Culinary Supervisor

Regional School Unit 23; Old Orchard Beach (ME); On-site; USD 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

RSU 23 Old Orchard Beach Schools seeks a collaborative Chef & Culinary Supervisor to lead school meals across the district. The role blends culinary skill with program leadership, guiding menus, nutrition, and staff in a three-school district near the Atlantic coast.

The position is a 1.0 FTE school-year role with summer planning. ServSafe Manager certification within 6 months of hire is required, and ongoing nutrition education and wellness initiatives are part of the job.

Qualifications

• Experience leading school meal programs and kitchen staff.
• Knowledge of federal school meal standards and nutrition.
• ServSafe Manager certification within 6 months of hire.
• Ability to develop scratch recipes and lunch/breakfast menus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee nutritious school breakfast and lunch menus.
• Supervise daily food service operations and mentor staff.
• Gather student feedback to improve meal selections.
• Adjust recipes to reduce sodium, fat, and sugar per guidelines.
• Coordinate farm-to-school initiatives and local procurement.
• Provide culinary training to staff annually.
• Promote district wellness and nutrition education.
• Lead compliance with Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Nutrition expertise

Staff coaching

Menu development

Scratch cooking

Tools

ServSafe Manager certification

Job description

• Location:
  RSU 23 Old Orchard Beach Schools

RSU #23
Old Orchard Beach Schools
Chef & Culinary Supervisor 1.0 FTE

START: Immediately

RSU 23 – Old Orchard Beach Schools is seeking a collaborative Chef & Culinary Supervisor with strong culinary skills to join our Food & Nutrition Services team .Located a half mile from the Atlantic Ocean and 15 minutes from Portland, our 700-student, three-school district is looking for a culinary leader who can bring creativity, nutrition expertise, and hands‑on kitchen leadership to our school meal programs.

Position Overview: Working under the Food Services Director, you'll help shape nutritious, appealing menus for breakfast and lunch across the district, supervise daily food service operations, and mentor kitchen staff. This role blends culinary skill with program leadership, from recipe development and scratch cooking initiatives to student engagement, nutrition education, and compliance with federal school meal standards. You'll also help lead Farm‑to‑School efforts, wellness initiatives, and district‑wide programs like composting or greenhouse operations.

Schedule & Commitment: This is a school‑year position with additional hours during the summer to support seasonal planning and program needs.

What You'll Do:

• Support the Food Services Director in developing and overseeing nutritious school breakfast and lunch menus
• Supervise daily food service operations and provide leadership, coaching, and support to staff
• Gather student feedback through focus groups and other methods to improve meal selections
• Review and adjust recipes to reduce sodium, fat, and sugar in line with federal guidelines
• Work with Kitchen Managers to ensure recipes are followed correctly
• Help increase fruit and vegetable consumption through recipes, cooking techniques, and presentation
• Partner with School Nutrition Program staff and principals to boost participation in school meal programs
• Assist with Farm-to-School initiatives and local food procurement
• Provide culinary training to school nutrition staff annually and as needed
• Develop student-approved recipes that incorporate more scratch cooking
• Develop promotions for events like National School Breakfast Week, School Lunch Week, and Nutrition Month
• Provide nutrition education for students, food service staff, and support staff wellness
• Stay current on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and lead training and implementation for compliance
• Review and handle special catering requests
• Help coordinate the School Wellness Team and support the School Wellness Policy
• Work with the Food Services Director on district-wide initiatives such as composting or greenhouse operations
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Food & Nutrition Services

What We Value:

• Culinary expertise paired with a passion for student nutrition
• Strong leadership and coaching skills
• Creativity in menu development and scratch cooking
• Collaborative, solution‑oriented approach
• Commitment to health, wellness, and food quality in schools
• ServSafe Manager certification within 6 months of hire

SALARY RANGE: $50,000 - $55,000

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
RSU 23 is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.