Food Service Specialist - Cook - Montello Elementary School

Food Service Specialist Lewiston Public Schools Job Title Food Service Specialist Department Nutrition Reports To Kitchen Manager at assigned school (daily direction); Director of Nutrition (supervision) Approved By J. Langlais, Superintendent Effective Date 10/2/2026 Status Full-time, hourly Pay Rate $22.02 per hour Position Summary The Food Service Specialist prepares and cooks breakfast and lunch for the School Dining Services program at the assigned school, following standardized recipes and federal meal pattern requirements.

The Specialist takes the lead on food production during each shift, keeps required production and temperature records, and helps guide Food Service Workers under the direction of the Kitchen Manager. Essential Requirement: Availability The employee must be available and able to work five (5) days per week, Monday through Friday, according to the Lewiston Public Schools schedule.

This is an essential function of the position, not a preference. Students depend on breakfast and lunch being prepared safely and on time every school day. Regular, predictable attendance on every scheduled school day is therefore required, along with any required training days on the district calendar.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Other duties may be assigned. Prepare and cook breakfast and lunch items using standardized recipes, in the correct quantities and on schedule. Make sure meals meet USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program meal pattern requirements and the posted menu. Prepare modified meals for students with documented food allergies or special dietary needs, following approved diet orders.

Complete daily production records, temperature logs, and other food safety documentation, following the district's HACCP-based food safety plan. Follow all sanitation, food safety, and safe food handling procedures, and help keep the kitchen clean and inspection-ready. Lead food production during the shift, and help train and guide Food Service Workers under the Kitchen Manager's direction.

Receive, check, rotate, and store food deliveries and supplies, and help with inventory counts and ordering. Serve meals and help with student, money, and meal accountability, including point-of-sale entry, as required at the assigned school. Operate kitchen equipment correctly and safely, and report needed maintenance.

Perform the Kitchen Manager's duties when the Manager is absent, as assigned. Perform other job-related duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities The Food Service Specialist guides and helps train Food Service Workers during food production. The Specialist has no formal supervisory authority, such as hiring, discipline, or evaluation, except when assigned to cover for the Kitchen Manager.

Schedule and Work Year Item Detail Days Monday � Friday, 5 days per week, per the Lewiston Public Schools schedule Hours Varies dependent on school assignment Work year Lewiston Public Schools academic year calendar Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, including the 5-day-per-week availability requirement.

The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

and/or experience High school diploma or GED [One to two] years of experience in quantity food preparation, preferably in school, institutional, or commercial food service Serv. Safe Food Protection Manager certification, or the ability to obtain it within [six months] of hire Completion of annual USDA Professional Standards training hours required for school nutrition staff Available and able to work 5 days per week per the Lewiston Public Schools schedule Language skills Read and interpret recipes, menus, production records, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.

Write routine reports, logs, and correspondence. Speak effectively with individuals and groups of employees, and give clear instructions to co-workers. Mathematical skills Adjust recipe yields and calculate quantities, portions, proportions, percentages, and volume. Use basic math to count inventory and reconcile meal counts and cash.

Reasoning ability Solve practical problems and handle a variety of concrete variables where only limited standardization exists, such as menu substitutions or equipment failures. Interpret instructions given in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Other skills and abilities Knowledge of USDA school meal requirements, food allergen safety, and safe food handling.

Use a personal computer and point-of-sale system, including database, spreadsheet, and word-processing software. Build effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community, and work cooperatively as a team lead. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Perform duties in line with all district requirements and School Committee policies.

Compensation

and Benefits The pay rate for this position is $22.02 per hour. Full-time employees receive a robust benefits package: Health insurance, with up to 89% of the premium paid by the employer Dental, vision, and life insurance Short- and long-term disability insurance Flexible spending and dependent care accounts Maine Public Employee retirement, 403(b), and 457 plans Paid sick leave, vacation time, and paid holidays Tuition reimbursement and more Physical Requirements and Work Environment The physical demands below are essential functions of the position.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform them. Stand and walk for prolonged periods during food preparation, meal service, and cleanup. Occasionally sit, and regularly talk and hear. Lift, carry, and store food, supplies, and full pans weighing up to [50] pounds, including placing items on shelves and in ovens, freezers, and coolers.

Bend, stoop, reach, and push or pull carts and equipment. Use close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Use hands to handle utensils, knives, and kitchen equipment safely. Work takes place in a school kitchen and cafeteria. The employee may be exposed to heat from ovens and steam equipment, cold from walk-in coolers and freezers, hot surfaces and liquids, sharp utensils, wet or slippery floors, cleaning and sanitizing chemicals, and food allergens.

The noise level during meal service is usually loud. The employee must follow all safety, sanitation, and dress code requirements, including closed-toe, slip-resistant shoes and hair restraints. ADA Statement The information in this job description is provided for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

It is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed in this position. Employees in this role may perform additional duties, and additional duties may be assigned. Equal Employment Opportunity Lewiston Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer. It provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, age, ancestry, national origin, genetic information, protected veteran status, whistleblower activity, previous assertion of a workers' compensation claim, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, including the Maine Human Rights Act.

This policy covers all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Federal Nondiscrimination Notice Lewiston Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs, activities, or employment.

It provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. This notice is provided in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.