Culinary Support Specialist
Penn State University
State College, PAFull-time$37–54K/yrPosted 5 days agoStill listed today
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Job overview
The Child Care Center at Hort Woods seeks a full-time Culinary Support Specialist to support the wellness, growth, and development of children. The role maintains food-service operations, plans meals and snacks, manages kitchen budgets and inventory, and works with families, children, and educators on dietary needs. The position offers daytime hours Monday through Friday and requires relevant experience or equivalent relevant education.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
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Benefits
Full job description
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
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CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
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CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
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If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS The Child Care Center at Hort Woods, a University-managed facility, is seeking a full-time Culinary Support Specialist. This individual will contribute to the wellness, growth, and development of children attending Hort Woods.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Maintain a safe and healthy food service operation; uphold food quality control procedures; follow public health and welfare directives; ensure compliance with governmental mandates and University policies; address and correct discrepancies; keep accurate records
- Plan meal and snack menus meeting proper nutritional requirements and child-care food guidelines; manage food substitutions to meet special dietary needs including allergies
- Oversee kitchen budget; examine expenses; identify cost containment
- Maintain inventories; anticipate requisition needs and place orders; negotiate prices; resolve quality and quantity issues
- Interact with Center families, young children and educators to meet special requests and dietary needs
- Participate in yearly trainings as assigned that include: PSU requirements, Child and Adult Care Food Program Federal Food Program (CACFP); learn and understand CACFP requirements
The successful candidate must possess:
- Strong customer service and interpersonal skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing
- Organizational skills with an attention to detail
- Ability to function in a fast-paced team environment
- Computer skills to complete ordering and menu preparation
This is an hourly position, and offers daytime hours, Monday through Friday.
ServSafe certification preferred.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or High School (HS) 2+ years of relevant experience; Relevant education accepted in lieu of experience Required Certifications: None
A health physical with TB test is required prior to starting the position.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check, and the National Sex Offender Registry Clearance (NSOR). Additional clearances may be necessary if you resided outside of Pennsylvania in the past five years.
Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. SALARY & BENEFITS The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $36,888.00 - $53,532.00. Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines
How this job compares
Set against the 3,060 open Food Service jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$37–54K/yr
- US median$72–87K/yr86 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $45K, is 44% below the US median midpoint ($80K) — in the lowest quarter of Food Service salary ranges across the US.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 131 open Food Service jobs in Pennsylvania and 3,060 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Pennsylvania
- Chipotle Mexican Grill22 open
- ARAMARK15 open
- Cracker Barrel15 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 2 years of experience; Food Service postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year at the median (410 postings).
- Education
- 14 of the 3,060 open Food Service jobs (under 1%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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