Food Service Associate Jobs
Food service associate jobs are open across restaurants, hospitals, schools, and corporate cafeterias, at every level from entry-level to lead, with specializations in cafeteria service, catering support, and patient food delivery. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Food Service Associate JobsLooking for remote work? View remote food service associate jobs →Student or new grad? View food service associate internships →Overview
Showing 5 of 1,898+ Food Service Associate jobs
SUMMARY: Coordinates and develops the school meal programs for all students residing in the school district.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Demonstrates sound judgement and emotional stability.
· Maintains a positive attitude and works well with others.
· Ensures the safety of students.
· Interacts with staff, students and the community in a positive and respectful manner.
· Assists in the selection and evaluation of food service personnel, and assists in establishing uniform personnel policies, job descriptions, salary schedules and staff handbooks.
· Hires and manages substitutes, implements training programs and assigns daily positions as needed.
· Promotes and monitors safe work practices for all food service personnel.
· Develops and administers the school lunch and breakfast programs in accordance with current USDA requirements and as a means of improving health and nutrition of students.
· Establishes good rapport with students, teaching staff, school administrators, community and employees.
· Responsible for establishing and administering food preparation standards including HACCP and SOP.
· Develops and administers standards of quality for the purchase of food, commodities, equipment, supplies and budgeting.
· Develops and administers accurate accounting procedures and records for proper control and management of money, labor, food, supplies and equipment.
· Assists in the planning of school lunch facilities including layouts, selection and maintenance of equipment, inspections and furnishings.
· Responsible for compliance with all local, state and federal health laws.
· Strives to improve selection of food choices, communication to parents, employee knowledge and student wellness annually.
· Knowledge of co-op, bid, commodity and commercial purchasing.
· Monitors and utilizes entitlement funds.
· Processes free and reduced meal applications and verifies eligibility. Maintains respect at all times for confidential information.
· Maintains good relationship with the Maintenance Department. Develops and implements a preventative maintenance schedule, and appraises daily equipment needs.
· Maintains good relationship with the Technology Department. Develops and implements plans for the replacement cycle of Point of Sale/computer equipment, and develops plans for the daily technology service required.
· Develops and oversees in-service/professional development days each school year.
· Responsible for preparation and on-time submission of all required local, state and federal reports.
· Collaborates with cooks to prepare equitable master menus that provide similar offerings across the district.
· Holds regular meetings with staff on job expectancies and program operation, and the planning of menus to provide nutritional lunches and to meet the requirements of the state school lunch program.
· Responsible for food production and service to assure that planned menus are followed and that substitutions comply with meal requirements.
· Evaluates meal costs and recommends changes as appropriate.
· Enforces health department regulations and those directed by administrative and Board policy.
· Serves on the Student Wellness Committee.
· Promotes good public relations.
· Attends regional and district food service meetings.
· Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Supervises food service secretary and food service workers.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
· Must have one of the following education requirements:
* Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major in one of the following areas: food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field;
* Bachelor’s degree in any academic major and a State-recognized certificate for school nutrition directors;
* Bachelor’s degree in any academic major and at least two years of relevant school nutrition programs experience;
* Associate’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or related field; and at least two years of relevant school nutrition programs experience.
· Must continue at least 12 hours of annual continuing education/training.
· Experience working with USDA nutrition requirements.
· Experience with Point of Sale programs.
· Experience working with nutritional analysis software.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $76,568.00 - $95,621.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
SUMMARY: Coordinates and develops the school meal programs for all students residing in the school district.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Demonstrates sound judgement and emotional stability.
· Maintains a positive attitude and works well with others.
· Ensures the safety of students.
· Interacts with staff, students and the community in a positive and respectful manner.
· Assists in the selection and evaluation of food service personnel, and assists in establishing uniform personnel policies, job descriptions, salary schedules and staff handbooks.
· Hires and manages substitutes, implements training programs and assigns daily positions as needed.
· Promotes and monitors safe work practices for all food service personnel.
· Develops and administers the school lunch and breakfast programs in accordance with current USDA requirements and as a means of improving health and nutrition of students.
· Establishes good rapport with students, teaching staff, school administrators, community and employees.
· Responsible for establishing and administering food preparation standards including HACCP and SOP.
· Develops and administers standards of quality for the purchase of food, commodities, equipment, supplies and budgeting.
· Develops and administers accurate accounting procedures and records for proper control and management of money, labor, food, supplies and equipment.
· Assists in the planning of school lunch facilities including layouts, selection and maintenance of equipment, inspections and furnishings.
· Responsible for compliance with all local, state and federal health laws.
· Strives to improve selection of food choices, communication to parents, employee knowledge and student wellness annually.
· Knowledge of co-op, bid, commodity and commercial purchasing.
· Monitors and utilizes entitlement funds.
· Processes free and reduced meal applications and verifies eligibility. Maintains respect at all times for confidential information.
