TO APPLY, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: https://employment.plu.edu/postings/8545
APPLICATION MATERIALS SENT VIA EMAIL WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Position Title: Dish Attendant
Position Type: Staff
Benefits Status: Benefits Eligible
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Hiring Range: $18.75-$18.75 per hour, plus excellent benefits.
Location: Tacoma, WA 98447.
Department: Dining and Culinary Services
Posting Date: 06/24/2025
Closing Date: When a sufficient number of qualified applicants have been identified.
Work Schedule:
Full-time; PM Shift—
Monday – Friday 1:00pm – 9:30pm
Other shifts as assigned.
FTE: 1.0 (Summer schedules vary from the last week in May and until the last week in August. Scheduled hours and shifts may be reduced for 12 month employees to 30 to 36 hours per week or less during this time period. Employees are encouraged to utilize accrued vacation or flex time during this time period.)
All Dining Service’s team members are considered essential university personnel. In the event of PLU declaring an emergency status essential university personnel are expected to contact their supervisor to obtain their schedule assignment.
General Description:
This is a great opportunity in a busy kitchen with top-notch benefits; uniform provided, retirement with company matching, holiday pay, sick time, vacation pay and tuition remission for you and dependents. Be ready to work with a great team in a high-volume kitchen serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Dining and Culinary Services is independently operated and provides the nutritional foundation for the academic and co-curricular success of Pacific Lutheran University students. Under supervision of the Commons Operations Manager, this position supports student and staff wellbeing by providing cleanliness and sanitation for The Commons. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, collecting, washing, and returning dishes used by guests, catering department, and kitchen/servery team throughout the day, floor care maintenance, and general cleaning and organization for the dish room. This position reports to the Commons Operations Manager.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
-Acts as a mentor for the line team of student and temporary workers, inspiring enthusiasm, teamwork, and high morale.
-Supervises dish room staff.
-Maintain clean, safe, and dry floors in the dish room and adjacent areas by regularly sweeping, mopping, promptly addressing spills, and ensuring all walkways are free of debris and hazards in compliance with safety and sanitation standards.
-Washes, rinses, and sanitizes dishes, pots, pans, and implements used by the kitchen/servery team in preparing foods for the hot and cold cases.
-Supports kitchen/servery with garbage disposal, recycling disposal, and cleaning functions as required.
-Follows and complies with all applicable health, sanitation procedures and adheres to safe work practices.
-Operates and sanitizes all kitchen/servery/dish room equipment in a safe and proper manner.
-Answers customer questions.
-Proper storage, rotation, and labeling of product.
-Comply with all PLU and Health Department safety standards.
-Conform to high standards of quality and sanitation.
-Responsible for the condition and cleaning of the dish room and mop room and equipment they contain.
-Follow proper cleaning, maintenance and reporting procedures.
-Performs other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
-Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with other university leadership, team members, and customers.
-Operational knowledge of commercial kitchen equipment including, but not limited to, a demonstrated proficiency in the proper use of slicers, knives, safety box cutters, a dumpster, and all related equipment.
-Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
-Ability to utilize effective time management during production.
-Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
-Ability to detect food and labor waste issues and develop a plan of corrective action.
-Ability to multitask, and have an extensive understanding of customer service principles and service recovery.
-Ability to provide exemplary customer service constantly and consistently.
-Ability to understand Team Members’ needs.
-Ability to work a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
-High standard of personal hygiene.
Required Qualifications:
-High school diploma or GED
-Highly motivated, fast-learning, team player willing to partake in on-the-job training if necessary.
-Must possess a valid Washington State Food Handler’s Permit.
-Finalist applicants must satisfactorily complete pre-employment background checks.
Preferred Qualifications:
-1 year restaurant or professional kitchen experience. May include front of the house or hospitality positions.
Work Conditions:
-Will be exposed to hot, dry, cold, wet and/or humid conditions.
-Will often work with and around standard kitchen / dish room equipment that requires personal protective equipment.
-Summer schedules vary from the last week in May and until the last week in August. Scheduled hours may be reduced for 12 month employees to 24 to 30 hours per week or less during this time period. Employees are encouraged to utilize accrued vacation during this time period.
Physical Requirements:
-Ability to stand and walk for up to 4 hours without a break.
-Ability to bend and stoop to grasp objects, climb ladders, lift loads, up to 50 lbs. unassisted, push and pull carts weighing up to 100 lbs. unassisted.
-Ability to visually examine products for quality and signage/labeling for accuracy.
Other Information:
PLU is a small, private university where caring means more than kindness and consideration — it means a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice. Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities.
PLU offers an excellent benefits package including tuition remission for employees and their dependents, retirement plan, medical, dental, paid vacation and sick leave, major holidays off (including Christmas/New Year’s break), additional flexible time off, and many other great university benefits. PLU is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program as a 501©(3) tax-exempt organization. Click here for detailed benefits information.
For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or [email protected].