Job Description

Nutrition Aide - Residential

Shift Available: Monday- Friday 2:30 pm - 6:30 pm.

At The Centers, meaningful work is grounded in a culture where people feel valued. As a 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces winner, the organization is nationally recognized, based entirely on employee feedback, for trust, purpose, and care. This position plays an important role in advancing our mission and supporting the communities we serve.

Who We Are

The Centers' H.O.P.E. Campus is committed to creating a safe, trauma-informed residential environment where young people are supported through meaningful therapeutic relationships, emotional growth, and evidence-based care. Our team is driven by compassion, consistency, and a shared belief that every youth deserves a stable, nurturing environment in which to heal and grow.

The H.O.P.E. Campus operates 24 hours a day/7 days a week/ 365 days a year severing youth in crisis or in need of comprehensive evaluation prior to long-term placement.

About the Role

The Nutrition Aide will assist in the daily operations of the warming kitchen. This role is vital in supporting the preparation and serving of nutritious meals that meet the dietary needs of young residents. The Nutrition Aide will ensure a clean, safe, and welcoming environment, while promoting healthy eating habits among the youth.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation and serving of meals in accordance with established menus and dietary guidelines.
• Ensure all food is stored, prepared, and served safely, adhering to health and sanitation standards.
• Set tables and serve food and beverages according to procedures.
• Assist in inventory control by monitoring stock levels and reporting shortages to the Site Manager
• Support the implementation of special dietary needs and preferences for individual residents.
• Engage with residents during mealtimes, promoting positive dining experiences and encouraging healthy food choices.
• Collect soiled dishware, clean and sanitize tables, pick up debris from the floor; deliver soiled tableware to the dishwashing area.
• Perform cleaning duties, including washing dishes, sanitizing surfaces, and maintaining overall kitchen hygiene.
• Properly labels and stores perishable and nonperishable food items.

Other Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Participate in training and meetings to enhance knowledge of nutrition and food service
• Other duties as assigned
• Assists in other operations area(s) as assigned by Site Manager

Supervisory

• This position does not supervise team members.

Core Competencies

• Communication: Expresses thoughts clearly, concisely, and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Attention to Detail: processes information efficiently and consistently; maintains focus with working with detailed information; recognizes gaps in information and seeks clarification; monitors and reports discrepancies and concerns.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Contributes to common goal, maintains open communication with team members, asks for help, when necessary, encourages involvement.
• Independence: Takes responsibility for own time and effectiveness. Alert to opportunities to contribute appropriately without being told.

Job Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Basic knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices.
• Must be able to follow written and oral instructions and work independently as well as cooperatively with other staff.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds and stand for extended periods.
• Serve Safe Certified is preferred, or the ability to acquire certification within 6 months year of hire is required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

This job operates primarily in an institutional food service kitchen with noise and temperature variations. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly employee is frequently required to stand, walk, bend, climb, push, pull, stoop, twist, stretch, squat, reach and lift up to 30 lbs. regularly from floor to waist level without assistance. The employee is frequently required to operate kitchen equipment, with some exposure to hazards and/or physical risks which require basic safety precautions. Work outside of normal hours may be required depending on meal service schedules, some flexibility in hours may be required, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of The Centers. Since no position description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.