Food Service Assistant: Louisville, KY

Louisville, KY, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Hourly

Compensation

Hourly

Range $19.00 - $28.00

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Day Shifts

Benefits

Medical insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) plan with employer contribution match

Paid parental leave

Paid Time Off

Paid holidays

Flexible Spending Account for Dependent Care

Job Description

Bezos Academy is a tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool committed to nurturing every child's full potential through a holistic and supportive educational environment. Our preschools are designed to provide high-quality early childhood education that embraces individual learning styles, creativity, and healthy development. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, Bezos Academy emphasizes an inclusive, culturally responsive approach and ensures children receive nutritious, compliant meals in accordance with USDA requirements, local childcare regulations, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). With a strong focus on safety, inclusivity, and operational excellence, Bezos Academy fosters a collaborative atmosphere where every team member’s role is crucial to the success and well-being of the children.

As a Food Service Assistant at Bezos Academy, you will play a pivotal role in maintaining the health, safety, and nutritional standards of our preschool community. This full-time, benefits-eligible, hourly position involves managing all aspects of food preparation, ordering, delivery verification, meal service, and clean-up with meticulous attention to detail and adherence to established protocols. You will ensure that meals served align with CACFP-compliant menus and accommodate special dietary needs, including allergies, medical restrictions, and cultural or religious preferences. Beyond the kitchen, your role extends into direct classroom support, assisting with inventory checks, laundry, and ad hoc duties, thereby becoming an integral member of your school team.

Your responsibilities will also include placing weekly food orders based on attendance and food consumption trends, tracking food wastage, maintaining organized and sanitized kitchen operations, and supporting vendor performance with procurement accuracy and quality compliance. You may occasionally provide direct supervision and support to the children, helping teachers implement Bezos Academy’s performance standards, policies, and procedures. The Food Service Assistant position is vital in ensuring a safe, welcoming, and efficient environment where the nutritional and educational needs of each child are prioritized.

Bezos Academy offers a competitive wage ranging from $19 to $28 per hour, with compensation varying based on experience and qualifications. Scheduled work hours generally fall between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a typical shift expected from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You will receive 32 paid days of scheduled breaks, personal and sick time off, holiday pay, and access to comprehensive benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with employer matching, paid parental leave, and flexible spending accounts for dependent care. The role requires physical stamina, including the ability to lift up to 50 pounds and stand for extended periods, alongside proficiency in food safety standards and basic Microsoft Office applications.

Embracing the Montessori philosophy and high standards for early childhood education, Bezos Academy seeks Food Service Assistants who are detail-oriented, organized, and passionate about supporting children's well-being through nutrition and care. This position is not only about food service but embodies the Academy’s mission to provide a nurturing and enriching preschool experience where each child can thrive. By joining Bezos Academy, you will contribute to a dynamic team dedicated to transforming early education and making a positive impact in the Louisville community through compassionate, high-quality care and compliance excellence.

Job Requirements

Age 18 with high school diploma or GED
ability to pass background checks and complete all trainings required by the Kentucky Department of Children, Youth, and Families upon hire
ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand for long periods of time, and perform a variety of repetitive tasks to prepare and serve food safely
active and current food worker card
understanding of Kentucky food and beverage worker manual
ability to speak, read, and write English fluently
basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Job Qualifications

Age 18 with high school diploma or GED
ability to speak, read, and write English fluently
basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
knowledge of cooking methods and procedures, including various types of preparation
experience working in an institutional or highly regulated kitchen/food setting with a clear understanding of food preparation best practices and protocols
active and current food worker card
understanding of Kentucky food and beverage worker manual
experience working within the guidelines of USDA and Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA/CACFP)
two or more years of experience working in a preschool, early childhood education, daycare, or K-12 environment or similar kitchen setting
working knowledge of food allergens, intolerances, preferences, and accommodations
prior experience as an assistant teacher in a preschool setting
associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or two years of post-secondary coursework in Early Childhood Education
experience with Montessori pedagogy
experience with children with special needs
fluent in Spanish

Job Duties

Place weekly food orders with the vendor based on student attendance trends and food waste analysis
receive and verify daily food deliveries to ensure accuracy with order quantities and alignment with the approved menu
manage all aspects of routine vendor performance to ensure the vendor is meeting or exceeding expectations
ensure all meals served to students are compliant and document any menu changes on menu
track food consumption and waste daily to ensure food costs remain as lean and efficient as possible
prepare and serve meals and utensils to classrooms for each scheduled meal service
maintain compliance with strict food hygiene and safety protocols at all times and maintain compliance with all state and local jurisdictional requirements
ensure the kitchen, equipment, serving utensils, cookware, and dishes are consistently cleaned, sanitized, and well-maintained
manage and organize food inventory, including proper labeling, dating, rotating stock, and discarding items nearing expiration in accordance with food safety guidelines
record and log food temperatures prior to each meal service to ensure compliance with safety regulations
accommodate children's special dietary needs, including allergies, medical restrictions, and cultural or religious food requirements
assist in serving meals during family engagement and school events as needed
provide classroom coverage as needed
assist teachers with the full implementation of Bezos Academy's performance standards, policies, and procedures
support Bezos Academy classrooms by following regulations and guidelines in the day-to-day operation of the classroom
organize materials and clean the workspace to facilitate the learning process for each child
support children's increasing independence with daily living skills
provide 1:1 support for children who are experiencing big feelings
develop positive relationships with children
assist the Head of School and school staff in other operational duties in the school as necessary when the kitchen work is complete
participate in team meetings, center activities, and staff development