Food Service Worker

Job Description

Food Service Worker

Under the direct supervision of department leadership, the Food Service Worker is an integral part of the Food & Nutrition team, dedicated to providing high-quality meal service to patients, hospital employees, and visitors. This role requires versatility, a strong commitment to customer service, and adherence to rigorous food safety and sanitation standards across various operational areas within the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Meal Preparation and Service: Assists with the preparation, portioning, and accurate plating of food items for patient trays, cafeteria lines, and catering events. Ensures meal presentation meets quality standards and delivers trays to patients with a focus on timeliness and empathy. Serves meals and snacks to employees and visitors in cafeteria settings, maintaining a friendly and efficient service pace.
• Cashier Duties: Operates cash registers and Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, accurately processing various forms of payment including cash, credit/debit cards, and employee payroll deductions. Provides excellent customer service during transactions, handles cash responsibly, and reconciles daily sales as required.
• Diet Office Support: May assist in the diet office by taking patient meal orders, making menu selections, and processing special dietary requests or modifications. Ensures accuracy in order entry and communication to the kitchen staff to meet patient-specific nutritional needs.
• Inventory and Supply Management: Participates in the receiving, unpacking, stocking, rotating, and organizing of food products, beverages, and supplies. Monitors inventory levels, assists with inventory counts, and ensures proper storage temperatures and conditions to prevent spoilage and maintain freshness.
• Dish Room Operations: Manages all aspects of dishwashing and sanitation. Operates commercial dish machines safely and efficiently, cleans and sanitizes trays, dishes, silverware, pots, pans, and other kitchen equipment. Ensures the dish room area remains clean, organized, and compliant with all hygiene regulations.
• Sanitation and Safety: Upholds strict adherence to all food safety guidelines, HACCP principles, and departmental sanitation policies. Maintains cleanliness and organization of all work areas, including kitchen stations, serving lines, dining areas, and storage rooms, to ensure a safe and hygienic environment.
• Other Duties: Performs additional duties as assigned by department leadership to support the overall operational efficiency and patient/customer satisfaction goals of the Food & Nutrition Department. This may include light cleaning, bussing tables, or assisting with special events.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Education: High School Diploma or GED is preferred.
• Experience: Six (6) months to one (1) year of previous work experience in a food service environment, such as a restaurant, cafeteria, or hospital kitchen, or in a cash handling role, such as retail or customer service, is preferred.
• Language Skills: Must possess the ability to read, write, and speak English fluently to effectively understand and follow oral and written instructions, safety protocols, recipes, and to communicate clearly with patients, visitors, and colleagues.
• Technical Skills: Basic personal computer and data entry skills are preferred, especially for roles involving POS system operation, patient order entry, or inventory tracking.

Additional Information

• Organization: Henry Ford Hospital – Detroit Main Campus
• Department: Food & Nutrition Administration
• Shift: Day Job
• Union Code: Not Applicable