Mobile Food Service Unit Crew Member — Seasonal
Location: Nationwide deployments; frequent travel required
Schedule: Seasonal and on call during wildfire season
Position type: Non-exempt, hourly
About the Job
Latitude Catering operates mobile kitchens that provide meals to firefighters and other emergency-response personnel. We are hiring seasonal crew members who can travel nationwide and work at remote fire camps, often with little advance notice.
This is demanding field work—not a traditional restaurant or catering job. Deployments may last anywhere from several days to several weeks. You should expect long workdays, changing schedules, physically demanding kitchen work, and rugged living conditions.
Depending on the assignment, you may sleep in a tent, shared lodging, or an RV. Privacy and personal space may be limited. Fire camps can be dusty, muddy, smoky, hot, cold, noisy, and far from normal conveniences. Showers, restrooms, cell service, and internet access may be limited or shared.
For the right person, this is an opportunity to work hard, earn significant overtime during active deployments, travel, and directly support wildfire response.
What You’ll Do
- Prepare and serve large-volume meals
- Assist with food preparation, serving lines, cleaning, and sanitation
- Set up, organize, and tear down mobile kitchen equipment
- Lift, carry, bend, stand, and remain active for extended periods
- Follow food-safety, sanitation, and workplace-safety requirements
- Take direction from unit leadership and site officials
- Help wherever needed to keep the operation running
- Treat coworkers, customers, and partner agencies professionally and respectfully
Duties and schedules may change quickly based on fire activity and the needs of the assignment.
What This Job Requires
- Willingness and ability to travel and deploy on short notice
- Ability to remain away from home for several days or weeks at a time
- Ability to work long shifts in remote and sometimes uncomfortable conditions
- Reliability, punctuality, and a strong work ethic
- Ability to work well as part of a team
- Ability to follow instructions and established procedures
- Ability to perform physically demanding work, including prolonged standing, lifting, carrying, and bending
- Professional behavior, even when tired, under pressure, or dealing with changing conditions
Food-service experience is helpful but not required. Experience working in camps, festivals, large events, remote job sites, or disaster-response operations is also valuable. ServSafe certification and prior fire-camp experience are preferred but not required.
On-Call and Seasonal Work
This is not a position with a guaranteed weekly schedule. Deployments depend on wildfire activity and government requests. You may receive little advance notice and must be prepared to travel when called.
During an active deployment, long shifts and overtime are common. Between deployments, there may be periods with few or no scheduled hours.
Pay and Seasonal Incentives
- Combined hourly compensation generally averages $23–$26 per hour, including base wages and the applicable SCA Health and Welfare fringe benefit. Base pay varies based on experience, assignment, and operational needs.
- Long shifts and overtime are common during active fire assignments. Many employees earn approximately $1,800–$2,000 in gross pay during a full deployment week, depending on the assignment and hours worked.
- Eligible employees may qualify for seasonal incentives based on availability, deployment participation, length of service, and overall season performance.
- Employees with a valid Class A CDL may become eligible for additional compensation after completing the required driver screening.
Actual hours and earnings vary. Deployments, overtime, bonuses, and weekly earnings are not guaranteed.
Drug, Alcohol, and Conduct Standards
Latitude Catering maintains a drug- and alcohol-free workplace during deployments. Employees may not possess or use drugs or alcohol, or report to work impaired, while on assignment.
Employees may be subject to drug or alcohol screening before or during a deployment, consistent with contract requirements and applicable law. Violations may result in immediate dismissal from the assignment and termination of employment. Employees dismissed for violating these standards may be responsible for the cost of returning home, as permitted by applicable law and company policy.
Because we work on government emergency-response incidents, employees must follow strict safety, sanitation, conduct, and compliance requirements. Professionalism and accountability are expected at all times.
Why Work With Latitude Catering?
Latitude Catering is part of an employee-owned organization with operations across the United States. Many seasonal employees return year after year, build experience, and advance into lead or supervisory roles.
This work is challenging, but it matters. Our crews help feed the people working on the front lines of wildfires and other emergencies.
How to Apply
Apply online with your contact information and a brief work history. Qualified applicants will be contacted as staffing and deployment needs arise.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary, Seasonal
Pay: $23.00 - $26.00 per hour
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- Wildland fire assignments can be as short as a few days or last up to six weeks. Are you willing and able to deploy with our mobile food unit on short notice and remain on assignment until the incident concludes?
- This position involves long workdays and physically demanding work in remote fire camps. Conditions may be dusty, smoky, muddy, hot, cold, and noisy. You may sleep in a tent, shared lodging, or an RV, with limited privacy and access to showers, restrooms, cell service, and internet. Deployments may last several weeks. Do you understand these conditions and remain willing and able to perform the job?
Work Location: In person
