Food Service Trainee Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Education Support Professionals - ESP/Classified - Nutrition Services
Job Number 2000017802
Start Date
Open Date 07/01/2026
Closing Date 12/31/2026
NUTRITION SERVICES WORKER - ON CALL TRAINEE
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Under supervision, assists in preparing, serving, and selling meals for breakfast and lunch programs. Travels to assigned school sites or the Nutrition Service Center Production Kitchen (NSC) to substitute as an NS Worker I. Performs related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

• The Nutrition Service Trainee prepares food for meal service, prepackaging, and/or line service.
• May be required to work on automatic packaging line.
• Duties include data input, operating a point-of-sale register and/or food service computer program.
• Required to travel and work at any school location. Become skilled at proper food safety and sanitation as per Washoe County Health Department and Washoe County School District Nutrition Services.
• Maintain personal cleanliness and appearance appropriate for food handlers.

EXEMPLARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Learn, identify, and serve a reimbursable meal as defined by the USDA child nutrition program as a unit to each student Learn to competently and safely operate and clean commercial kitchen equipment, such as mixers, grinders, slicers, dishwashers, and ovens; fills containers and dispensers.
• Set up serving equipment, containers and carts with dishes, utensils, and food.
• Cleans tables, counters, serving trays, washes dishes, pots, and pans.
• Maintains sanitary and safe work environment.
• Learn to receive and stock groceries and supplies.
• Performs a variety of food preparation activities, such as washing, chopping, grating, slicing, baking, and frying food.
• Trained to portion control servings, measure / mix ingredients and follow recipes.
• Learn food presentation techniques and food temperature danger zones.
• Train to prepare, set-up and serve breakfast, lunch and a la carte.
• Operate cash registers or computerized point of sale units. May collect money and reconcile daily sales.
• Works collaboratively with kitchen site team, administrators, teachers, and student workers.
• May assist with food preparation for a variety of special functions such as banquets, barbecues, or field trips.
• Gain knowledge of USDA, Washoe County District Health Dept., Washoe County School District Nutrition Services regulations, policies, and practices as trained to do so.
• You must be able to bend, lift weight above shoulders, stand for extended periods and ability to work on your feet up to eight (8) hours.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds, following WCSD and Nutrition Services safety standards.

QUALIFICATIONS
Experience/Education: Any combination of education and experience that could provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain knowledge and experience would be:

1. Knowledge of preparing and/or serving food; institutional food service experience is desired. Cashiering/money handling is also desirable. Completion of a two (2) hour Safeschools course is required within the first year of employment.

OR

1. Equivalent to a High School diploma.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES
Knowledge of:

• English language, specifically reading, writing, and communication. Basic math
• Basic food preparation,
• Safe working practices,
• Sanitary food handling and storage techniques.

Skill at and Ability to:

• Read, write, and follow verbal and written instructions in English.
• Operate commercial kitchen equipment.
• Operate commercial packaging equipment.
• Operate cooking and food preparation equipment.
• Prepare and serve food.
• Follow basic recipe instructions.
• Lift/carry up to 40 lbs., i.e.., cases of fresh fruit, large or heavy objects.
• Food preparation.
• Communicate effectively with others and work as part of a team that serves the needs of students.

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Lifting objects up to 25 lbs.: Frequently
• Lifting objects over 25 lbs.: Frequently
• Sitting for extended periods: Never
• Standing for extended periods: Continuously
• Walking for extended periods: Frequently
• Bending or stooping: Occasionally
• Reaching above shoulder height: Occasionally
• Pushing/pulling objects: Frequently
• Climbing stairs or ladders: Rarely
• Operating heavy machinery: Never
• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions: Occasionally
• Exposure to loud noises: Rarely
• Working in confined spaces: Rarely
• Working at heights: Never
• Working with hazardous materials: Never
• Repetitive hand or arm movements: ? Continuously

Definitions:

• Never: The activity or condition does not occur.
• Rarely: The activity or condition occurs less than 10% of the time.
• Occasionally: The activity or condition occurs 10-30% of the time.
• Frequently: The activity or condition occurs 30-60% of the time.
• Continuously: The activity or condition occurs more than 60% of the time

Licenses/Certificates: None Required.
Special Requirements: Ability and willingness to use own transportation in the course of reporting to various assigned sites.
THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES OR REQUIREMENTS. REQUIREMENTS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND/OR ABILITIES. MANAGEMENT RETAINS THE DISCRETION TO ADD OR CHANGE TYPICAL DUTIES OF A POSITION AT ANY TIME.
The Washoe County School District is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning and working environment for all students, staff, and visitors. The District prohibits bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, and/or discrimination based on an individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veterans or military status, marital status, disability or the presence of any sensory, physical or mental handicap in any of its educational programs/activities and employment, or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The District prohibits discrimination against any youth group listed in Title 36, as a patriotic society, (i.e., Boy Scouts of America) from access to public school facilities use.
Site(s) Nutrition Services
Internal Job Number 2026/27
Salary
On Call NS Worker I
Grade 14
$14.88 per hour (Social Security Deduction)
Salaries are subject to adjustment and may increase and decrease each fiscal year. New employees hired by Washoe County School District are normally placed on the entry step of the grade of the position. View the salary schedules here.
Range/Grade G14
Additional Job Information
Applications are taken on an on-going basis. As positions become available, applications will be reviewed and interviews will be scheduled and conducted.
Temporary employees working less than 6 months do not receive benefits.
New employees will be fingerprinted upon hire and every five years thereafter and will have $58.50 deducted from their first paycheck to help defray the cost of fingerprinting. Non-licensed employees will have $58.50 deduction when their fingerprints are completed every five years. Fingerprint fees are subject to change.
Any applicant who would like to request a reasonable accommodation in any step of the selection process should contact Human Resources at (775) 348-0321.