SENIOR FOOD SERVICE HANDLER
Because Senior Food Service Handler is non-competitive, hiring leans on your background rather than a test score: meet the requirements and apply to the agency directly.
Eligibility comes down to 1 year of relevant experience. The FY 2027 range lands between $38,928 and $55,860, and state payroll currently lists about 475 people in the title, led by Human Services.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 4 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 4 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Senior Food Service Handler appears on the State payroll at 6 departments, most of them at Department of Human Services.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Human Services | 185 |
| Department of Health | 165 |
| Veterans Affairs | 111 |
| Department of Children and Families | 8 |
| Juvenile Justice Commission | 4 |
| Department of Education | 2 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 475 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $49,063. The agencies employing the most are:
- Human Services (185)
- Health and Senior Services (165)
- Veterans Affairs (111)
- Children and Families (8)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the direction of a Cook, Head Cook, Food Service Supervisor or other supervisory officer, assists with the work involved in food preparation and service, and may take the lead in a group of Food Service Workers, patients, or inmates engaged in storing and preparing food for cooking and in serving food; transports prepared meals; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Acts as a general assistant in a kitchen, bakery, cannery, dining room, cafeteria, or other food preparation or service unit. Serves special diets according to prescribed portions control guide determined by the Dietitian. Washes, scrubs, pares, hulls, cores and prepares vegetables, fruits, and berries for cooking or serving using manual or power driven equipment. Assumes the responsibility for certain phases of food preparation and cooking. Assists in cutting meat and baking. Assists in keeping the kitchen or other areas safe, clean, and orderly; cleans refrigerators. Assists in directing the serving of food from steam tables and other cooking equipment; arranges trays. Delivers or monitors the delivery of food to dining rooms. Uses a motorized vehicle to transport prepared meals; loads and unloads vehicle; prepares portions at delivery stops. Directs food service in dining rooms or wards. Assists in the preparation of salads, desserts, and beverages. Sets tables; changes linens; counts dishes, linen, and silverware. Directs patients, inmates, and employees in transporting and delivering food to wards. Takes the lead in a dishwashing unit; ensures that dishes, trays, pots, pans, silverware, and kitchen and other food preparation and service equipment are properly washed and dried. Washes kitchen, dining room, and food storage area floors and walls; waxes floors. Washes and polishes ranges, roasters, broilers, milk cans, and other equipment. Polishes silverware and metal equipment. Receives, checks, weighs, measures, issues, and prepares records and inventories of food supplies and equipment. May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Experience
One (1) year of experience in general unskilled kitchen or food service work.
License
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position. KNOWLEDGES AND ABILITIES Knowledge of the proper methods and materials used to clean, polish and maintain kitchen, storage, and food service areas in a clean, sanitary, orderly, and safe condition. Ability to understand the rights of residents confined to institutions. Ability to prepare vegetables and fruits for cooking. Ability to use a motorized vehicle in a safe, competent, and skilled manner when transporting food. Ability to load, unload, and deliver various types of foods. Ability to remember oral and written instructions and directions. Ability to learn quickly from demonstrations. Ability to efficiently serve food from steam tables or other equipment. Ability to prepare trays and to set tables. Ability to do or take the lead in the manual work involved in washing dishes, pots and pans, in polishing silverware and metal equipment, in keeping ranges and broiler, roaster and other equipment clean and polished, and in scrubing and waxing floors, halls, and other areas. Ability to keep simple records. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range
Note
SN4008N/AH0910 Month SN4008N/AH09- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 02/26/93