ASST DIR, DINING SERVICES | CATERING - Kalamazoo Public Schools, MI

Compass Group USA; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K

Paid Time Off

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Holiday Time Off

Job summary

Chartwells K-12 in Kalamazoo, MI is seeking an Assistant Director of Dining Services to lead catering operations. You will oversee a high-volume program serving 12,000+ students across 30+ locations, including daily meals and large events, while collaborating with culinary, nutrition, and district leaders. The role demands hands-on leadership, multi-site coordination, and flexible scheduling.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of food service supervisory or lead experience.
• Experience in restaurants, hotels, corporate dining, education, military, health care, or related food service operations.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Financial experience and business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Works with the Director and Frontline team in creating nutritious and top quality food.
• Catering management and event coordination.
• Trains and develops associates, ensuring service standards.
• Maintains excellent relationships with the client and oversees invoicing.

Skills

Food service supervision

Leadership

Communication

Tools

MS Office

Job description

ASST DIR, DINING SERVICES | CATERING - Kalamazoo Public Schools, MI

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

Assistant Director of Dining Services,Catering Operations
Kalamazoo Public Schools | Kalamazoo, Michigan

We are seeking a hands-on Assistant Director of Dining Services focused on Catering Operations to join its leadership team. Reporting to the Resident District Manager and partnering closely with the Executive Chef, Registered Dietitian, and two additional Assistant Directors, this role supports a dynamic K-12 dining program serving more than 12,000 students across 30+ locations. Based in the district's newly opened, state-of-the-art central kitchen, the Assistant Director will lead a high-volume catering program featuring daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner events, buffet functions serving up to 800 guests, Board of Education dinners, summer events, and occasional weekend functions.

This highly visible role oversees all aspects of catering operations, including menu planning, culinary execution, event coordination, pricing, invoicing, and staff management. The successful candidate will work closely with the Catering Cook and Aide while remaining actively involved in food preparation and event execution. Beyond catering, this leader will provide operational support throughout the district as needed, including employee training, staffing support, compliance oversight, and assistance with meal service operations.

The ideal candidate is a skilled culinary professional and proven leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can successfully manage multiple events simultaneously, and maintains a flexible schedule to support varying catering demands. Catering management experience and strong cooking skills are required. This is an exceptional opportunity to help grow an innovative catering program while making a meaningful impact within one of Michigan's largest and most progressive school districts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works with the Director and Frontline team in creating nutritious and top quality food.
• Cateirng experience is a must!
• Managment experience is a must!
• Hands on cooking experience a must!
• 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:

• 3+ years of food service supervisory or lead 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.

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-12are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• 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
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• 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, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.