On-siteFull Time

Salary

$19.46 - $24.32 / hr

Location

Dartmouth, NS

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2V 0A5

Posted

Jul 17, 2026

Role overview

The Cafeteria Worker is responsible for food preparation and service for the school community within the guidelines of the School Food and Nutrition Policy. The Cafeteria Worker will interact daily with students and pre-primary children of various backgrounds and will maintain dignity, respect and confidentiality for all individuals. The Cafeteria Worker will show initiative and work within the values of the School Lunch Program. They will be committed to promoting healthy eating, food equity and local, minimally processed foods in the school cafeteria. The Cafeteria Worker will work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and reports to the Lead Cafeteria Worker.

Key Responsibilities

  • Complete daily logs as required (e.g., temperature, cleaning, amount of food prepared, consumed and composted).
  • Place food orders through identified food and supplies vendors when requested.
  • Positively interact with students as they go through the lunch line without commenting on the types or amounts of foods they choose.
  • Ensure food safety standards are followed at all times.
  • Prepare and serve food.
  • Perform kitchen duties as required such as washing dishes, collecting and removing compost, recyclables and garbage, cleaning and organizing work areas, restocking supplies.
  • Serve students in fast, efficient and friendly manner.
  • Promote and maintain positive working relationships and communication within the school environment.
  • Adhere to the School Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools and the School Lunch Program menu standards in all aspects of the food service.
  • Support of the school recycling program.
  • Other duties as required.
  • Delivery Positions only: deliver cafeteria orders to neighboring schools based on the food service model

Qualifications

High School Diploma (or equivalent)

  • Basic Food Safety Training is required, and can be provided as part of job training.
  • Food service experience and/or training preferred.
  • Understanding of food allergies and food-related conditions.
  • Physical capabilities to perform duties of the position including heavy lifting, walking and standing during most of the day, and working in an environment with heat fluctuations. May require lifting of up to 50 lb.
  • Excellent communication skills including the ability to follow written and oral instructions.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to responsive to the diverse backgrounds and personalities of students of various ages while in a busy, fast paced environment.

This position is classified on the Education Entities Non-Union Compensation Framework at Band 1 with a salary range between $37,939 - $47,423.

This Job Reports to the Lead Cafeteria Worker

The Cafeteria Worker shall have the following competencies:

  • Be committed to food equity and equitable access to foods in non-stigmatizing manner.
  • A demonstrated commitment to client service and the ability to provide quality front-line customer service;
  • The ability to apply knowledge, experience and commitment in the areas of race relations, cross cultural understanding, human rights and diversity;
  • The ability to work and communicate effectively within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education including parents, staff, students, community members and external groups such as government agencies;
  • The ability to work effectively as part of a team;
  • The ability to promote and maintain confidentiality;

Thank you for your interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Nova Scotia’s Regional Centres for Education and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) are committed to an inclusive education system that supports the well-being and achievement of every student and is high-quality, culturally and linguistically responsive.

The Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) is actively working to hire individuals from under-represented groups, particularly people of African Nova Scotian, African Canadian and African ancestry and Mi’kmaw/Indigenous ancestry, to work toward equitable representation within all employee groups. Equitable hiring strengthens the knowledge and expertise in our schools, and supports our public education system in establishing schools as safe, caring, and accessible learning spaces that support all students. This will provide opportunities for students to see themselves reflected throughout their schools, learning resources, and within their learning experiences.

HRCE has a Recruitment, Selection and Hiring of Staff Policy and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly people of African Nova Scotian, African Canadian and African ancestry and Mi’kmaw/Indigenous ancestry, in compliance with the applicable collective agreements or terms and conditions of employment. Applicants are encouraged to complete the self-identification questions in the online resume.

Applicants invited to participate in the hiring process (such as an interview or testing) and who require accommodation, should discuss their request for accommodation when invited to the assessment process.

Employment with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education is contingent upon providing a satisfactory Criminal Records Check with a Vulnerable Sector Search and Child Abuse Registry Search.