As a Food Service Assistant at Bezos Academy, you’ll help provide nutritious, compliant meals to children at our tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool and provide direct support with a variety of additional tasks both in and out of the classroom. You will manage all aspects of food preparation and service with strong attention to detail, organization, and adherence to safety protocols. Key responsibilities include preparing CACFP-compliant menus, placing food orders and managing food costs, receiving and verifying food deliveries, ensuring all meals are delivered to classrooms on time, and managing all clean-up, organization, and documentation. Assuming full ownership of the kitchen and food operations at the school, you will serve meals in accordance with USDA requirements, Bezos Academy policies, and local childcare regulations.

Beyond the kitchen, you will assist school staff and administration with a variety of tasks including inventory checks, laundry, and other ad hoc duties. As needed, you will also occasionally step into classrooms to provide direct supervision and support to the children. You will become an integral part of your school team working to improve processes and provide an excellent preschool experience where we nurture every child’s full potential. 

LOCATION

We are actively hiring part-time Food Service Assistants at our Mesa, Arizona preschools with an expected start date of August 2026: 

• Mesa – Adobe Hills (1001 N Power Road, Mesa, AZ 85205)

SCHEDULE, BENEFITS, & COMPENSATION

• This is a part-time, non-exempt/hourly position requiring a minimum of 25 hours per week, with occasional opportunities to work additional hours based on school needs.  
• You will work a five-hour shift, Monday through Friday, totaling 25 hours per week. Specific school schedules are determined by school leaders when considering all staff, classroom, and community needs, but are currently expected to be 7:30am-12:30pm. 
• Compensation for this position is $19-$28 per hour. The upper third of the compensation range is typically reserved for existing employees who have been in the role for multiple years and who demonstrate strong performance over time. Starting compensation will vary by qualifications and prior experience. 
• Benefits include paid sick (care) time, accrued based on hours worked, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS  

• Age 18 with high school diploma or GED  
• Ability to pass background checks and complete all trainings required by the Arizona Department of Children, Youth, and Families upon hire
• Knowledge of cooking methods and procedures, including various types of preparation
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand for long periods of time, and perform a variety of repetitive tasks to prepare and serve food safely
• Experience working in an institutional or highly regulated kitchen/food setting with a clear understanding of food preparation best practices and protocols
• Active and current food worker card
• Understanding of Arizona food and beverage worker manual
• Ability to speak, read, and write English fluently
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• Experience working within the guidelines of the US Department of Agriculture and Child and Adult Care Food Program (USDA/CACFP)
• Two or more years of experience working in a school (preschool, early childhood education, daycare, or K-12 environment) or similar kitchen setting
• Working knowledge of food allergens, intolerances, preferences, and accommodations
• Prior experience as an Assistant Teacher in a preschool setting
• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education or two years of post-secondary coursework in Early Childhood Education
• Experience with Montessori pedagogy
• Experience with children with special needs
• Fluent in Spanish

RESPONSIBILITIES

NOTE: The combination of responsibilities may vary based on the needs of the school site, students, and prior experiences of the Food Service Assistant.

Food Service and Site Operations

• Place weekly food orders with the vendor based on student attendance trends and food waste analysis
• Receive and verify daily food deliveries to ensure accuracy with order quantities and alignment with the approved menu. If meals are non-compliant, follow the Emergency Food SOP
• Manage all aspects of routine vendor performance to ensure the vendor is meeting or exceeding expectations
• Ensure all meals served to students are compliant and document any menu changes on menu
• Track food consumption and waste daily to ensure food costs remain as lean and efficient as possible
• Prepare and serve meals and utensils to classrooms for each scheduled meal service
• Maintain compliance with strict food hygiene and safety protocols at all times and maintain compliance with all state and local jurisdictional requirements
• Ensure the kitchen, equipment, serving utensils, cookware, and dishes are consistently cleaned, sanitized, and well-maintained
• Manage and organize food inventory, including proper labeling, dating, rotating stock, and discarding items nearing expiration in accordance with food safety guidelines
• Record and log food temperatures prior to each meal service to ensure compliance with safety regulations
• Accommodate children’s special dietary needs, including allergies, medical restrictions, and cultural or religious food requirements
• Assist in serving meals during family engagement and school events as needed

