What are the responsibilities and job description for the Commons Associate - Utility (FT, FY) position at Bates College?
Job no: 493169
Work type: Staff Full Time - Full Year
Location: Lewiston, ME
Categories: Dining, Conferences & Campus Events: Service
Title: Commons Associate - Utility (FT, FY)
Position Purpose:
The Commons Associate - Utility position primarily serves as front line support to student dining, but may be called upon to assist in any other area of the DCCE operation as needed. This position must follow food safety and sanitation procedures and work collaboratively with colleagues while building and developing positive relationships with all staff members.
Job Duties:
- Perform all front-of-house duties, including operating the cashier station, setting up and maintaining beverage and food choices, and assisting at various food stations as needed.
- Execute room set-ups and general building duties for service periods.
- Assist kitchen staff with food preparation and operational tasks.
- Manage the efficient and safe operation of the dishroom.
- Receive, organize, and put away inventory and stock deliveries.
- Provide support for all catering, delivery, and event needs.
- Assist with cash operations as needed.
- Maintain the highest level of customer service at all times.
- Promote a positive and inclusive work environment through clear, two-way communication and a respect for diversity.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues across the Dining department and the broader institution.
- Attend monthly Dining, Conferences, and Campus Events town meetings, as well as monthly sector meetings. Ensure adherence to sound environmental practices, including composting, recycling, and waste reduction.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent experience required.
- Serve Safe certification preferred.
- A valid driver's license is preferred.
Experience
Previous food service experience desired.
Skills and Knowledge
- Commitment to equity and inclusion, and serving the needs of a culturally and educationally diverse community.
- Strong commitment to customer service.
- Exemplary organizational and time management skills are a must.
- Ability to multitask.
- Understands and thrives in a high volume food service environment.
Benefits:
Bates College offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits (health, dental, 9% retirement contribution with potential for an additional 3% match, 10 days of vacation*, 13 paid holidays, free parking, access to library and athletic facilities & more), and a supportive, collegial environment in a drug- and smoke-free workplace.
Hiring Range: The hiring range for this position is $17.00 to $21.25. Placement within the range depends on experience and other factors.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Bates College is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The college prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff. Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations. All college faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Non-Discrimination Policy.
Inquiries concerning the college’s policies, compliance with applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VII, Title IX, and ADA/Section 504), and complaints may be directed to Gwen Lexow, Title IX Officer, 207-786-6445 or via email at glexow@bates.edu.
About Bates:
Bates is internationally recognized as a leading liberal arts college, attracting 2,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world.
Since 1855, Bates has been dedicated to educating the whole person through creative and rigorous scholarship in a collaborative residential community. Committed to opportunity and excellence, Bates has always admitted students without regard to gender, race, religion, or national origin.
Cultivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action, Bates prepares leaders sustained by a love of learning and zeal for responsible stewardship of the wider world. Bates engages the forces — intellectual trends, demographic changes, and technology — that are transforming higher education and the world into which our students graduate.
Bates has highly competitive admissions, graduates over 90 percent of its entering students, and more than half of its alumni earn graduate degrees. Bates employs 200 faculty members and 550 staff.
The college is proud of deep roots in the Lewiston/Auburn community, Maine’s second-largest urban area with a population of approximately 65,000. Bates is located on a beautiful, 133-acre, traditional New England campus in Lewiston, an emerging city with an entrepreneurial climate, a lively arts scene, and a dynamic business community. Bates is 35 miles north of Portland, 140 miles north of Boston, and 350 miles north of New York City.
Advertised: 14 Sep 2026
Benefits:
Health Insurance, Retirement Plan, Vacation & Paid Time OffSalary : $17 - $21