Food Service Assistant

Position Overview:

This position is primarily responsible for organizing pre-meal preparations (with occasional help with food preparation) and cleaning dishes/kitchen facilities after meal service. This position will rotate with the other food service assistants into a leadership role that will lead the other food service assistants and other staff in the meal preparation and dishes/kitchen facilities cleaning process. This position will also assist with preparing spaces for guests, responding to guest needs, and cleaning cabins and bathrooms after guests depart.

Site/Organization Overview:

Camp Sealth is located on the south end of Vashon Island, a rural community close to Tacoma, and is accessible only by ferry. It is easiest to travel by car as there is limited public transit service around the island. We are happy to pick you up at any nearby airport, bus, train, or ferry terminals at the beginning and end of your employment. Camp Sealth is sometimes able to provide transportation around or off Vashon Island, but is dependent on staff availability. Transportation to the main town area of Vashon with grocery stores and restaurants is provided on a weekly basis.

Camp Sealth encompasses 400 wooded acres, including a mile and a half of saltwater beach on Puget Sound. It has been owned and operated by Camp Fire Central Puget Sound since 1920 and serves public and private schools in the Puget Sound area through the Outdoor Education program as well as private rentals. Camp Fire Central Puget Sound offers a variety of enrichment opportunities that empower youth, staff, and volunteers to discover their sparks, gain confidence, build essential life skills, value the natural world, and be active contributors in their communities. Camp Fire Central Puget Sound is an organization that supports diversity and inclusion. We expect our staff and volunteers to demonstrate respectful interactions with all guests and other staff in all communications and functions as representatives of the organization. We strive to create an environment where each youth and staff member has a sense of belonging, opportunities to share their passions, and a place to thrive.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

Camp Fire stands on the lands of the Coast Salish People who came before us and, despite systemic efforts to silence their voices and erase history, are still here today. We honor with gratitude the land itself and the Coast Salish peoples.

Camp Sealth is on the unceded ancestral land of the first people of Vashon Island: the Duwamish, the Suquamish, and the Puyallup tribes. Sealth is a namesake from a Duwamish and Suquamish chief, Chief Si’ahl and the Camp Fire Seattle offices are on the land of the Duwamish Tribe. We honor the legacy and the history of these tribes – past, present, and future – and invite you to learn more.

Camp Fire strives to provide diverse, inclusive, and equitable environments throughout our organizations and programs. We recognize that both access to and success in our programs requires intentional work, to cultivate respect, eliminate systemic barriers, and address injustice head-on. We affirm, and support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religion and non-religion, citizenship and immigration status, and any other category people use to define themselves or others. We recognize that our efforts will be ongoing and evolving as we continue to grow, learn, collaborate, and press for an equitable future.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

Camp Fire is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sec (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Camp Fire is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Lead pre-meal service preparations and after-meal dishes/kitchen facilities cleaning processes on a rotating basis.
• Assist with pre-meal service preparations and after-meal cleaning dishes/kitchen facilities cleaning processes when not in a leadership role.
• Clean Camp Sealth facilities (moving tables/chairs, sweeping, mopping, disinfection) after guests depart.
• Assist the Food Service Director with periodic kitchen organization.
• Assist with additional Camp Sealth operational tasks as needed such as preparing spaces for guests, responding to guest needs, basic maintenance, deep cleaning, facilities organization, etc.).

Essential Experience and Qualifications: 

• High school diploma or equivalency.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification (provided during staff training if not already certified)
• Current Washington Food Handler’s Permit (provided during staff training if not already certified).

Essential Skills:

• Proficiency in English.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Enthusiasm and cultural responsiveness in working with people of all backgrounds and abilities.
• Working independently as well as collaboratively with a team on a set of tasks to completion.
• Flexibility to changes in schedule and program plans (sometimes with limited notice).
• Ability to take accountability for one’s actions and their impact on others.
• Ability to accept/provide honest and constructive feedback.
• Ability to live and work with others in a small community.
• Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to stand and move on feet for up to 8 hours at a time with regular breaks.
  • Ability to lift and carry items weighing at least 20 pounds.
  • Visual/auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental hazards.

Desired Experience & Qualifications:

• Experience working in a kitchen in any capacity, especially in a summer camp environment.