Added responsibilities if food is prepared on-site:

• Place weekly groceries orders based on the menu and current inventory
• Receive and verify food delivery and follow up with vendor if food delivered is incorrect based on the order or spoiled
• Prepare meals according to the planned menu and adapt recipes for dietary restrictions (allergies, religious diets, vegetarian, etc.)
• Prepare meals on a schedule (breakfast/lunch/snack)
• Adapt the menu (make substitutions) to avoid food spoilage and waste following the Menu Substitution SOP
• Help plan menus that are nutritious, budget-friendly, and appealing to students

Added responsibilities if school is under CACFP:

• Ensure vendor provides a delivery receipt and keep it for 3 years
• Children receive the appropriate portion sizes for each meal pattern component by providing correctly sized serving utensils and clearly communicating the required serving sizes to classroom staff upon meal delivery
• Review meal counts for accuracy and upload into SharePoint weekly
• If there are any menu substitutions, provide the necessary menu-supporting documentation (CN label, product formulation statement, Nutrition Facts, standardized recipe)
• Attend the required annual sponsor CACFP training that includes meal pattern, reimbursement, meal counts, claims, recordkeeping, and civil rights
• Clock in/out of Workday based on food-related responsibilities

Classroom Support

• Provide classroom coverage as needed
• Assist teachers with the full implementation of Bezos Academy’s performance standards, policies, and procedures
• Support Bezos Academy classrooms by following regulations and guidelines in the day-to-day operation of the classroom (i.e., cleaning materials, meal prep, nap time transitions, etc.)
• Organize materials and clean the workspace to facilitate the learning process for each child
• Support children’s increasing independence with daily living skills (i.e., washing hands, using the bathroom, eating meals and snacks, cleaning up, etc.)
• Provide 1:1 support for children who are experiencing big feelings
• Develop positive relationships with children

Other

• Assist the Head of School and school staff in other operational duties in the school as necessary when the kitchen work is complete (e.g., support with laundry, front desk support, and other duties as assigned by the Head of School)
• Participate in team meetings, center activities, and staff development

Bezos Academy participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employee Form I-9 Information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. Bezos Academy only uses E-Verify once a candidate has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. If E-Verify cannot confirm that an employee is authorized to work, Bezos Academy will give the employee written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so the employee can begin to resolve the issue before any adverse employment action is taken. For more information about your right to work, please see the Notice of Right to Work.

job purpose: The Quality Technician monitors and performs qualitative/quantitative testing of process and product attributes to ensure food safety and food quality; ensures compliance with all applicable regulations such as the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance; complies with all applicable standards such as GFSI (Global Food Safety), Third party audits such as Siliker, Kosher, and Organic requirements; 
ensures processes, work in progress, incoming goods, in-process product, finished product meets specifications; interpretation of testing results to release of product that has met specifications; and processes documentation for non-conforming product and communicate information to plant management.

responsibilities:

• Check butterfat, total solids, pH, acidity, flavor, odor, cryoscopy, viscosity, brix, HR-1, 2 &3, temperatures, antibiotics, coliform, DMC, DMSCC and SPC.
• Calculate formulas and accelerated shelf life testing.
• Performs in plant weight checks, temperature checks, ingredient usage and distribution, code date verification.
• Performs environmental testing and Pre-op swabbing and maintains all records.
• Conducts pathogen monitoring on raw & finished products and maintains results.
• Responsible for hold/release/rejection of finished goods and raw materials.
• Maintains all lab records, internal and external lab results, inspection reports, vitamin log, water & glycol records.
• Coordinates and maintains all third-party laboratory testing programs
• Responsible for maintaining proper calibration standards.
• Responsible for daily finished product evaluation and Appendix N antibiotic testing.
• Assists with state and federal lab inspections.
• Performs sensory evaluation of raw material and finished product
• Helps control plant losses.
• Completes all duties in a manner that is consistent with all aspects of the company safety rules and good manufacturing practices.
• Performs related duties as assigned by the Manager or Supervisor on duty.
• Responsible for microbiological testing/documentation of finished and in-process products; interpret the results and retest/report abnormalities as needed; generate standard report of results
• Conduct routine inspection of processing areas including documentation to ensure that all documentation is present and correct and that all areas comply with GMPs and sanitation requirements
• Performs Quality Team Audits, including Good Manufacturing Practices and Housekeeping. 
• Manage the laboratory operations, maintain lab equipment and supplies
• Must be able to work with chemicals

