Food and Beverage Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Position: Food and Beverage Specialist

Wage: $22 - $25 per hour

Hours: Monday to Thursday 7am to 3:30pm (some earlier/later availability is needed, based on in-office events)

Location: Downtown Chicago , IL

About the Role

As a Food and Beverage Specialist with Food For Thought, you will play a key role in delivering an elevated workplace hospitality experience within one of our client’s offices. As part of our Workspace Solutions team, you will support daily (Monday- Thursday) food operations.

This role is ideal for someone who is highly organized, detail-oriented, and energized by creating welcoming, seamless experiences. You will serve as a liaison between the client, culinary team, and operations teams to ensure all aspects of the program—from ordering and delivery to setup and guest experience—run smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

• Meeting & Hospitality Support
• Receive and verify daily deliveries for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and snack programs
• Coordinate and execute buffet setup for meals and snack services, ensuring a clean, organized, and visually appealing presentation
• Develop tent cards and ensure guests understand ingredients and dietary requirements
• Maintain buffet stations throughout service, including replenishment, cleanliness, and organization
• Clear and reset buffet following service
• Menu and program development, providing a high-touch, hospitality-driven experience for guests and employees
• Communicate effectively with internal teams to ensure accurate ordering and timely delivery

Kitchen & Breakroom Management

• Stock grab-and-go items, continental breakfast offerings, and pre-packaged snacks in multiple kitchen locations
• Replenish snacks throughout the day to ensure consistent availability and variety
• Ensure kitchens are fully stocked with plates, mugs, utensils, and other serviceware
• Conduct daily walkthroughs to collect dirty dishes, mugs, and utensils from desks and common areas
• Wash dishes using onsite equipment and handwashing as needed (including adapting to equipment limitations when necessary)
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of all kitchen, pantry, and storage areas, including sweeping and mopping as needed
• Remove trash, composting and recycling, including staging trash bags in designated areas for pickup

Inventory & Ordering

• Monitor and maintain inventory levels of all café, pantry, and kitchen items
• Place orders for kitchen supplies and snacks based on usage and upcoming needs
• Ensure proper storage and rotation of all food items

Menu & Program Support

• Create and update monthly buffet menus in alignment with culinary direction and client preferences
• Build and maintain menus within internal systems, ensuring accurate descriptions and dietary labeling
• Print and update buffet signage, including tent cards and menu displays
• Gather and share feedback on meals and overall program performance with the Executive Chef and culinary team
• Collaborate on menu and program enhancements based on client feedback and trends

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in hospitality, catering, food service, or corporate dining

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication skills and a client-focused mindset
• Experience supporting meetings, events, or conference services preferred
• Knowledge of dietary restrictions, allergens, and food labeling best practices
• Proactive, team-oriented, and adaptable with a positive attitude
• Professional, polished, and service-driven demeanor

Why We’re the Leaders

• Excellent training
• Employee Referral bonuses
• Flexible scheduling
• Career advancement opportunities
• Competitive Pay
• Anniversary Milestone Incentives

Company Benefits & Perks

• Paid Time Off
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance – Includes Spouse and Domestic Partner Coverage (Blue Cross Blue Shield Provider)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D) & Critical Illness Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

1. Mental Health, Relationship Conflicts, Child and Eldercare, Substance Abuse, Grief and Loss
   • Assistance for you and household members
   • In Person Sessions
   • Unlimited phone access

• Parental Leave – Equal benefits to Mothers and Fathers
• 401K Retirement Plan
• FFT University - Over 70 courses designed to enhance your skills in life and on the job to help your career growth.
• Employee Meal Plan
• Employee Discounts (Pet Insurance, Entertainment, Travel, Company Discounts, and much more).

Company Values & Culture

• Collaboration & Open Communication

• Diverse, Inclusive, Safe, and Motivating

• Our Triple Bottom Line – People, Product and Planet

• A Net Positive Organization

Grow with us! - at Food For Thought, instruction, advice, and assistance are always readily available, which is why our average tenure is 5 years. The U.S. average is 4.3 years, while the Hospitality industry average is only 2 years!

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is regularly required to reach at or below the shoulder; lift and carry items up to 40 pounds for a moderate distance. The employee is required to use their hands to handle tools, grasp, and control objects. Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble items.

The employee is regularly required to talk, hear, move, reach, grab, and stand for long periods of time. As well as stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing ladders.

EEO Statement

Food For Thought provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

E-Verify Participation

Food For Thought participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.