CNS Manager (0-400 Participation)

Wake County Public School System; Cary (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Wake County Public School System is seeking a CNS Manager to oversee school cafeteria operations, including supervision, food production, customer service, cash handling, and inventory. Position involves direct financial and program management within Child Nutrition Services.

The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma and 2+ years of food service/management experience, with ServSafe certification within 90 days. This is a nonexempt, on-site, full-time role with varied school assignments.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of child nutrition laws, policies, and procedures.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Apps.
• Effective time management skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Clear oral and written communication.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Ability to read, interpret, and administer schedules and recipes in large quantities.
• Ability to demonstrate food production skills.
• Ability to work independently and make decisions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, students, parents, and community.

Responsibilities

• Manages the School Nutrition Program in compliance with federal, state, local and district policies.
• Implements and adheres to employee handbook and nutrition personnel standards.
• Completes, files, and retains records for breakfast, lunch, snack production, cash sheets, inventories, purchasing, and time sheets.
• Maintains food cost control through planning, forecasting, ordering and receiving; checks cost and quality of items received.
• Supervises CNS employees and assists in selection as needed.
• Trains and evaluates employees in all aspects of the program.
• Prepares daily work and cleaning schedules for CNS staff and assigns duties.
• Maintains food safety and sanitation procedures and monitors temperature records.
• Reports accidents and monitors employee health to protect public health.
• Follows internal fiscal controls including cash handling and deposits.
• Manages equipment care and use.
• Completes required training including CNS manager programs and USDA hours.
• Promotes healthy school nutrition and positive public relations.
• Creates a cafeteria atmosphere that increases meal participation.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Two years of food service/management experience

Associates degree (preferred)

ServSafe Certification (within 90 days)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Google Apps

Job description

Overview

POSITION TITLE (Oracle title)

CNS MANAGER

WORKING TITLE

CNS Manager

SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT

Child Nutrition Services (CNS)

LOCATION

School Site

PAY GRADE

(0-400 Participation)-Noncertified Grade 19

(401-800 Participation)-Noncertified Grade 20

(801-1000 Participation)-Noncertified Grade 21

(1001-1400 Participation)-Noncertified Grade 22

(1401-1800 Participation)-Noncertified Grade 23

(Multi-campus or Floating)-Noncertified Grade 24

FLSA STATUS

Nonexempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

No

WORK WEEK SCHEDULE

Monday-Friday (varies based on school assignment) Position not eligible for hybrid telework workweek

POSITION PURPOSE:

Provides direct financial and program management of a school cafeteria in the areas of supervision, food production, customer service, cash handling, and inventory.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

• Considerable knowledge of child nutrition laws, policies, and procedures;
• Considerable knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Google Apps;
• Effective time management skills;
• Excellent customer service skills;
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form using a variety of communication techniques and tools to ensure the appropriate flow of information, collaborative efforts, and feedback;
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations required for completion of records and reports;
• Ability to read, interpret, and administer detailed instructions, schedules, and recipes in large quantities;
• Ability to demonstrate appropriate food production skills;
• Ability to work independently and make critical decisions without close supervision;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school system staff, students, parents, and the community.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Two years of food service and/or management experience.

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Must be ServSafe Certified or able to become ServSafe Certified within 90 days and maintain certification

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associates degree from an accredited college or university;
• Successfully completion of the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) CNS Manager Trainee program;
• Institutional food management experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Manages the School Nutrition Program in compliance with all federal, state, local and WCPSS policies and procedures.
2. Implements and adheres to WCPSS employee handbook and child nutrition personnel and uniform standards.
3. Completes, files, and retains all records relating to the child nutrition operation to include breakfast, lunch, and snack production, cash sheets, inventories, purchasing, and invoice records, employee records and time sheets, monthly reports, and all other reports required.
4. Maintains food cost control through planning, forecasting, ordering and receiving, as needed; Checks the cost and quality of items received and ensures proper storage.
5. Supervises all CNS employees in assigned program and assists in selection, as needed.
6. Trains and evaluates employees in all aspects of the child nutrition program including proper methods of food, preparation, serving, equipment care, storage, and sanitation and conducts school level cafeteria staff meetings.
7. Prepares a daily work schedule and cleaning schedule for all CNS employees including amounts of food to prepare and records and task to complete.
8. Maintains food safety and sanitation procedures including employee cleanliness and food handling, receiving, storage, preparation and cooling; Monitors temperature records of refrigerated equipment, freezers, and dry food storage areas.
9. Reports all accidents and monitors employee health to protect the public against disease.
10. Follows established internal fiscal controls and accountability, including proper cash handling procedures and making daily fund deposits.
11. Manages the use and care of small and large equipment.
12. Completes all required training including annual WCPSS manager training and the annual required USDA Professional Development hours.
13. Promotes healthy school nutrition and demonstrates effective public relations.
14. Creates an atmosphere in the cafeteria, which results in increased percentage of student and adult meal participation.
15. Performs other related duties, as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position operates in an office and school cafeteria environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, scanners, copiers, and cafeteria/food preparation equipment. The position, at times, must be able to come into direct contact with school system staff, students, parents, and the community. Work is considered heavy physical work, requiring the exertion of a minimum of 50 pounds of force. This position requires lifting with the use of a ladder in high places and lifting heavy items from a stooping position. Work with hands in hot water and chemicals approved for use in the School Nutrition Program operation is requires. Must be able to enter into extremely cold temperatures required for stocking and managing inventory.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 2/2026

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this position. They are not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required by the employees assigned to this position. This description may be revised by HR and approved at any time.