FOOD SERVICE ASSOCIATE

Description

Bring the Energy. Serve Great Food. Make Someone’s Day!

Job Summary

As a Food Service Associate, you will help keep our customers fueled with fresh, delicious food and friendly service. You will prepare menu items, maintain attractive and well-stocked food displays, follow food-safety standards, and help keep the kitchen clean and organized.

This is a hands-on team position—not a supervisory role. If you enjoy staying active, helping customers, and being part of a fun, fast-paced kitchen, this may be the perfect fit for you!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Food Preparation and Service

• Prepare food-service menu items according to recipes, build guides, portion standards, and presentation expectations.
• Keep warmers and food displays stocked with fresh products throughout designated service hours.
• Follow established cooking, holding, cooling, labeling, dating, and product-rotation procedures.
• Monitor product quality and remove items that have exceeded their approved holding time.
• Complete assigned prep lists and shift duties accurately and on time.
• Help promote food sales by keeping displays clean, full, fresh, and inviting.
• Learn current specials and confidently share them with customers.
• Provide fast, friendly, and accurate customer service.
• Assist customers with food orders and answer questions about available menu items.
• Package food neatly and ensure every order is complete before it is given to the customer.
• Reduce waste by following recipes, portion standards, and production guidelines.

Food Safety and Cleanliness

• Follow all company, franchise, vendor, and state food-safety requirements.
• Wash hands and change gloves as required.
• Prevent cross-contamination by using approved food-handling procedures.
• Monitor and record food and equipment temperatures as assigned.
• Maintain clean and sanitary food-preparation areas, utensils, equipment, coolers, freezers, warmers, and displays.
• Complete assigned daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks.
• Keep floors clean, dry, and free from hazards.
• Properly store food, chemicals, supplies, and personal belongings.
• Obtain and maintain any food-safety certification required for the position.
• Immediately report equipment problems, food-safety concerns, injuries, or unsafe conditions to the Store Manager or Kitchen Leader.

Teamwork

• Work cooperatively with the Store Manager, Kitchen Leader, and fellow team members.
• Follow directions and complete tasks assigned by management.
• Communicate clearly with coworkers to ensure smooth shift transitions.
• Help coworkers when needed and contribute to a positive, respectful workplace.
• Be dependable, arrive on time, and be ready to work at the beginning of each scheduled shift.
• Assist with shift coverage when available and approved by management.
• Ask questions when instructions or expectations are unclear.
• Help create a workplace where safety, teamwork, and a little fun are always on the menu!

Customer Service

• Greet customers promptly and make them feel welcome.
• Treat every customer with patience, courtesy, and respect.
• Respond professionally to customer questions and concerns.
• Refer complaints or situations requiring management assistance to the Store Manager or Kitchen Leader.
• Maintain a clean, neat, and professional appearance.
• Represent Farmers Co-op Oil Company positively in every customer interaction.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Friendly and customer-focused.
• Dependable and punctual.
• Able to follow recipes, written instructions, and food-safety procedures.
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team.
• Able to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to communicate effectively with customers, coworkers, vendors, and management.
• Able to perform basic arithmetic needed for food preparation, product counts, and customer transactions.
• Willing to learn new menu items, equipment, and procedures.

Physical Requirements

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Stand and walk for extended periods, potentially throughout a shift of up to 10 hours.
• Frequently bend, kneel, reach, twist, and move between work areas.
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds for short distances.
• Safely use kitchen utensils, food-service equipment, handheld devices, and cleaning tools.
• Work around hot equipment, cold storage areas, food products, grease, cleaning supplies, and occasionally wet or slippery surfaces.
• Read labels, recipes, safety instructions, equipment displays, and product information.
• Communicate effectively with customers and team members.
• Safely lift and move a fire extinguisher weighing approximately 25 pounds in an emergency.