Office of Food & Nutrition Services Jobs at the DOE
The New York City Department of Education is the largest system of public schools in the United States, serving about 1.1 million students in over 1,700 schools. The Office of Food & Nutrition Services (OFNS) serves around 850,000 meals to these students each school day. Of these, over 700,000 meals are provided at no charge to the students or their parents/guardians. Over the past decade, we have made tremendous strides in improving the nutrition and taste of our meals. We are committed to promoting healthy food choices among our students and maintaining high nutritional standards while offering delicious and satisfying menu choices.
Benefits
DOE employees who work more than 20 hours a week can select from a variety of health insurance plans, several of which require no employee contributions. Please review the effective dates of coverage on the NYC Health Benefits Program website(Open external link). Employees also receive dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits, and are eligible for health benefits after retirement.
Food services workers at the DOE are eligible for retirement benefits through the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS).
DOE employees are eligible for many additional benefits, including commuter benefits, a college savings program, and employee discounts on everything from technology and media to travel and education.
An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D
It is the policy of the Department of Education of the City of New York to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship status, age, marital status, partnership status, disability, sexual orientation, gender (sex), military status, unemployment status, caregiver status, consumer credit history, prior record of arrest or conviction (except as permitted by law), predisposing genetic characteristics, or status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual offenses and stalking, and to maintain an environment free of harassment on any of the above-noted grounds, including sexual harassment or retaliation. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy.
School Kitchen Positions
Entry-level food services jobs are available in school cafeterias. Positions are citywide and based on geographical locations.
Benefits
- Monday to Friday Work Week
- Part Time Employment with Full Benefits
- Medical & Prescription Coverage
- Dental & Vision
- Sick Days
- Paid Holidays
- Retirement Plan(s)
Summary of positions:
School Lunch Helper
* Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Assists the cook-in-charge with necessary meal production and preparation. Takes direction from the cook-in-charge, assistant cook, and School Food Service Manager regarding daily activities.
- Serves meals to students and assists with replenishment of food and food-related items on the serving line and surrounding areas.
- Cleans and sanitizes kitchen and serving lines after meal service.
- Using proper food safety standards, stock shelves, refrigerators, and freezers with delivered goods. Rotates stock, as necessary.
- Must be required to lift heavy food and food-related items and sweep and mop the kitchen and surrounding areas.
- Performs related work.
Senior School Lunch Helper (Heavy Duty Person)
*Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Be advised that this position is more physically demanding than the School Lunch Helper
- Accepts deliveries of food and food-related supplies into the kitchen, checking for freshness and accuracy against delivery amounts and ordered supplies.
- Required to lift upwards of 30 pounds at a time.
- Using proper food safety standards, stock shelves, refrigerators, and freezers with delivered goods. Rotates stock.
- Assists the cook-in-charge with meal production. Takes direction from cook-in-charge, assistant cook, and School Food Service Manager.
- Cleans, sweeps, and mops kitchen and storeroom areas daily according to food safety and sanitation standards. Removes garbage and other debris from the kitchen and cafeteria.
- Serves meals to students and assists with replenishment of food and food-related items on the serving line.
If you're interested in applying to work in one of our school kitchens, use our Applicant Scheduling Assistant.
Office of Food & Nutrition Services Food Service Managers
About this Position
The Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) is committed to promoting healthy food choices among our students and maintaining high nutritional standards while offering delicious, healthy, and satisfying menu choices. We serve over 560,000 lunches daily along with 190,000 breakfast meals and a combination of 114,000 snacks and suppers supporting afterschool programs. The Food Service Manager plays an integral role in ensuring quality services to students by administering operations and food services administration within a grouping of schools. The Food Service Manager may perform the duties of the immediate superior in their temporary absence. Performs related work.
- Reports to: Associate School Food Service Manager
- Direct Reports: Cooks, Assistant Cooks, Senior School Lunch Helpers, School Lunch Helpers
- Key Relationships: Relationships will be fostered with administrators within the schools, with directors and administrators within the Office of School Support Services, and with food services staff.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
- Implements menus in school kitchens, created according to USDA regulations, including ensuring that OFNS offers students the correct portions and variety of components for meals.
- Participates in food services program planning and management, including breakfast, lunch, and afterschool meals. Manages special meal preparation such as breakfast in the classroom.
- Ensures compliance with proper food safety standards in kitchens, including proper storage, rotation of stock, and temperature maintenance of food.
- Schedules assignments; supervises and trains kitchen personnel; directs and evaluates work of subordinate staff.
- Participates in an advanced nutrition education program and/or a food service manager training programs.
- May assist teachers in developing and conducting instruction in nutrition and health education.
- Fosters relationships with principals and other stakeholders; serves as a point person for food services matters.
- Prepares required records and reports, e.g., food production, inventory records, participation regarding student meals.
- Responsible for increasing participation in the breakfast and lunch programs.
- Coordinates and participates in mandated nutrition education meetings, professional standards, and training.
