department of Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality is one of 15 departments within the Division of Student Affairs. It provides the campus community and guests with high-quality, efficient, and innovative event services and dining options in a variety of settings dedicated to accentuating and enhancing the campus experience in a diverse community.
This position is an integral part of our dining operations staff. Led by experienced culinary professionals, we offer staff the opportunity to work in newly-renovated facilities and are committed to using quality ingredients and processes. This position plays an integral role in accomplishing this goal by assisting Culinary Associates in the preparation and service of food in residential dining centers. This position also assists in maintaining a friendly and orderly environment in the dining room by greeting customers as they enter, assisting with questions and service needs, and performing other customer service tasks, such as clearing tables and restocking condiments.
Whether it's to find a place to study, gather with friends, enjoy a bite to eat, or plan a large event, the Department of Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality takes great pride in providing welcoming and inclusive spaces, high-quality food services, and experienced and professional staff who care about making every experience individualized and extraordinary. It is our philosophy to recruit, inspire, and retain talented team members and promote wellness and foster their development. It is our goal to promote a more fully diverse and inclusive campus community.

Additional Information

University Benefit Highlights:

- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life

- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options

- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents

- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks

- Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here:

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$17.76 per hour

Required Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. Six (6) months of experience in food preparation in a commercial setting.
3. A final candidate must complete a post‑offer pre‑employment physical exam. Employment is contingent on the successful result of the pre‑employment physical.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Full knowledge and acceptance of principles of diversity.
2. Good communications skills; ability to read and write; ability to follow oral and written instructions and work independently; ability to apply common sense to carry out detailed instructions.
3. Ability to work cooperatively with supervisors and co‑workers.
4. Must demonstrate exceptional customer services skills.
5. Knowledge of materials and methods used in the preparation of food; knowledge of use and operation of cleaning materials, methods and equipment.

Work Hours

Working hours and days off will be subject to bid

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
This position requires standing, walking, use of fingers and hands, reaching, lifting, kneeling, stooping, crouching, speaking, and seeing. This position also requires the ability to stand for an extended time without a significant rest period and the ability to lift 25 lbs frequently and up to 50 lbs occasionally.

Proposed Starting Date

2026

Required Applicant Documents

Reference List

Please Note : These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Optional Applicant Documents

Certification of Retirement Annuity
American National Standards Institute’s Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification - See Special Instructions to Applicant section for additional options
Transcripts - See Special Instructions to Applicant section for additional options

Please Note : These documents may be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Please fully complete the entire application including, but not limited to, the education and work history portions. Be specific on your work history, including employment dates (if part‑time you must list the number of work hours) and duties for all positions held. Applicable part‑time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full‑time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Please do not put "see resume" in the duties and responsibilities section of the work history. This will be considered an incomplete application and incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of applicant materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview.
A final candidate must complete a post‑offer pre‑employment physical exam. Employment is contingent on the successful result of the post‑offer pre‑employment physical.
In order to receive the maximum eligible points for the civil service exam, you may upload transcripts or a food service certificate under the optional documents, if applicable. In order to be eligible for Veteran's Preference points on the exam, appropriate military service documentation, such as a DD214, may be faxed, mailed, or delivered to Human Resources, in order to receive the maximum eligible points:
Fax: View phone number on click.appcast.io, Attn: Breanna Crippen
Address: Illinois State University
Human Resources
Campus Box 1300
Normal, IL 61790-1300
Working hours and days off will be subject to bid.
This position is represented by AFSCME Local 1110.
This is a full‑time position on an academic calendar. It will be subject to academic break lay‑off (such as spring break, summer break).
Illinois State University is authorized to do business within the State of Illinois. All work under this appointment is required to be performed from within the State of Illinois.
Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12‑month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Contact Information for Applicants

Breanna Crippen
Human Resources
View phone number on click.appcast.io
View email address on click.appcast.io

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at View phone number on click.appcast.io. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io.