Culinary Worker I - Kitchen Helper (00001410) [REPOST]

Position Information

Posting Detail Information

Working Position Title Culinary Worker I - Kitchen Helper (00001410) [REPOST] Classification Culinary Worker I Position Number 00001410 Open Date 05/13/2026 Close Date 06/24/2026 Priority Review Date Employee Class Staff Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time FTE 1.00 Position Status Regular FLSA Non-Exempt Job code 3866 Union Representation Union Union Code AFS - AFSCME, Local #963 Unit/Department Residential Dining Service College/Unit Campus Dining Service Division Student Affairs Location RW DIN Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://www.niu.edu/dining/

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

The department of Campus Dining handles all things dining on campus. From residential meal plans to event catering, we provide nutritional food for students, faculty, staff and guests. We manage over a dozen eating establishments at NIU including residence hall dining, restaurants and coffee shops at the student center, and the cafe in Barsema Hall. We employ the students and professionals who work in our restaurants and cafes.

Procedures on all food preparation, food handling (service), and sanitation are provided in the Food Production procedure and the Task Training Manual. Food Service Managers, Assistant Food Service Managers, Food Administrators III and II are present in house to serve as resource personnel and to monitor the quantity and quality of items being prepared for service and to insure sanitation standards are being met.

Position Summary

9-month position (Aug 16-May 15); actual start and end dates may vary based on academic calendar

This position is responsible to ensure operational needs of customer service, production, and sanitation are met in all areas of Campus Dining. The individual in this position works under the supervision of Food Service Managers, Assistant Food Service Managers, and the indirect supervision of a cook or cooks helper. This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Food Production 30%

• Under the instruction of the cooks, cooks helpers, and/or management, assist in the preparation of hot and cold food items

Food Service 30%

• Responsible for setting up hot and cold service lines and salad bars with appropriate food items, serving utensils, equipment, and line cards
• Inform production and management personnel when food items being served are running low and/or quality and/or appearance is not acceptable to departmental standards
• Replenish items on serving line and salad bar as needed, checking with production personnel on items to be used
• Responsible for clean-up of assigned work area and equipment used

Sanitation 30%

• Maintain sanitation standards of service and production area and equipment according to State and Departmental rules and regulations
• Responsible for weekly clean-up of assigned areas to ensure sanitary conditions are met
• Assist in dish room as needed

Customer Service 10%

• Greet customers, checking identification cards and verifying residential status by use of the POS terminal system
• Perform other job-related duties as requested by administrators

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• As required by the position to be filled, possession of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Food Handler Training Certification (from an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited trainer).

Condition of employment: Illinois Department of Public Health, Food Handler Training Certification (from an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited trainer) must be obtained prior to start date.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

• Knowledge of sanitary procedures and directives; how to use simple cleaning solutions and equipment.
• Skill in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made
• Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
• Ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

None

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

None

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Additional Requirements (SPS)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Physical demands/requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to taste or smell.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, and crouch.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and depth perception.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date 07/16/2026 Anticipated Appointment End Date Percent of Staff Year 0.75 Standard Hours Per Week 37.50 Working Hours Varies; As Needed Salary $23,400.00/annually (based on a 9-month contract); NIU offers a robust benefits package. Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range $16.00/hourly Earn Type Hourly

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedures:

• Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.

• If eligible for Veterans Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.

• After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.

• Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu. Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.

• Applicants must be a current citizen or resident of the State of Illinois to move forward in the hiring process.

Credentials Assessment Examination:

• The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicants/employees education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
• Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a drivers license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
• After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.

Additional Details:

• Click on Culinary Worker I for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.

• Applicants who may assume they do not meet the exact minimum qualifications are still invited to apply. Within the application documents, applicants should be sure to explain how their credentials and related qualifications address the requested minimum requirements.

• Please click on Human Resource Services Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois Universitys benefits package.

• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Special Instructions Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/92231 Is Background Check Required? Yes EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator

Health Services Building Room 230

TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu

815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a persons disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• List of at least 3 Professional References

Optional Documents

• Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
• Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
• Other

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • Are you currently a citizen or resident of the State of Illinois?

• Yes

• No

• • What is the highest level of education attained?

• GED

• High School Diploma

• Associates Degree

• Bachelors Degree

• Masters Degree

• PHD

• • Have you attached all transcripts to support the degrees you are submitting for consideration?

• Yes

• No

• • If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.

• Yes

• No

• Not Applicable

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience performing repetitive tasks in a food service unit, i.e., assisting in arranging the dining area, the food service equipment and /or setting up tables and trays

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. (See Résumé is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience following safety regulations while assisting in the preparation of salads, sandwiches, and cold plate combinations; preparing food (i.e., meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, and other food for serving); placing food trays over food warmers for immediate service and/or storing food in refrigerated cabinets

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. (See Résumé is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience performing sanitary activities (such as clearing tables and carrying soiled dishes to kitchen, hand washing dishes, being responsible for the storage of clean pots and pans, cleaning and polishing kitchen items; scouring, cleaning, and sanitizing countertops, table tops, and chairs, kitchen equipment, and/or fixtures in the food service unit); cleaning up spilled foods or beverages, and/or broken dishes, sweeping and mopping floors, assisting dish/pot room staff, removing garbage/trash from unit to approved disposal containers).

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. (See Résumé is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience exhibiting effective communication skills, i.e., greeting and assisting customers; answering customer questions; communicating with customers regarding their comments, complaints, etc.; providing information to supervisors, coworkers, customers, etc.; notifying staff of problems, shortages, etc.; dealing with angry unpleasant or angry people; checking ID cards.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. (See Résumé is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience accurately processing payments, i.e., accepting payments for purchases, computing bills using equipment such as cash register or terminal, multi-counting or adding machines, optical price scanners, calculator, pencil and paper or Point of Sale (POS) equipment; making change; issuing receipts, refunds, credits, and/or exchanges; processing credit or debit card transactions.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. (See Résumé is not an acceptable response)

(Open Ended Question)

• • Select the answer that best describes your work experience in the food service industry i.e., fast-food, cafeteria/serving counter, deli work, food server, barista, sundry, which may have included light food preparation and/or serving meals to others.

• No work experience directly related to the job function described.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed under guidance.

• My work experience relevant to the job function as described was performed independently.

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. (See Résumé is not an acceptable response.)

(Open Ended Question)