Food Service Assistant II - Full Time - Rotating Shifts - Must Be Available to Work Between 6am - 7:30pm - Rotating Weekends and Holidays (Union Hospital - Elkton)

Location: ChristianaCare - Union Hospital
Department: Food & Nutrition Services (FNS)

Position Overview

ChristianaCare is seeking a dependable and customer-focused Food Service Associate II to prepare, assemble, and serve patient and cafeteria meals while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, sanitation, quality, and customer service. This role is essential in ensuring patients receive accurate meals that support their nutritional needs and contribute to a positive healthcare experience.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong food service skills, attention to detail, a commitment to safety and infection prevention, and a passion for serving others.

Key Responsibilities

Food Preparation & Meal Service

• Prepare and assemble patient and cafeteria meals according to established recipes, production schedules, and portion control guidelines.
• Read and follow production tallies, menus, production sheets, and recipes accurately.
• Maintain proper documentation of food production and leftovers.
• Assemble patient meal trays with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency.
• Ensure food items are correctly portioned and placed according to tray line standards.
• Rotate through all tray line positions as needed.
• Prepare and assemble meals for therapeutic and modified diets.
• Distinguish between regular, modified, and texture-altered foods and liquids while ensuring compliance with prescribed dietary requirements.

Food Safety & Sanitation

• Follow infection prevention and food safety procedures at all times.
• Maintain proper food holding, serving, receiving, and storage temperatures.
• Prevent cross-contamination and adhere to safe food handling practices.
• Date, label, and rotate food products using First-In, First-Out (FIFO) inventory methods.
• Utilize appropriate cutting boards, serving utensils, gloves, and protective equipment.
• Monitor food quality and identify expiration dates and quality concerns.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary work environment.

Equipment Operation

• Safely operate and maintain food service equipment, including:
  • Knives
  • Food slicers
  • Vegetable cutters
  • Grills
  • Kettles
  • Steam tables
• Follow all operational and safety guidelines for food service equipment.

Customer Service

• Demonstrate a patient-first and customer-focused approach in all interactions.
• Greet patients, visitors, customers, and coworkers in a friendly and professional manner.
• Provide exceptional customer service and participate in service recovery efforts when needed.
• Support ChristianaCare's Core Values of Excellence and Love through compassionate, respectful, and empathetic interactions.

Safety & Compliance

• Follow departmental safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Report unsafe conditions, equipment concerns, hazards, or safety violations promptly.
• Participate in maintaining a safe working environment for patients, visitors, and team members.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support department operations.

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required.

Experience

• Two (2) years of food service experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of food preparation and portion control techniques.
• Understanding of common food service weights and measurements.
• Ability to read and interpret menus, recipes, production sheets, and food service documentation.
• Basic math skills for food preparation and portioning.
• Ability to distinguish colors for identifying color-coded labels and performing food quality control.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices.
• Ability to follow departmental policies, procedures, and quality standards.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced team environment.

Physical Requirements

• Physical demands are available upon request.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to commercial food service equipment and machinery.
• Exposure to hot surfaces, steam, grills, kettles, and steam tables.
• Exposure to varying temperatures, including refrigerators and freezers.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals and sanitation supplies.
• Fast-paced food service environment requiring adherence to safety and sanitation standards.