· Maintains good relationship with the Maintenance Department. Develops and implements a preventative maintenance schedule, and appraises daily equipment needs.
· Maintains good relationship with the Technology Department. Develops and implements plans for the replacement cycle of Point of Sale/computer equipment, and develops plans for the daily technology service required.
· Develops and oversees in-service/professional development days each school year.
· Responsible for preparation and on-time submission of all required local, state and federal reports.
· Collaborates with cooks to prepare equitable master menus that provide similar offerings across the district.
· Holds regular meetings with staff on job expectancies and program operation, and the planning of menus to provide nutritional lunches and to meet the requirements of the state school lunch program.
· Responsible for food production and service to assure that planned menus are followed and that substitutions comply with meal requirements.
· Evaluates meal costs and recommends changes as appropriate.
· Enforces health department regulations and those directed by administrative and Board policy.
· Serves on the Student Wellness Committee.
· Promotes good public relations.
· Attends regional and district food service meetings.
· Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Supervises food service secretary and food service workers.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
· Must have one of the following education requirements:
* Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major in one of the following areas: food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field;
* Bachelor’s degree in any academic major and a State-recognized certificate for school nutrition directors;
* Bachelor’s degree in any academic major and at least two years of relevant school nutrition programs experience;
* Associate’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or related field; and at least two years of relevant school nutrition programs experience.
· Must continue at least 12 hours of annual continuing education/training.
· Experience working with USDA nutrition requirements.
· Experience with Point of Sale programs.
· Experience working with nutritional analysis software.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $76,568.00 - $95,621.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Food Service Associate Jobs by Experience Level
See All 1,898+ Food Service Associate Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Food Service Associate JobsFood Service Associate Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Aramark296
- Kwik Trip110
- Chartwells K1293
- ELIOR70
- Trinity Services Group70
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Retail
- Education
- Manufacturing
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in food service associate jobs.
- Food handler certification or ServSafe card required or preferred
- Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds
- Experience following health, sanitation, and food safety standards
- Prior experience in a cafeteria, restaurant, or institutional kitchen setting
- Strong customer service skills in a fast-paced service environment
- Availability to work early morning, weekend, or rotating shifts
Tips for Your Food Service Associate Job Search
Tailor your resume to each setting
A hospital food service resume should highlight dietary restriction awareness and tray line efficiency, while a school cafeteria role calls out USDA meal program familiarity. Swapping two or three bullet points per application makes a real difference.
List every food handler credential you hold
ServSafe, state food handler cards, and allergen awareness certifications belong near the top of your resume. Many hiring managers filter applicants by certification before reading anything else, so don't bury these in a footnote.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists food service associate openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings that name your shift preference
Food service roles split heavily between early-morning breakfast shifts, midday lunch rushes, and evening service. Filter for the shift window that matches your availability before applying, since schedule mismatches are the top reason offers fall through.
Prepare a short story about a busy-service moment
Interviewers for food service positions almost always ask how you handle a high-volume rush. Walk through one specific shift, what your role was, how you kept pace, and what the outcome was. Vague answers about being a team player don't land the same way.
Ask about cross-training opportunities when negotiating
Many food service employers offer pay bumps once you're certified on a second station, like prep or catering. Asking about cross-training in the offer conversation signals commitment and often opens the door to a faster path to a higher hourly rate.
Food Service Associate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most food service associates?
Aramark, Kwik Trip, and Chartwells K12 are hiring the most food service associates right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Healthcare systems and school districts tend to post the highest volume of roles year-round.
How many food service associate jobs are remote?
About 11% of food service associate openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how hands-on most of these roles are. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements include food service coordination, nutrition program administration, and catering event planning rather than direct service roles.
How do you become a food service associate?
Start by obtaining a state food handler card or ServSafe certification, which most employers require before your first shift. Apply to entry-level openings at schools, hospitals, or corporate dining facilities, where on-the-job training covers tray line procedures, portioning standards, and sanitation protocols. Building reliability and cross-training on multiple stations is the fastest path to advancement.
Can you get hired as a food service associate with no experience?
Many employers hire food service associates with no prior experience, particularly in school districts, senior living facilities, and fast-casual corporate cafeterias. Getting your food handler card before you apply signals readiness and removes a common hiring barrier. Emphasizing reliability, physical stamina, and willingness to work early or weekend shifts strengthens your application when experience is thin.
What does the food service associate interview process look like?
Most food service associate interviews involve a brief phone screen followed by an in-person meeting, often with a dining services supervisor or operations manager. Expect situational questions about handling a rush, managing food safety on the line, and working with teammates during peak service. Some employers include a brief tour of the kitchen or service area before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to food service associate jobs?
You can find and apply to food service associate jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your preferred setting, shift, and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background and availability.
See All 1,898+ Food Service Associate Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Food Service Associate Jobs