Area Director - K-12 School Food Service

Lunchtime Solutions; Grand Island (NE); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Lunchtime Solutions, Inc. is seeking an Area Director to lead a team of Food Service Directors across multiple K-12 districts in Nebraska. This role drives strategy, staffing, budgeting, and operational excellence to deliver high-quality school dining experiences.

The position requires strong leadership, P&L literacy, and the ability to travel up to 50% while maintaining a hands-on, collaborative management style in a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5-7 years of multi-site food service management.
• Proven experience leading teams within a decentralized organization.
• Extensive experience in the food service industry including knowledge of establishing and maintaining customer relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Food Service Directors (FSDs) across a geographic area.
• Develop budgets and drive profitability with P&L analysis and metrics.
• Oversee start-up of new schools and ensure compliance with policies.
• Prepare and present business trainings and reports as required.
• Maintain exceptional customer relationships and ensure service excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Customer management

Budgeting & P&L

Strategic planning

Team development

Time management

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office 365 Suite

Job description

It takes amazing people to make amazing dining experiences

Join our team! Lunchtime Solutions is a fast-growing company with a progressive work environment and great opportunities for personal growth. Make the most out of your talents and skills by helping to improve students’ school experience with better nutrition and an enjoyable dining atmosphere.

Position:Area Director - K-12 School Food Service

Location: Grand Island, NE

Job Id:3995

# of Openings:1

Is it time for a fresh career opportunity? If so, Lunchtime Solutions is seeking an Area Director to join our Operations leadership team! We are scaling up for continued growth with an Area Director opportunity located in Nebraska area!

Schedule: Monday through Friday, flexible work schedule, work from your home office when not traveling to your area’s assigned K-12 school districts.

Benefits:Health, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) savings plan with company match, generous paid time off program, paid holidays, plus various perks!

Area Director Job Summary: The Area Director provides strategic direction and leadership to a team of Food Service Directors (FSDs) within an assigned geographic area. The Area Director will be responsible for providing the vision necessary to create exceptional operations by hiring and developing great team members and ensuring systems and procedures are implemented properly and executed impeccably at the school district level. The position accomplishes this through an authentic, collaborative, and energetic style, guided by Lunchtime’s Mission and Values.

Area Director Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates commitment to Lunchtime’s mission, culture, and values through actions on a daily basis and ensures they are effectively communicated, understood and practiced by all team members in the assigned area.
• Leads and manages a highly productive, motivated, and driven team through regular meetings, strong communication, empowerment, reward, and coaching techniques.
• Ensures effective engagement with FSDs and consistent flow of information in both directions to reinforce and foster a culture of collaboration, trust, and open communication.
• Manages customer relationships to maintain exceptional customer satisfaction and business retention.
• Proactively communicates with customers through regular meetings and transparent, accountable relationship management efforts.
• Develops short- and long-term operational goals and strategies in partnership with the assigned FSDs and monitors and ensures ongoing progress.
• Develops operating budgets in partnership with the assigned FSDs and drives achievement of operating goals and profitability through P&L analysis and analysis of key performance metrics.
• Conducts audits and ensures each school’s performance in the areas of compliance of operational policies and safety standards, regulatory compliance, menu planning, food production, ordering, recipe standards, service, point of sale, team member management and training, inventories, promotions, and evaluation of customer feedback.
• Directly oversees and manages the start-up of new schools.
• Prepares and presents business presentations and trainings as required.
• Serves on company project teams and/or committees and contributes as a key leader in supporting the company’s overall growth and development.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• For External hire, a minimum of 5-7 years of multi-site food service management.
• Proven experience leading teams of professionals within a decentralized organization.
• Extensive experience in the food service industry including a vast knowledge of establishing and maintaining customer relationships.

Area Director Essential Qualifications:

• Exemplary leadership skills.
• Strong communication and customer management skills.
• Keen analytic, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Possess excellent training and development skills.
• Demonstrated aptitude for reading and analyzing P&L Statements, developing budgets, and reading trends in operational metrics.
• Demonstrated skill in developing long-term strategic plans and leading/participating in short-term operational implementation (ability to be both strategic and tactical).
• Demonstrated ability to understand and determine priorities, effectively manage time, and develop work plans in order to accomplish tasks and/or projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write business correspondence and develop and present business presentations and trainings.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 Suite.

Travel Requirements:

• This position requires travel within an assigned territory. Up to 50% of time may be spent traveling, which includes some overnight travel.
• A company issued vehicle will be provided for all business-related travel.

Check out our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages to learn more about who we are, what we do and why we do it!

Lunchtime Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. EOE-M/F/Disabled/Vet. Lunchtime Solutions participates in E-Verify and we conduct post offer, pre-hire background checks.

The capacity of Lunchtime Solutions to provide training and development to the right individuals has been one of the most rewarding aspects of our experience. Watching team members grow, thrive, and succeed in their roles has been incredible to see and is a testament to their commitment to fostering a positive culture while delivering healthy and delicious food options and an exceptional experience for our school.