2026-27 School Kitchen Assistant

SCHOOL KITCHEN ASSISTANT

POSITION SUMMARY
School Kitchen Assistants are responsible for the preparation and positive service of meals to students and staff of schools within the Nutrition Services Department of Federal Way School District. The position is responsible to prepare quality meals that are safe and sanitary and to follow Nutrition Services Department protocol for all aspects of meal service at the school.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This list is meant to be representative not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assist Kitchen Manager with lunch set-up preparation and clean up as directed by Kitchen Manager.
• Communicate and serve meals to students plating food per request make sandwiches or other serving activities during mealtime.
• Collect cash sell tickets make change at mealtime. Operate Point of Sale register utilizing computer keyboards or keypads computer screens and printers and other equipment. Operate manual meal service ticketing systems as needed according to department protocol.
• Prepare and maintain records for number of lunches and ala-carte items sold each meal time and each day according to department protocol. Keep accurate and complete records as required.
• Verify receipt of milk and other deliveries as assigned. Record amount of milk (and other foods as assigned) left after serving.
• Check plate count used with the Kitchen Manager. Prepare report of cashier station if assigned. Keep areas surrounding cashier station and under responsibility clean well stocked and attractive.
• Arrange food in attractive displays.
• Maintain confidentiality and dignity of students receiving free and reduced meals. Provide positive professional and friendly service.
• Wash pots and pans perform cleaning activities for all equipment save or discard food per foodservice sanitation protocol sweep floors of kitchen and perform other clean-up activities within the kitchen.
• Attend all contracted meetings.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and maintain positive customer relations with students staff and service providers.
• Work collaboratively with District and Kitchen manager staff and promote teamwork with co-workers.
• Federal Way School District requires employees to adhere and comply with the State of Washington and King County Department of Health food code.
• Protect confidentiality of District materials and rights of senders and recipients consistent with District ethical guidelines.
• Able to relate effectively with parents staff students and the public in a multicultural and multiracial community.
• Take place ofKitchen Manager as assigned.

The preceding list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience
High school diploma or equivalent
Current FWPS Employee or Guest Employee with Nutrition Services

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work scheduled hours on a consistent basis

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Past experience in service industry serving the public cash handling experience
Working knowledge of basic computer applications
National School Lunch Program experience
Member ASFSA WSFSA

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:
Criminal background clearance
Possess and maintain a valid and current Food Handlers Permit
Adhere to attire protocol
Possess and maintain a valid Washington state drivers license

KNOWLEDGE OF:
School board policies and procedures
Basic mathematics and reading

ABILITY TO:
Continue professional growth
Organize and perform job responsibilities efficiently and independently without close supervision and able to pay strict attention to detail
Speak read and follow written or verbal communications in English
Practice effective safety and security within individual work routines
Develop and maintain positive customer relations with staff and service providers
Work collaboratively with District staff and promote teamwork with co-workers
Practice ethical and professional standards of conduct including the requirements of confidentiality
Relate effectively with parents staff students and the public in a multicultural and multiracial community
Function in a calm efficient courteous and professional manner
Establish and maintain a positive tactful cooperative and effective working relationship with children and others
Accurately and rapidly make correct change and record types of lunches and milk served
Interact positively with a wide range of temperaments and personalities
Maneuver self carts and food/supplies within constrained kitchen environment with heavy equipment tables and carts
Perform job responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY:
Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff students and patrons of the District.
Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools commitment to Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A Bright Future.
Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.

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.
While performing the duties of this job the employee will frequently stand and walk bend neck and back use hands for repetitive grasping and pushing/pulling. The employee will perform repetitive physical tasks involving lifting and hand movements such as scooping food or other activity.
The employee is frequently required to squat stoop kneel and use hands for fine manipulation. The employee will occasionally be required to sit lift and reach overhead crawl and lift/carry. The position also requires driving hearing speaking writing and keyboarding.
The employee must constantly lift/handle at least 40 pounds. The employee will occasionally lift/handle at least 50 lbs. The employee is occasionally required to push/pull carts weighing at least 400 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Position requires ability to work in low temperature environments such as walk in refrigerators or freezers or work with food that is in a frozen or very hot state.
Position also requires exposure to angry frustrated or aggressive individuals.

WORK SCHEDULE
Work schedules are varied according to the available meal times of the building and may change according to building needs.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
Position reports to Kitchen Manager and Director of Nutrition Services

REPRESENTATION
Public School Employees Union (PSE) SEIU Local 1948

LEVEL OF COMPENSATION
Level A in the Nutrition Services Department on the PSE Salary position includes the following benefits prorated based on FTE ï½ Medical dental vision sick and vacation leave life insurance retirement.

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY
Update 07/2015

Disclaimer
The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements skills or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.
All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race color creed religion sexual orientation national origin gender age disability or veteran status.

Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include and are not intended to include every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.