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Cafeteria Assistant
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Hixson, TN, 37343
Job Type : Full Time / Part Time
Salary : 16-16 HOUR
Date Posted : 3 January 2026
Job Summary and Responsibilities
Participates in and supports all aspects of healthcare foodservice operations. Works with facility staff to provide optimal nutritional care and demonstrates excellent customer service to patients, guests and staff.
- Follows healthcare foodservice industry standards, regulations, guidelines and procedures including monitoring and maintaining food temperatures during cooking, holding, and storage processes. Avoids cross-contamination of foods and adheres to personal hygiene requirements. Maintains proper labeling of food products and ensures storage of food equipment, and machinery per regulations & facility guidelines.
- Prepares and serves food within guidelines of menu & dietary requirements using required kitchen utensils and equipment. Maintains knowledge of recipe ingredients to respond to food allergy questions or requests.
- Follows organizational standards and guidelines for a high quality patient and customer experience. Ensures proper meal portioning and an aesthetically pleasing presentation.
- May be responsible for one or more of the following:
- Cashiering
- Serving in the retail area
- Assembling, delivering and retrieving patient trays
- Performing cold food prep
- Performing utility assignments (e.g., dishwashing, washing pots & pans, maintaining equipment)
- Performing catering functions and or delivering/picking up catered food
- Supporting inventory maintenance duties
- Performing general cleaning of equipment and work areas (e.g., mopping, sweeping, emptying trash cans, etc.)
- Performing other duties as assigned by leader
The job summary and responsibilities listed above are designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed within this job. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all job responsibilities required of employees assigned to this job. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements
Required Education and Experience:
- One (1) year of Food Service or Customer Service Experience
Preferred Education and Experience:
High School Diploma
Cashier experience
CHI Memorial, a member of CommonSpirit, is an award-winning, not-for-profit, faith-based health care organization dedicated to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, we offer a comprehensive continuum of care, from preventative and primary care to acute hospital services specializing in cancer, cardiac, neuroscience, stroke, and orthopedic services. Our commitment to excellence has earned us top prestigious recognition repeatedly from U.S. News and World Report, PINC AI™, CMS, Healthgrades®, Leapfrog, and most recently as one of the Best Places to Work in Tennessee. We are proud to serve Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia with the expertise of 4,700 team members and nearly 500 affiliated physicians.
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Frequently asked questions
Cafeteria assistant positions in Hixson, TN, typically offer a community-focused work environment with a steady demand due to local healthcare facilities. Compared to larger cities, the pace may be more manageable, but opportunities for advancement remain viable, especially within growing health systems like Catholic Health Initiatives.
In Tennessee, cafeteria assistants in healthcare often need to understand food safety standards such as ServSafe certification. Adhering to state health codes and hospital-specific hygiene protocols ensures compliance, especially when handling patient meals where allergy awareness and contamination prevention are critical.
Successful cafeteria assistants excel in multitasking between food prep, customer interaction, and sanitation duties. Strong knowledge of dietary restrictions, attention to detail in meal presentation, and the ability to operate kitchen equipment safely set them apart from general foodservice roles.
Starting as a cafeteria assistant can lead to roles like foodservice supervisor or dietary aid in healthcare. Gaining experience in inventory management, patient nutrition, and leadership within a hospital setting opens doors to specialized positions or management opportunities.
Catholic Health Initiatives emphasizes compassionate care, so cafeteria assistants support nutritional needs aligned with patient healing. They may engage more in patient interaction, adhere to faith-based service values, and participate in a team dedicated to holistic health, differing from typical cafeteria roles.
Catholic Health Initiatives provides thorough training and clear protocols for food temperature monitoring, allergy awareness, and sanitation. This ensures cafeteria assistants deliver meals that meet health regulations while enhancing patient and guest satisfaction through consistent quality control.
Cafeteria assistants in Hixson, TN, generally earn between $11 and $14 per hour, depending on experience and specific healthcare settings. Full-time roles often include benefits, making the total compensation competitive among local foodservice positions.
Expect to handle patient tray assembly, food prep adhering to dietary guidelines, cashier duties, and cleaning kitchen equipment. The role demands vigilance in avoiding cross-contamination and delivering meals that support patient recovery within strict hygiene standards.
School cafeteria jobs often focus on serving large groups of children with standardized menus, while hospital cafeteria assistants must cater to diverse dietary needs and work closely with healthcare teams. The hospital setting requires stricter safety and nutritional compliance.
The demand for cafeteria assistants in Hixson’s healthcare sector remains steady due to ongoing patient care needs. While competition exists, candidates with prior food or cashier experience and knowledge of healthcare foodservice protocols have an advantage in securing roles.