Portland Japanese Garden – a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Portland, Oregon – is hiring for a part-time Seasonal Café Server. Café Servers are responsible for providing an outstanding guest experience for all visitors to Portland Japanese Garden, with a focus on food and tea prep, and cash handling in the Umami Café. The Umami Café serves Japanese green tea, light fare, and sweets. The Café Servers report to the Café Manager. This position works from the primary Garden campus, located at 611 SW Kingston Ave.
This seasonal position extends at least through October 31, 2025.
Primary Duties
- Work in and around the Umami Café with food and tea prep, cleaning, food running, and cash handling, rotating positions daily and developing knowledge of and ability to perform all functions of each position with discipline and care.
- Guide guests through menu offerings and procedures, utilizing knowledge of Japanese. green tea and Omotenashi (Japanese Customer Service)
- Follow point-of-sale procedures and policies.
- Follow standard cash handling and credit card transaction policies and procedures.
- Follow food and personal health safety standards outlined by Oregon Health Authority throughout dining area and workstations.
- Participate in stocking of food and supplies and opening and closing tasks.
- Act as a role model for the Garden’s service standard, including excellent work ethic and outstanding customer service.
- Assist with maintaining and organizing a clean and safe Café stockroom and storage area.
- Ensure that all drink and food preparation procedures are followed, maintaining the highest quality and food safety.
- Attend regular Café department meetings and other Garden meetings as required.
- Other duties as assigned
Other Responsibilities
- Familiarize oneself with the organization and the Employee Handbook
- Get to know fellow staff members, developing trust, establishing credibility, encouraging teamwork, and creating an atmosphere of open, honest, two-way communication
- Serve as a role model for Garden volunteers, providing support and encouragement to volunteers in their roles across the Garden
- Maintain a high level of professionalism in manner and appearance
- Participate in ongoing training and encouraging team members to meet the Garden’s service standards and facilitate individual growth
- Adhere to Garden Dress Code and wear Garden uniform; black pants, black shirt, black shoes, and kimono-inspired jacket (jacket provided and laundered by the garden)
Qualifications
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the position, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications for this role.
- Minimum 2 years of experience providing customer service in a café or restaurant
- Excellent customer service, cash handling, and effective teamwork skills
- Well organized, detail-oriented, and able to multi-task
- Oregon Food Handler certification required within the first 30 days following hire date
- Excellent verbal and written English communication skills
- Familiarity with point-of-sale programs, and other programs such as Microsoft Outlook preferred
Special Requirements
- Flexible work schedule and able to accommodate changing Garden needs, including working weekends, evenings, and occasional overtime
- Experience having worked in both Front-of-house and Back-of-house food service positions a plus
- Knowledge of Japanese tea and/or familiarity with Omotenashi, preferred
- Must be comfortable lifting up to 40 pounds
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position and/or move about the Café and Garden for several hours
Compensation & Schedule
- Wage: $17.55/hour, plus tips. Tips are pooled daily and distributed bi-weekly, as determined by hours worked. Café Servers are required to participate in bi-weekly and/or monthly meetings. Meetings last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. When in a meeting, servers are required to clock out of the tip pool.
- This is a part-time, hourly position with approximately 18-24 hours per week. Regular shifts may vary depending on Garden events but are typically 6.5 hours (plus ½ hour lunch) between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm, 3-4 days per week.
- Umami Café hours of operation are typically 9:00am – 5:30pm November 1 to February 28 and 9:00am – 7:00pm March 1 to October 31. Portland Japanese Garden is closed on Tuesdays.
- Benefits (for part-time or seasonal):
- a household membership to the Garden
- reciprocal access to other area attractions, such as Portland Art Museum, OMSI, and Oregon Zoo
- a 30% discount on most items in the gift shop
- incentives for using alternative transportation to commute to work
- free access to the Employee Assistance Program
- paid sick time
- eligible for the company 401k plan upon completion of 500 hours in the first 6 months of employment (4% employer match after 1 year of service)
Union Information
This position is part of an on-going bargaining unit set to establish a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and as such the incumbent will be bound by the language of said agreement and party to all benefits, dues and requirements associated with being a member of a union and the (CBA).
Transportation
The Garden is located at 611 SW Kingston Avenue, in Washington Park. Below are the transportation options for staff commuting to the Garden:
- Parking: Staff may park in the numbered spaces throughout Washington Park, which require payment. The cost is $8/day, or staff may request parking permits from Washington Park. The Garden subsidizes a portion of the cost for parking permits; the cost for staff is $75 during the high season (March – September) and $50 during the low season (October – February).
- Bus Passes: For staff who take public transit as their primary means of commuting to the Garden, we provide paid bus passes. Full-time staff receive a monthly TriMet pass, and part-time staff receive daily passes, based on their work schedule.
- Transportation Stipend: Staff who take any form of alternative transit to get to work qualify for a $5 daily stipend. This includes taking public transit, walking, biking, carpooling, or getting dropped off. The only staff who do not qualify for the stipend are those who are receiving a bus pass through the Garden.
Applications
To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and three work-related references. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please no phone calls or hand delivered applications. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
All submitted applications will be held in confidence.
More Info
https://recruiting.myapps.paychex.com/appone/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=6725384
Salary
$17.55/hour, plus tips
Location
Portland, OR