Qualification Requirements
Minimum
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with a major in nutrition, foods, dietetics, health and nutrition sciences with a concentration in foods and nutrition, home economics, culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, hotel/restaurant institutional management, food service entrepreneurship, food service administration, or a closely related field; or
- An associate degree from an accredited college with a major in nutrition, foods, dietetics, health and nutrition sciences with a concentration in foods and nutrition, home economics, culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, hotel/restaurant institutional management, food service entrepreneurship, food service administration, or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory full‐time experience in managing a restaurant or quantity food service operation, or as a nutritionist or dietitian.
- A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and four years of full-time satisfactory professional experience as described in “2” above.
Preferred
- Successful management of food services programs run in multiple locations.
- Ability to prepare and communicate clear and concise reports
Salary
$48,313 - $55,478
Benefits
- Medical, dental, prescription, and vision
- Generous vacation, sick days, and paid holidays
- Retirement Plan(s)
How to Apply
Please visit our Current Career Openings. Scroll to the Office of Food & Nutrition Services section.
Office of Food & Nutrition Services Cooks
About this Position
OFNS is looking for dedicated, service oriented employees to serve in Cook entry level food service titles within school kitchens throughout our 5 boroughs.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities of Cooks include but are not limited to:
- Delegating responsibilities
- Conducting daily morning meetings
- Cooking and monitoring food preparation for all programs
- Promoting OFNS nutritional standards with staff
- Monitoring meal service by ensuring portion control and conservation of the nutritional values of our food
- Recordkeeping including Food Production Record Book, Inventory Book and cash handling documents
- Following directives given by OFNS Service Manager and District Supervisor
- Providing service to multiple service lines, in house service and satellites
- Adhering to all HACCP and food safety guidelines
Job Requirements
- Effective written and oral communication skills
- Must have an elementary school diploma and one year satisfactory, paid experience relevant to the duties of the position or a satisfactory equivalent
Desired Qualifications
- All kitchen staff will need to be able to work in a fast paced environment and be able to effectively multitask. Experience with computers is a plus and all candidates must be able to read, write and communicate effectively.
- Additional preference will be given to those with basic knowledge of cooking procedures, measurements and processes necessary for food production of high quality meals. We are looking for candidates with a positive attitude and great customer service, pleasant personalities and those who are able to deal with all levels of staff and management using tact and courtesy, has the ability to work with and around students, but not supervise students. Also, possess the willingness to achieve the highest possible standards for all meals served.
Salary
$34,737 – $41,278
Benefits
- Medical, dental, prescription, and vision
- Sick days, and paid holidays
- Retirement Plan(s)
Please Note
- Non-entry level Cook vacancies will be filled via promotional opportunities for existing staff before outside candidates are considered.
How to Apply
Email your cover letter & resume to: SFRECooks@schools.nyc.gov
Summer Apprentice Workers
Are High School employees that gain work experience in kitchens and cafeterias during the Summer Meals Program. They assist with serving meals to over 1,000 Community-Based Organizations and those that are 18 years old and under.
O.F.N.S. provides the Summer Apprentice Worker with the opportunity of employment and to learn transferable food-related skills. SAW students also obtain valuable transferable knowledge that can be utilized in the foodservice industry. This Summer we are looking for approximately 100 students to employ and work for the Office of Food and Nutrition Services in our Summer Apprenticeship Program.
RESPONSIBILITIES- include but are not limited to the following:
- Preparation of meals at Open Community Feeder locations.
- Assist OFNS staff by serving meals and pleasantly greeting everyone.
- Learn about Meal preparation, Inventory control, SF Nutritional Standards and SF Summer Meals Program.
- Follow sanitation procedures in all preparation areas and throughout the course of the day.
- Meet with the Teacher-in-Charge and OFNS School Food Service Manager to review various duties and responsibilities that may change from day to day.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must be in High School, grades 9th–12th and the high school must be located within the five boroughs. Private, Charter and Parochial school students are welcome. Only 4 Reference Letters per High School accepted on a first-come-first serve basis.
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Demonstrates leadership skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with peers and school administration
- Able to work with others within time constraints to complete specified tasks
- Professional, punctual and diligent
SALARY:
$16.50 per hr. / 5.5 hours per day for the duration of the Summer Meals Program. Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (30 minutes for lunch)
Employment Dates: Monday, June 30, 2025 until Friday, August 22, 2025.
BENEFITS:
- Metro-Cards (if lengthy travel is required)
- Curriculum Enrichment
- Field-Related Work Experience
TO APPLY:
Please submit by e-mail a reference letter on school letterhead from a Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Principal or Assistant Principal from your current high school to (Marc T. Mills, e-mail address MMills@schools.nyc.gov) between the dates of Monday, March 10, 2025 until close of business on Friday, March 28, 2025 to be eligible for an interview. Be sure to include your contact information, e-mail address, home address, phone number, age and grade. Selected candidates will be notified of interview by mail.
For any inquiries related to the O.F.N.S. Summer Apprenticeship Program please call or e-mail Marc T. Mills at 718-707-4383, e-mail MMills@schools.nyc.gov or Samillah Feliciano at 718-707-4398, e-mail SFeliciano12@schools.nyc.gov
Internships and College Programs
View available internships and college program opportunities.