Dining Senior Food Service Worker

Multiple full time Partial Year Career positions available in multiple Dining Halls across the UC Santa Cruz campus.

Benefits to working at UC Santa Cruz include:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Care Insurance Plans
• UC Retirement Plans
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Legal Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Holidays plus accrued vacation and sick leave
• Meal Allowance

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 03-09-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Colleges, Housing, and Educational Services (CHES) is a multi-funded organization within the Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS) at the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz. CHES provides leadership in the areas of college student life and residential services, housing services, facilities, capital planning, dining services, conference services, early education services, business and financial analysis for these areas.

CHES provides on-campus housing and dining services to approximately 9,500 undergraduate and graduate students in ten residential colleges and six multi- college affiliated residential communities, which support single students and students with families.

UC Santa Cruz Dining is instrumental in the success of our students as well as providing services to staff, faculty and guests of the campus. Our mission is to be committed to creating a diverse, safe, fun and trusting environment for our guests and team; building an innovative dining program providing high quality service and food while embracing social, nutritional and financial responsibilities.

More information can be found at:

JOB SUMMARY

This is an umbrella title for many food service positions in the kitchens, serveries and dining rooms. Under supervision, the Senior Food Service Worker performs a variety of semi-skilled and skilled food preparation, serving, maintenance, and safety and sanitation functions in the kitchen or dining area. Incumbents may serve in a lead capacity with less experienced staff.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $25.08/hourly
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: To be determined and details to be discussed at the interview
• Shift Includes: Day, Evenings Night, Weekends, to be determined and discussed at the interview

Employee Classification: Partial Year Career, Furlough to be determined and details to be discussed at the interview

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Service Employees (SX)

Job Code Classification: FOOD SVC WORKER SR (005651)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

60% - Daily Operations

• Incumbent typically performs semi-skilled tasks for hot and cold food production including but not limited to, cutting and preparing foods by hand or by using mechanical equipment.
• Sets up food service lines by arranging foods or desserts, setting up the salad bar and stocking and preparing beverages; serves customers; collects, washes and stacks clean dishes.
• Cleans and scrubs pots and pans; operates complex automatic dishwashing equipment.; Cleans conveyors, racks and sets up trays; cleans and mops floors in kitchen, food service area and dining room; may serve customers in a restaurant; May serve as a work leader for a small group of other senior food service workers, replenishes dry storage bins, and cleans equipment and sinks in the kitchen areas.
• Assists in meal set-up for hot and cold items and assists in producing dessert set-ups for various meals.
• Incumbent may prepare basic hot and cold sauces; demonstrate appropriate and effective food presentation and merchandising techniques in display of food and other service presentations (decorations and decorating).
• Follows menus, production sheets and recipes accurately measuring or weighing food ingredients, operates mixer, slicer, chopper, grills, pizza ovens, ovens, induction burners, steamers, steam jacket kettles, garbage disposal, and uses knives and other utensils and equipment.
• Receiving Duties:
  • Under supervision of the Unit Manager and direction of the Senior Storekeeper, performs general receiving duties, including but not limited to: validating invoices, weighing items, etc.
  • Receives and inspects all food supplies.
  • Stores all items in specified areas in accordance with HACCP guidelines.
  • Dates and rotates all inventory items using the FIFO (First In, First Out) Principles.
  • Assists management with inventory and ordering.
  • Organizes and cleans all storage spaces.
• Dining Room Work:
  • May assist in set up of food service areas.
  • Distributes prepared food on time for specific meals in service areas and restocks food into serving areas as needed. Fills cold wells with ice, restocks dining room area with trays, dishes, silverware, napkins, maintains self- service areas (beverages, salads, bread, desserts, soft serve, etc.).
  • Returns unused food from serving area.
  • Labels leftover food and ensures proper storage.
  • Maintains cleanliness of designated work areas at all times including cleaning cold wells, food warmers, countertops, refrigerators, toasters, sinks, etc. May make sandwiches to order, or in advance.
  • Demonstrates appropriate and effective food presentation and merchandising techniques in the display of food and other service presentation including napkin folds, decorations, and decorating.
• Server:
  • Serves meals using portion control techniques as instructed by supervisor and follows basic principles of safety and sanitation of food service.
  • Properly plates and serves food on serving line.
  • Answers questions about food being served and serves food to customers in a pleasant, courteous and efficient manner.
  • Restocks supplies of food as needed and maintains cleanliness of designated work areas at all times.
  • Ensures that correct utensils are used for serving and that portioning is appropriate. As a team leader, may direct student staff and staff employees on the serving line.
  • Ensures that all shift assignments are covered and gives breaks. .
  • Monitors and maintains customer service standards and resolves any customer
  • service concerns.
  • May direct and train staff in hand washing, appropriate uniform wear and in ensuring that staff does not engage in eating or drinking outside of approved areas. May oversee
  • front of the house set-ups.
• Dishwasher Duties:
  • May oversee a small team of dishwashers and direct their work in breaking down soiled dining trays, appropriately pre-rinsing, washing by hand or loading the dishwasher with soiled trays, dishes, glasses, utensils and flatware.
  • Oversees and/or performs the operation and unloading of the dishwasher using correct procedure of safety and sanitation.
  • Ensures the correct sorting, stacking, and placement of clean dishes, flatware, glassware, trays, and utensils into proper transporting equipment.
  • Operates, maintains, and cleans the dishwasher, garbage disposal, mops, brooms, and tray conveyor devices.
  • Restocks supply of clean dishes and utensils in dining room.
  • May also wash pans and utensils used in the kitchen.
  • Cleans food preparation areas and operates specialized pot cleaning equipment if available.
  • Distributes dishes, glassware, flatware, trays and utensils to service areas during and following meal services.
  • Returns empty carts, equipment and other related items to the dish room.
  • Maintains cleanliness of work areas and all self-service areas.

20% - Safety and Sanitation

• Ensures food is held and loaded at safe temperatures. Ensures that HACCP Guidelines are followed closely in maintaining temperatures of perishable products. On a daily basis, records temperatures of all refrigerators, freezers, and maintains records for three months.
• Maintains work rule standards and policies regarding employee uniforms, personal appearance, and hygiene.
• Ensure compliance with all regulation mandated by local, state and federal agencies in regards to safety, health and sanitation regulations.
• May clean restrooms to include but not limited to washing sinks, counters, walls, and mirrors. Washes commodes and urinals and mops floors as per current practice and procedure.
• At closing and as directed, cleans all equipment, countertops and tabletops; empties all trash, recycling, and compost cans; pulls floor mats and places chairs on top of tables. Sweeps kitchen floors, mops floors, and cleans out drains.
• Ensures the cleanliness, safety and sanitation of designated work areas and large and small equipment and utensils used in food production and service.
• Works in a safe and responsible manner while

Required

Preferred

Job Industries

• Other