Position Title: Food Service Director
Reports To: Superintendent
Employment: Full-time working 210 days
Position Summary:
The Food Service Director is responsible for planning, managing, and supervising the district's K-12 food service program. The director ensures that students receive nutritious, appealing, and affordable meals while maintaining compliance with USDA, state, and local school nutrition requirements.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Food Service Operations
- Plan and oversee daily breakfast, lunch, snack, and other food service programs.
- Develop menus that meet USDA school meal requirements and accommodate student needs.
- Supervise food preparation, cooking, portioning, serving, and cleanup.
- Maintain appropriate food quality, temperature, sanitation, and presentation standards.
- Monitor inventory and minimize food waste.
- Order food, supplies, and equipment while maintaining appropriate inventory levels.
- Coordinate meal service schedules with school administration.
Staff Supervision
- Hire, train, schedule, and supervise food service employees.
- Assign daily duties.
- Evaluate employee performance and address staffing concerns.
- Step in and assist with food preparation and meal service when needed.
Nutrition and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program regulations.
- Maintain accurate meal counts, production records, menus, and other required documentation.
- Monitor portion sizes and meal components.
- Maintain current food safety certification and ensure staff meet required training standards.
- Prepare for and participate in state or federal program reviews and inspections.
- Ensure compliance with applicable health department, sanitation, and food safety regulations.
Financial Management
- Develop and monitor the food service budget.
- Track food, labor, supply, and equipment costs.
- Review invoices and coordinate purchasing and payment procedures.
- Work to maintain a financially sustainable food service program.
- Seek cost-effective purchasing opportunities through state and federal grants.
Student and Community Service
- Promote healthy eating and positive relationships with students.
- Respond professionally to student, parent, and staff concerns.
- Consider local food availability and community resources when developing menus.
- Work with administrators, teachers, parents, and community organizations to support the school nutrition program.
- Participate in special events, school activities, and community programs as appropriate.
Other Responsibilities
- Perform hands-on duties when staffing is limited, including cooking, serving, washing dishes, cleaning, and receiving deliveries.
- Develop relationships with local vendors and producers when practical.
- Adjust purchasing and menus as needed.
- Cross-train staff so the program can continue operating effectively when an employee is absent.
- Make efficient use of limited facilities, equipment, staffing, and financial resources.
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Experience in food service, institutional food service, school nutrition, or a related field.
- Ability to obtain ServSafe or comparable food safety certification.
- Ability to obtain required USDA/school nutrition training.
- Ability to safely operate commercial kitchen equipment.
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively with children, staff, parents, vendors, and administrators.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience managing a K-12 school nutrition program.
- Knowledge of USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
- Experience with menu planning, food purchasing, inventory, and budgeting.
- Experience supervising employees.
Physical Requirements
The position may require prolonged standing and walking; frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of food, supplies, and equipment; bending and reaching; and working in a commercial kitchen environment with heat, steam, and potentially slippery surfaces.
Interested candidates should send resume and reference list to the following:
Dr. Matthew Williams, Superintendent
mwilliams@attica.k12.in.us