Aging and Disability Services30 Hours/week; Full-Time; Non-ExemptThe Senior Center Associate is employed at a multipurpose senior wellness center that provides activities and meals to older adults. The incumbent functions as a team to ensure food, food handling practices, and kitchen/facility cleanliness meet health, food safety, and program policy standards. The incumbent provides information to clients, assists in the senior center's day-to-day functioning, and responds to client and food service emergencies. The incumbent also covers senior center tasks due to staff absences/vacancies to ensure smooth function at any county operated senior center to which she/he is assigned. Essential FunctionsResponsible to receive food, record food temperatures and address food service problems. Participates in determining emergency food plan for food service problems; notifies Nutrition Office of any unresolved food service problems or those resulting in the use of canned back up food.Cook/reheat selected food items and portion/pack accurate number of home-delivered and senior center meals as per Nutrition Policy and Procedure.Calculates meal order and notifies Nutrition Office daily by 11:00 a.m.; updates senior center meal reservation sheet and Meals on Wheels (MOW) route sheets to reflect new clients, cancelled meals or other changes and communicates any changes as per ‘No Show’ policy.Covers the senior center reception desk (i.e., greets senior center guests, answers phones, posts correct weekly menus, provides information/assistance, maintains message log, assists clients in making meal reservations, documents change in meal reservations, New Client Welcome/Tier 1 packet), and obtains guest signatures of all attendees).Maintains program sign-in sheet and various logs (i.e., Volunteer Hours, Community Service Worker hours, Frozen Meal Back Up Food Log, New MOW Client Emergency Food/Literature Tracking log, etc.).Ensures a standard of cleanliness/safety set by the health department and the Nutrition Program, including but not limited to, sanitization of sinks, cleaning of stove and countertops, loading and unloading of the commercial dishwasher, wipes and clean steam and chill tables, wipes tables and chairs, cleans glass doors, wipes spill immediately, checks garbage disposal area for cleanliness, cleans as needed; empties trash/recycles appropriately, cleans pots/pans/trays and sterilizes senior center, wipes home delivery transport bags and coolers daily and thoroughly washes/sterilizes interior and exterior weekly; and quarterly clean ovens; cleans and maintains pantry, supply storage areas in an organized fashion; and cleans refrigerator/defrosts freezer.Accurately completes/updates and forwards weekly paperwork to the Nutrition Program Assistant (i.e., Weekly Meal Recaps, Client Reservation Sheets, Guest Registers, MOW rosters, Bank Deposit slips, Temperature Reports, Count Money Bank Deposit slips, Invoices etc.) every Wednesday for preceding week.Dates back up food and stores according to established “first in, first out” procedures; maintains/stores inventory of back - up food, and other supplies needed to perform job functions.Maintains records and organizes literature/special meal orders for new MOW clients (i.e., Nutrition Education article, Meals on Wheels Reminders, and Snow Closing Information).Completes MOWs temperature tests to ensure that meals can be held at food safe temperatures for the duration of the MOW route; submits report at end of each quarter.Responds to senior center client accidents/health. emergencies/illness/behavior issues, etc. that have occurred on center property according to policy; documents incidents and report it back to Nutrition Office.In absences of County cleaning contract, assist with cleaning, vacuuming, and mopping of the center floors and bathrooms.In the absence of the Senior Center Manager, covers functions necessary for center operations including, but not limited to coordinate, implement, and evaluate a wide range of senior center activities, programs, events, volunteer activities and any building/client related issues.Contributes to a harmonious work environment by interacting with the public, all employees, volunteers, and work-related contacts courteously, professionally, sensitively, and tactfully (verbally and in writing) being sure to handle all difficult situations in a private setting (refers to division work rules and professional code of conduct)Understands work schedule may be modified to match program needs. Work hours and coverage may vary to assure essential work functions are covered, including emergency situations which may occur on evenings or weekends.Works on special projects as assigned.Essential QualificationsHigh School Graduate or completion of GEDBasic math/clerical skillsComputer skills: Basic Excel, Word and Outlook (e-mail)Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, and organizational skills; ability to work effectively as part of a team; detail oriented and ability to produce accurate work; ability to multitask in a direct service environment.Ability to read, write, understand, and communicate clearly in English; ability to communicate effectively with diverse clientele; public speaking experience.Ability to pass state and local food handlers’ training tests (Serv Safe Certification) Ability to read, comprehend and demonstrate Nutrition Program Policy & Procedures.Valid NJ driver’s license and ability to travel independently to various work locations as assigned.PreferredBilingual (Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi)Food service experience/Serv Safe Certified/ability to pass state and local food safety and sanitation tests.Experience working with older adults.Customer service experience