skills/qualifications required:

• Must have High School diploma at a minimum. Bachelor’s degree in a science field or equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.
• At least one or more years with previous laboratory with microbiology and chemistry experience required. Experience in a food production environment preferred.
• Must be accurate and precise in testing procedures and mix formulation calculations and have a keen sense of odors and flavors.
• Must possess strong oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to read, write and interpret documents such as safety rules, procedure manuals and mathematical calculations.
• Must have the ability to read, comprehend and follow technical instructions, effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients and other employees of the organization.
• Must have the ability to hear and perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
  Must be able to speak and understand English fluently.
• Must have the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 
• Must have the ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out detailed and involved written or oral instructions and mathematical calculations. 
• Must have the ability to prioritize and organize.
• Must have the ability to demonstrate superb decision-making ability to determine best course of action in assessing test results.
• Must possess basic computer skills; knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet programs required. Knowledge of MS Office and SAP preferred.
• Knowledgeable with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), safety programs and procedures.
• Ability to handle ambiguity and work in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Proficiency in English: Comfortable with both written and verbal communication, including reading and writing.

working conditions and physical requirements:

• Up to 12 hours sitting/standing/walking
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Exposure to hazards (machinery, confined spaces, etc.)
• Must be able to work in and around loud noise levels, industrial machinery, air-conditioned environments suitable for carrying out controlled tests.
• Must be able to operate motorized vehicles or equipment

food safety requirements: 

• Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety.

• Understand, observe, and comply with the handling and usage of the color-coded container policy while in the Production Areas.
• Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company.
• Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming product in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.
• In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

how fairlife nourishes you:

At fairlife, we believe in better — and that includes how we support our people. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and wellbeing resources designed to support you physically, emotionally, socially, and financially, both in and out of work.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one!
• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance
• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match
• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support
• Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability
• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential
• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups

fairlife’s nour!sh program is designed to meet you where you are — supporting your individual wellbeing journey while enabling you to do your best work every day.

position location: Goodyear, AZ

reports to: Quality Supervisor

travel requirements: minimal 

exempt/nonexempt: nonexempt

About Plexus

Founded in gut health. Experts in microbiome. Plexus Worldwide®, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a renowned direct-selling company recognized as a top employer. Over the past 18 years, Plexus has dedicated itself to promoting hope, health, and happiness through its scientifically backed, innovative dietary supplements, weight management products, and personal care products, sold primarily through Plexus Brand Ambassadors. As a six-time Best Places to Work awardee, Blue Zone-approved employer, and an AZ Most Admired Company, Plexus prides itself on its robust organizational culture and commitment to community support and philanthropy.  Our team is driven by a shared mission to empower individuals to achieve their health and wellness goals while offering additional income through the sale of products. Join us to be part of a team that values people, innovation, wellness, and community impact.

Our Core Values

We contribute to the overall growth and success of Plexus by embracing the Plexus core values:

• We are One Plexus.
• We are accountable.
• We get the job done right.
• We empower others.

Benefits

• Highly rated and competitive medical plans.
• 401 (k) with company match and immediate vesting.
• 1-on-1, personalized health coaching.
• Many other voluntary benefits.

To learn more about Plexus Worldwide, go to https://plexusworldwide.com/careers.

Thank you for taking the time to apply for an opportunity with our One Plexus team! If you encounter any issues during the application process, please contact us directly at careers@plexusworldwide.com.

We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your information. Visit our Candidate Privacy Notice for additional information.

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