Food Service Assistant (Part-time): Dallas, TX

As a Food Service Assistant at Bezos Academy, you’ll help provide nutritious, compliant meals to children at our tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool and provide direct support with a variety of additional tasks both in and out of the classroom. You will manage all aspects of food preparation and service with strong attention to detail, organization, and adherence to safety protocols. Key responsibilities include preparing CACFP-compliant menus, placing food orders and managing food costs, receiving and verifying food deliveries, ensuring all meals are delivered to classrooms on time, and managing all clean-up, organization, and documentation. Assuming full ownership of the kitchen and food operations at the school, you will serve meals in accordance with USDA requirements, Bezos Academy policies, and local childcare regulations. Beyond the kitchen, you will assist school staff and administration with a variety of tasks including inventory checks, laundry, and other ad hoc duties. As needed, you will also occasionally step into classrooms to provide direct supervision and support to the children. You will become an integral part of your school team working to improve processes and provide an excellent preschool experience where we nurture every child’s full potential.  LOCATION We are hiring  a  part-time  Food Service  Assistant  to support our preschool in  Dallas – Lakewood  ( 1234 Abrams Road ,  Dallas, TX 75214 )  with an expected start date of August 2026. SCHEDULE, BENEFITS, & COMPENSATION This is a part-time, non-exempt/hourly position requiring a minimum of 25 hours per week, with occasional opportunities to work additional hours based on school needs.    You will work a five-hour shift, Monday through Friday, totaling 25 hours per week. Specific school schedules are determined by school leaders when considering all staff, classroom, and community needs, but are currently expected to be   10:00am-3:00pm. Compensation for this position is  $21 -$31 per hour .  The upper third of the compensation range is typically reserved for existing employees who have been in the role for multiple years and who demonstrate strong performance over time. Starting compensation will vary by qualifications and prior experience.   Benefits include paid sick (care) time, accrued based on hours worked, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match.    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS    Age 18 with high school diploma or GED   Ability to pass background checks and complete all trainings required by the state of Texas upon hire    Knowledge of cooking methods and procedures, including various types of preparation 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 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 Texas food and beverage worker manual Ability to speak, read, and write English fluently Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS    Experience working within the guidelines of the US Department of Agriculture and Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA/CACFP) Two or more years of experience working in a school (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 RESPONSIBILITIES NOTE: The combination of responsibilities may vary based on the needs of the school site, students, and prior experiences of the Food Service Assistant. Food Service and Site Operations 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. If meals are non-compliant, follow the Emergency Food SOP 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 Added responsibilities if food is prepared on-site: Place weekly groceries orders based on the menu and current inventory Receive and verify food delivery and follow up with vendor if food delivered is incorrect based on the order or spoiled Prepare meals according to the planned menu and adapt recipes for dietary restrictions (allergies, religious diets, vegetarian, etc.) Prepare meals on a schedule (breakfast/lunch/snack) Adapt the menu (