Highlights
The goal of this role is to continuously maintain dishes, trash, cardboard, floors, and designated cleaning areas throughout the shift so that cleanliness does not accumulate until closing. Repeatedly leaving dishes, trash, cardboard, floors, or assigned cleaning responsibilities incomplete may result in coaching and further accountability consistent with restaurant policy.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Brooklyn, NY |
| Salary | $17–$19 |
Description
Dishwasher / Utility & Sanitation Team Member
Chick-fil-A Brooklyn Junction
Position Overview
The Dishwasher / Utility & Sanitation Team Member plays a critical role in keeping our restaurant clean, organized, safe, and ready for operation.
This position is not limited to washing dishes. The goal of this role is to continuously maintain dishes, trash, cardboard, floors, and designated cleaning areas throughout the shift so that cleanliness does not accumulate until closing.
A successful team member in this position is proactive, works with urgency, and looks for what needs to be done next without waiting to be asked.
Primary Responsibilities
Dishwashing & Dish Area
- Continuously wash, rinse, sanitize, dry, and properly store dishes, utensils, pans, trays, containers, and kitchen equipment.
- Keep up with dishes throughout the entire shift rather than allowing them to pile up.
- Maintain a clean and organized dish pit at all times.
- Keep sinks, sprayers, racks, shelving, walls, and surrounding areas clean.
- Return clean items promptly to their proper locations.
- Communicate immediately when dish volume is becoming unmanageable so additional support can be provided before closing.
Cardboard & Garbage
- Break down and remove cardboard continuously throughout the shift.
- Keep cardboard from accumulating in BOH or storage areas.
- Monitor all designated garbage cans and replace liners before they overflow.
- Remove garbage to the appropriate disposal area as needed throughout the shift.
- Keep dumpster/trash areas organized and free of loose garbage.
- Never allow trash, boxes, or debris to create an unsafe or unsanitary workspace.
Floors & General Cleanliness
- Sweep and groom designated BOH areas continuously throughout the shift.
- Pick up food, wrappers, cardboard, and other debris immediately.
- Mop designated areas as needed and as assigned.
- Clean spills immediately and place appropriate wet-floor signage when necessary.
- Maintain clean floor drains and surrounding areas as assigned.
- Keep walkways and work areas clear and safe.
- Assist with cleaning walls, baseboards, shelving, equipment exteriors, and other designated surfaces.
Closing Responsibilities
Closing begins during the shift — not when the restaurant closes.
The Dishwasher / Utility Team Member is expected to work ahead throughout the day so the restaurant can close efficiently.
Before leaving, responsibilities include:
- All dishes washed, sanitized, dried, and properly stored.
- Dish area completely cleaned and reset.
- All cardboard broken down and removed.
- All designated garbage removed and cans relined.
- Floors swept/groomed and designated areas mopped.
- No food or debris left on BOH floors.
- Assigned drains and cleaning areas completed.
- Cleaning supplies returned to their proper locations.
- BOH utility areas left organized and ready for the opening team.
The Standard: “Never Walk Past It”
If you see:
- A full garbage can — change it.
- Cardboard — break it down.
- Food on the floor — sweep it.
- A spill — clean it.
- Dishes accumulating — wash them.
- Something out of place — put it away.
Do not wait for a leader to point out something that is clearly part of your responsibility.
What Success Looks Like
A successful Dishwasher / Utility Team Member:
- Stays ahead instead of catching up.
- Works with urgency while maintaining food-safety standards.
- Keeps the dish area under control throughout the shift.
- Does not disappear from their assigned responsibilities.
- Takes ownership of cleanliness without repeated reminders.
- Communicates when help is needed.
- Supports the BOH team when primary responsibilities are caught up.
- Helps create a closing process where the team can finish efficiently instead of remaining for hours completing dishes and basic cleaning.
Accountability
Team Members are responsible for completing assigned duties to Chick-fil-A Brooklyn Junction standards. Repeatedly leaving dishes, trash, cardboard, floors, or assigned cleaning responsibilities incomplete may result in coaching and further accountability consistent with restaurant policy.
Our expectation is simple: leave the restaurant cleaner, safer, and more organized than you found it.
Physical Requirements
This position requires the ability to:
- Stand and move for extended periods.
- Frequently bend, reach, push, pull, and lift.
- Safely lift and transport garbage, dish racks, boxes, and restaurant supplies within applicable safety guidelines.
- Work around water, cleaning products, food, heat, and typical commercial-kitchen equipment.
- Follow all food-safety, chemical-safety, and workplace-safety procedures.
The Dishwasher / Utility Team Member is one of the most important positions in a successful close. When this role stays ahead throughout the shift, the entire restaurant operates better.
Working at a Chick-fil-A® restaurant is more than a job – it’s an opportunity for teamwork and leadership development in a positive, people-focused environment. Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent, franchised Operators who invest in the future of their Team Members and give back to their communities.