Description
Plan, direct, and coordinate daily operations of a cafeteria serving food and beverages, ensuring safe, efficient service, quality, and cost control.
- • Taste and evaluate prepared food to ensure flavor and quality standards.
- • Investigate and resolve customer complaints about food or service.
- • Schedule and receive deliveries, verifying product quality and quantities.
- • Monitor preparation methods, portion sizes, and presentation on the serving line.
- • Track budgets and payroll, reviewing transactions for accuracy and approval.
- • Create staff schedules and assign stations and duties.
- • Ensure compliance with health, safety, and sanitation regulations.
- • Coordinate kitchen and service timing for peak periods and rushes.
- • Maintain required sanitation and regulatory records.
- • Set and enforce performance and customer service standards.
- • Forecast meal counts and product usage to guide purchasing.
- • Review procedures and address operational problems to improve efficiency and safety.
- • Assist with cooking, serving, or clearing during busy times as needed.
- • Maintain food, paper goods, and equipment inventories with accurate records.
- • Recruit, train, coach, and evaluate cafeteria staff; address personnel issues.
- • Order and purchase food, beverages, disposables, and smallwares.
- • Analyze recipes and menus for cost and labor; set prices within budget targets.
- • Analyze sales and participation to identify low-performing items.
- • Assess staffing needs and hire or arrange substitutes as needed.
- • Arrange equipment maintenance and repairs; coordinate waste and pest control services.
- • Plan menus aligned with nutrition standards, cost, and customer preferences.
- • Schedule cafeteria space and internal catering for events; confirm details with clients.
- • Count cash, reconcile POS reports, and make bank deposits.
- • Implement allergen management and accurate food labeling on the line.
- • Oversee cashier operations and, where applicable, verify meal eligibility.
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Hospitality, Events & Tourism
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Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
