Area General Manager

Aramark; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Aramark Student Nutrition seeks an Area General Manager to lead and optimize multiple contracted food service operations across an assigned portfolio. You will align client objectives with financial targets, manage leadership teams, and drive operational excellence while ensuring safety and compliance.

You will partner with clients and site leadership to deliver exceptional service, build relationships, and guide budgeting, forecasting, and performance improvements across locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Food Service Management, Hospitality, Business, Nutrition, or a related field.
• Experience leading multiple food service operations, accounts, or large-scale service environments.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and support Food Service Directors, managers, and leadership teams across multiple accounts.
• Provide operational expertise and hands-on support to ensure successful execution of contracted services.
• Recruit, coach, and manage performance to maximize team effectiveness.
• Promote a culture of accountability, safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships across assigned accounts.
• Identify client needs and communicate operational performance and solutions.
• Ensure high levels of client, customer, and employee satisfaction.
• Manage the financial performance of multiple food service operations, including revenue, labor, food cost, and profitability.
• Partner with Finance to develop budgets, forecasts, and operational plans.
• Analyze performance metrics and implement actions to achieve financial targets and contractual commitments.
• Oversee daily operations across multiple locations to ensure consistency in service, food quality, and execution.
• Conduct regular site visits and operational reviews.
• Implement process improvements that drive efficiency, productivity, and client satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with Operational Excellence standards and company initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all client requirements and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Maintain adherence to food safety, sanitation, safety, and Aramark policies and procedures.

Skills

Leadership

P&L management

Client relationships

Operations leadership

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Description

Aramark Student Nutrition provides food and nutrition services to over 350 school districts in the U.S. It offers public and private education institutions a variety of dining options including breakfast and lunch programs, after‑school snacks, catering, nutrition education and retail operations. We partner with schools to create culinary experiences that propel students to success. Our goal is to provide healthy, nutritional meals with a stellar dining experience for our communities. For more information on Aramark's Student Nutrition food service programs, please visit Aramark Student Nutrition.

As an Area General Manager, you will plan, manage, and guide multiple contracted food service operations within an assigned portfolio of accounts to meet operating and financial goals, client objectives, and customer needs.

The Area General Manager provides leadership and operational oversight across multiple locations, ensuring consistent execution, client satisfaction, financial performance, and compliance with Aramark standards. This role partners closely with clients and site leadership teams to drive operational excellence and deliver results.

Job Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead, develop, and support Food Service Directors, managers, and leadership teams across multiple accounts.
• Provide operational expertise and hands‑on support to ensure successful execution of contracted services.
• Recruit, coach, and manage performance to maximize team effectiveness.
• Promote a culture of accountability, safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.

Client Relationships

• Build and maintain strong client relationships across assigned accounts.
• Identify client needs and communicate operational performance and solutions.
• Ensure high levels of client, customer, and employee satisfaction.

Financial Performance

• Manage the financial performance of multiple food service operations, including revenue, labor, food cost, and profitability.
• Partner with Finance to develop budgets, forecasts, and operational plans.
• Analyze performance metrics and implement actions to achieve financial targets and contractual commitments.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily operations across multiple locations to ensure consistency in service, food quality, and execution.
• Conduct regular site visits and operational reviews.
• Implement process improvements that drive efficiency, productivity, and client satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with Operational Excellence standards and company initiatives.

Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all client requirements and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Maintain adherence to food safety, sanitation, safety, and Aramark policies and procedures.
• Ensure all required operational records and reports are completed and maintained.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Food Service Management, Hospitality, Business, Nutrition, or a related field.
• Prior K-12/Student Nutrition experience strongly preferred.
• Experience leading multiple food service operations, accounts, or large-scale service environments.
• Proven ability to lead through managers and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management.
• Strong client relationship, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in contract food service, hospitality, or related service industries preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the assigned region/portfolio approximately
  75% of the time to support operations, clients, and team development.

This role may have physical demands including lifting, bending, pushing, pulling, and extended walking and standing. This role may also require uniforms and/or the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

About Aramark

Our Mission

Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.

At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

About Aramark

The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.