Casual Retail Dining Assistant (Casual)

Amherst College is a highly esteemed liberal arts institution that has taken a leadership role among selective colleges and universities in successfully diversifying its student body along racial, socio-economic, and geographic lines. The college also prioritizes enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff. This commitment underscores Amherst's holistic approach to creating an inclusive and vibrant campus community that fosters intellectual growth, cultural exchange, and social responsibility.

The Casual Retail Dining Assistant position at Amherst College is an integral part-time role designed to support the college’s food service operations at multiple retail dining locations across campus. This position offers an hourly wage ranging between $16.50 and $17.00, reflecting consideration of the candidate's relevant education, training, experience, and other nondiscriminatory factors. Although this role is casual with no benefits package, it plays a vital role in maintaining the high standards of food quality, customer service, and operational excellence Amherst College is known for.

This role primarily focuses on food and beverage preparation, counter service, and occasional light administrative duties. Responsibilities include ensuring safe and proper handling of food items, such as labeling, dating, and rotating products to maintain freshness and compliance with health standards. The assistant is also responsible for crafting barista-style espresso beverages, requiring proficiency with espresso machines and adherence to standardized recipes to consistently deliver quality drinks.

The work schedule is variable and corresponds to the college’s operational needs, with shifts that can span various times of day, including mornings and lunch periods. The role may require walking across campus to cover multiple dining locations, underscoring the need for flexibility and physical endurance. As an essential services role, the casual retail dining assistant may be required to work even during college closures to ensure uninterrupted service for the campus community.

Key duties include serving a diverse array of high-quality breakfast and lunch items, maintaining clean and well-stocked workspaces, and promoting customer satisfaction through attentive and courteous service. Additionally, this role involves cashiering duties at the Mammoth Market, where the assistant handles cash, stocks merchandise, and maintains cleanliness of the sales area. Maintaining cleanliness and orderliness of dining areas constitutes another vital aspect of the position, including dishwashing, trash removal, floor sweeping, and mopping.

Effective communication is crucial, as the assistant interacts daily with the campus community and coworkers. This includes staying updated on college communications, promptly communicating schedule changes, and conveying operational concerns or needs through established channels. The role demands an individual who is responsible, communicative, and customer-focused, contributing positively to the vibrant Amherst campus environment.