ASST DIR, DINING SERVICES - Albert Lea School District, MN

Chartwells School Dining Services K12; Albert Lea (MN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401K

Job summary

Chartwells K-12 is seeking an Assistant Director to support daily operations for Albert Lea Area Schools, overseeing a team of 25 associates and reporting to the Director of Dining Services.

The role features a Monday–Friday schedule (roughly 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM) with no evenings, weekends, or holidays, and focuses on managing kitchen operations, inventory, and financial close processes in a fast-paced K-12 environment.

Qualifications

• 1 to 3 years of food service management experience.
• Experience in restaurants, hotels, corporate dining, education, military, health care, and/or related food service operations.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Financial experience and business acumen skills.
• Proficient computer skills and knowledge of MS Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and internet.
• Associate’s degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Works with the Chef and management team in creating nutritious and top quality food.
• Implements new culinary programs in conjunction with the marketing and culinary teams.
• Maintains excellent relationships with the client.
• Manages, trains, and develops associates.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Financial acumen

Computer skills

Education

Associate degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Chartwells K12

Salary: $55,000 - $60,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Medical, dental & vision insurance, 401K, PTO

Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,500 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent. For more information, visit www.ChartwellsK12.com.

Job Summary

Albert Lea Area Schools is a long-tenured and well-established partnership with Chartwells, serving approximately 3,200 students across 8 schools. Reporting directly to the Director of Dining Services, the Assistant Director will play a key role in supporting the daily operation, leading a team of 25 Chartwells associates, and helping ensure a high-quality dining experience for students throughout the district. This opportunity offers an outstanding work-life balance with a Monday through Friday schedule, typically 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with no evenings, weekends, or holidays.

In this hands‑on leadership role, you will help oversee daily kitchen operations, communicate priorities with site leads, monitor meal service, manage inventory, and support financial and administrative functions. Responsibilities also include data entry, generating reports from the POS system, assisting with weekly financial close processes, and ensuring operational standards are met. The ideal candidate will bring strong management and culinary skills, along with solid computer proficiency, financial aptitude, and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced K-12 environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Works with the Chef and management team in creating nutritious and top quality food.
• Implements new culinary programs in conjunction with the marketing and culinary teams.
• Maintains excellent relationships with the client.
• Manages, trains, and develops associates.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 1 to 3 years of food service management experience.
• Experience in restaurants, hotels, corporate dining, education, military, health care, and/or related food service operations.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Financial experience and business acumen skills.
• Proficient computer skills and knowledge of MS Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and internet.
• Associate’s degree is preferred.

Chartwells Schools is a member of Compass Group USA

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Chartwells K-12 maintains a drug-free workplace.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Associates at Chartwells K-12 are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wpcontent/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_ChartwellsK12.pdf

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/