Dish Steward - SE Portland

Dish Steward

Salary: $18/hour

FLSA Status: Hourly Non-Exempt

Schedule: Temporary Full-Time Position Monday–Friday | 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM

About Elephants

A locally owned company since 1979, Elephants Delicatessen pioneered the gourmet food industry in the Pacific Northwest and now operates seven Portland-metro retail locations and a thriving catering company. As a certified B Corporation, we are committed to sustainability, transparency, and using business as a force for good — while serving exceptional, scratch-made food rooted in our local community.

Elephants Delicatessen is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion.

What We Offer

• Employer contributed vacation and sick time
• Opportunities for advancement
• Discounts on our delicious made-from-scratch food
• Pet insurance
• Chance to win employee raffles
• Discounts at Sketchers, Shoes for Crews, Verizon, Sprint, select B Corporations, and many more
• A commitment to inclusion, diversity, community involvement, employee well-being, and environmental protection

Elephants Delicatessen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Elephants Delicatessen participates in the E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Requirements

About the Role

We are seeking a reliable, detail-oriented, and team-focused Dish Steward to support our Central Kitchen Production team. The Dish Steward is responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, and organized kitchen environment by washing and sanitizing dishes, utensils, pots, pans, and equipment while supporting daily kitchen operations. This role plays a critical part in maintaining food safety, operational efficiency, and workplace cleanliness in a fast-paced production kitchen environment.

This position is a great fit for someone who thrives in a fast-paced kitchen environment, enjoys being part of a collaborative team, and takes pride in maintaining cleanliness, organization, and operational excellence.

What You'll Do

• Wash, rinse, and sanitize dishes, pots, pans, utensils, and kitchen equipment using approved cleaning and sanitation procedures
• Maintain clean, organized, and hazard-free dishwashing and kitchen areas throughout the shift
• Support kitchen cleanliness by sweeping, mopping, wiping down surfaces, and assisting with end-of-shift cleaning
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, chemical handling, and workplace safety standards
• Safely operate dishwashing equipment and report maintenance or safety concerns promptly
• Support recycling, trash removal, inventory organization, and supply restocking as needed
• Assist kitchen and production staff with maintaining efficient workflow and operational readiness
• Maintain organization of cleaning supplies, storage areas, and sanitation tools
• Participate in required food safety, sanitation, and workplace training programs

What We're Looking For

• High School Diploma or GED preferred
• Previous experience in dishwashing, kitchen support, food production, janitorial, warehouse, or similar fast-paced work environments preferred
• Ability to work efficiently and maintain organization in a fast-paced kitchen environment
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Commitment to cleanliness, food safety, and workplace safety standards
• Reliable attendance, accountability, and a positive, team-oriented attitude
• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform physically active work, including lifting, bending, and repetitive cleaning tasks

If you take pride in cleanliness, teamwork, and supporting a high-performing kitchen environment, we'd love to meet you!