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Student Dining Associate Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

... community of students, faculty, and staff. The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent ... Upon completion of waiting period associates are eligible for: * Medical and Prescription Drug ...

Line Server

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$17 - $18/hr

Creative Dining is hiring for a full-time Line Server for Calvin University. * Location : 3201 ... Serve meals to students, customers, and/or guests * Set up station prior to meal serving time. Help ...

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Student Dining Associate information

What is a student dining associate?

Student Dining Associates are students who work part-time in campus dining facilities, assisting with tasks such as food preparation, serving, cashiering, and maintaining cleanliness in dining areas. They help ensure that the dining operations run smoothly and provide quality service to fellow students and staff. This role often offers flexible hours to accommodate students' class schedules and provides valuable work experience in customer service and teamwork.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a student dining associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Student Dining Associate, you need basic food handling knowledge, customer service skills, and the ability to follow safety and sanitation guidelines, often requiring completion of food safety training. Familiarity with point-of-sale systems, dishwashers, and kitchen equipment is typically expected. Strong teamwork, reliability, and communication skills help you interact effectively with coworkers and customers. These capabilities ensure efficient operations, high-quality service, and a safe dining environment.

What are some common challenges faced by student dining associates, and how can they be managed effectively?

Student Dining Associates often encounter challenges such as managing high-volume meal times, multitasking between food preparation and serving, and maintaining cleanliness under time constraints. Effective time management and clear communication with team members are essential to ensure smooth operations. Many dining facilities provide on-the-job training and encourage teamwork, making it easier to adapt and succeed even during busy shifts. Seeking feedback and being open to learning can also help you grow and handle these challenges more confidently.

What is the difference between Student Dining Associate vs Food Service Worker?

AspectStudent Dining AssociateFood Service Worker
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; no formal certification neededHigh school diploma or equivalent; food safety certification may be preferred
Work EnvironmentSchool cafeterias, college dining hallsRestaurants, cafeterias, catering services
Employer & IndustryEducational institutions, universitiesFood service establishments, hospitality industry
Common TasksServing food, cleaning dining areas, assisting studentsPreparing food, serving customers, cleaning workstations

Both roles involve food service in institutional settings, but Student Dining Associates typically work in school environments assisting students and maintaining dining areas, while Food Service Workers often work in broader food establishments with more food preparation responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Student Dining jobs in Michigan?

The most popular types of Student Dining jobs in Michigan are:

What job categories do people searching Student Dining Associate jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Student Dining Associate jobs in Michigan are:

What cities in Michigan are hiring for Student Dining Associate jobs?

Cities in Michigan with the most Student Dining Associate job openings:

Infographic showing various Student Dining Associate job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution.

ASST DIR, DINING SERVICES - Portland Public Schools, MI

Compass Group

Portland, MI • On-site

$50K - $55K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago


Compass Group rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 1,092 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

348th of 495 rated business services


Job description

Salary: $50,000 - $55,000
Other Forms of Compensation: Medical, dental and vision insurance, 401K, PTO
Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,500 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent. For more information, visit www.ChartwellsK12.com.
Job Summary
The Assistant Food Service Director supports the daily operations of the school nutrition programs for Portland Public Schools located in MI. Successful candidate will help overseeing 5 schools with an enrollment of 2300 students. Working closely with the Food Service Director, this role helps ensure the successful execution of all food service operations, maintaining high standards for meal quality, customer service, food safety, and regulatory compliance. The Assistant Director provides leadership and support to kitchen managers and frontline teams, assists with staffing, training, scheduling, inventory management, ordering, and operational planning, while ensuring compliance with USDA requirements and district policies.
This position provides oversight and support for up to 25 associates Chartwells team members. Through regular site visits, operational assessments, and hands-on coaching, the Assistant Director helps create a positive, productive work environment focused on teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a strong relationship builder who can effectively partner with school administrators, staff, and employees, proactively resolve operational challenges, and drive efficiencies that support exceptional meal experiences for students across both districts.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Works the team in creating nutritious and top quality food.
  • Implements new culinary programs in conjunction with the marketing and culinary teams.
  • Maintains excellent relationships with the client.
  • Manages, trains, and develops associates.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
  • 1 to 3 years of food service management experience.
  • Experience in restaurants, hotels, corporate dining, education, military, health care, and/or related food service operations.
  • Strong leadership and communication skills.
  • Financial experience and business acumen skills.
  • Proficient computer skills and knowledge of MS Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and internet.
  • Associate's degree is preferred.

Apply to Chartwells Schools today!
Chartwells Schools is a member of Compass Group USA
Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story
Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.
Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.
Chartwells K-12 maintains a drug-free workplace.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Associates at Chartwells K-12are offered many fantastic benefits.
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life Insurance/ AD
  • Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan
  • Paid Time Off
  • Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
  • Associate Shopping Program
  • Health and Wellness Programs
  • Discount Marketplace
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.
https://www.compass-usa.com/wpcontent/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_ChartwellsK12.pdf
Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/
Req ID: 1554111
Chartwells K12
KRISTEN STROHMYER
((req_classification))

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