Maintenance: Kitchen Tech

Position Information

Position Title: Kitchen Service Technician
Department: School Services
Reports To: Director of Facilities, Assistant Director of Facilities
Evaluated By: Director of Facilities, Assistant Director of Facilities
FLSA Status: Non-exempt

The Kitchen Service Technician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of commercial food service equipment across 23 K‑12 school kitchen facilities. This role ensures that all equipment operates safely, efficiently, and in compliance with health and safety standards to support uninterrupted meal service for students and staff. Candidates with any level of experience are encouraged to apply—on‑job training will be provided as needed.

• Perform routine preventive maintenance on commercial kitchen equipment, including ovens, steamers, fryers, dishwashers, refrigeration units, and warming equipment.
• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, and gas malfunctions in food service equipment.
• Respond to service requests at school sites in a timely manner to minimize disruption to meal programs.
• Conduct regular inspections of kitchen equipment to identify potential issues before they cause failures.
• Maintain accurate records of all maintenance, repair work, and parts used.
• Coordinate with kitchen managers and Child Nutrition staff to schedule maintenance during non‑service hours.
• Order, track, and manage spare parts and equipment inventory.
• Ensure all equipment meets local health code, fire code, and safety regulations.
• Assist with the installation and commissioning of new equipment as needed.
• Respond to emergency calls as needed.

• Perform preventive maintenance on tools and equipment.
• Operate tools and equipment according to established safety procedures.
• Ensure that equipment is in safe operating condition.
• Follow established safety procedures and techniques to perform job duties, including lifting, climbing, etc.
• Correct unsafe conditions in work area and report any conditions that are not correctable to supervisor immediately.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• High School Diploma or GED required; vocational or technical training in appliance repair, HVAC, or a related field with knowledge in local, state, and national electrical and mechanical codes as well as knowledge of refrigeration piping and wiring and operation principals of HVAC/R equipment preferred.
• Must possess a valid Arkansas driver’s license; a valid Arkansas HVAC/R Class B or higher classification license preferred.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals, electrical and mechanical codes, blueprints, schematics and written reference material.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral and diagram form.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve problems involving several variables and in standardized situations.

• Comfortable working at heights in excess of 10 feet; able to use necessary equipment such as a multi‑meter, ohmmeter, oscilloscope, refrigeration gauges and testing equipment, soldering iron, wire puller, pipe bender and threader, hand and power tools, trencher, jackhammer, concrete saw, ladder.
• Experience with commercial kitchen equipment maintenance or repair is a plus, but not required; entry‑level candidates with relevant mechanical aptitude are welcome.

• Regularly required to sit, walk, stand, listen and hear for extended periods.
• Frequent climbing, stooping, bending, kneeling, and reaching required.
• Ability to frequently lift and/or move items up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 90 pounds expected.
• Work in tiring and uncomfortable positions, around electrical power lines, outside and inside; exposure to extreme temperatures; frequent district‑wide travel.

• The noise level in the work environment varies from quiet to noisy.
• Work performed in compliance with ADA; not an exhaustive list of duties.
• Additional duties may be assigned.