Dining Lead

Upper-Crust-Food-Service; Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Summer schedule

Limited evenings

Holidays off

Paid vacations

401K with company match

Health, dental, vision, and pet insu​r

Pet insurance

Job summary

Upper Crust Food Service seeks a Dining Lead to drive service excellence in a school-based setting. You will supervise food service staff, oversee meal set-up, and ensure accurate NSLP documentation and smooth operation during breakfast and lunch shifts.

The role emphasizes teamwork, professionalism, and adherence to safety standards. Candidates should have strong communication skills and be able to manage busy service lines while maintaining quality and compliance.

Qualifications

• Ability to lead and direct work in a fast-paced kitchen
• Excellent interpersonal skills with students, teachers, and school staff
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Understanding of food handling techniques and USDA NSLP requirements
• Comfortable with point-of-sale systems and cash handling
• Familiar with industry best practices
• 2+ years food service experience; PIC experience preferred
• Experience with high-volume meal service
• Ability to pass a background check
• ServSafe or equivalent certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days)
• High school or vocational coursework in hospitality, culinary, or food safety preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead meal set-up ahead of breakfast and lunch service, including lines, trays, and POS stations
• Direct and coordinate food service associates during each shift
• Complete NSLP production records for each meal
• Handle daily ordering, receiving, and storage; check deliveries
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation schedules throughout kitchen and dining areas
• Maintain a professional attitude with coworkers, students, and staff
• Communicate needs with Food Service Manager or Director mid-shift

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Food safety procedures

POS systems

Cash handling

Industry best practices

Education

ServSafe certification

High school diploma or equivalent

Hospitality/culinary coursework

Tools

POS systems

Job description

At Upper Crust Food Service we believe great food does more than fill plates, it creates connection, strengthens communities, and transforms everyday experiences. Across college campuses, K-12 schools, camps, and Greek housing, our teams bring hospitality to life through fresh food, meaningful relationships, and service people can count on. While we began serving fraternity and sorority communities more than 15 years ago, we've grown into a national hospitality partner supporting a wide range of dining programs across the country. No matter the setting, our purpose remains the same: to show up for the people we serve and for one another.

If you're looking for meaningful work, real ownership, and a team that believes hospitality can make a difference, we'd love to meet you.

If a great meal is only as good as the room it's served in, and you take pride in making that room feel right, we're looking for a Dining Lead who's driven by hospitality and shows up for the people they're serving, every single meal.

What's in it for you?

• Summers off and a schedule that follows the school calendar
• Very few late nights and weekend hours
• Time off for most holidays
• Paid vacations
• A competitive 401K with company match
• Health, dental, vision, and pet insurance

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead meal set-up ahead of breakfast and lunch service, including hot and cold serving lines, trays, and point-of-sale stations, timed to the school's bell schedule
• Direct and coordinate food service associates during each shift, assigning tasks, keeping service moving, and stepping in wherever the line needs it
• Complete accurate production records and other USDA National School Lunch Program (NSLP) documentation for each meal served
• Handle daily ordering, receiving, and storage of food and supplies; check deliveries for quality and accuracy before signing off
• Maintain cleanliness and organization throughout the kitchen, serving lines, and dining area, including sanitation schedules and end-of-shift resets
• Maintain a professional and positive attitude with coworkers, students, and school staff
• Communicate regularly with the Food Service Manager or Director on operational needs and anything that comes up mid-shift

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to lead and direct the work of others in a fast-paced kitchen or food service environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with a variety of personalities - students, teachers, and school staff alike, and under pressure
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Understanding of or the ability to learn food handling techniques, safe food service procedures, and USDA National School Lunch Program requirements
• Comfortable with point-of-sale systems and cash handling procedures
• Familiar with the industry's best practices

Preferred Education and Experience:

• 2+ years food service experience preferred; prior lead, shift supervisor, or person-in-charge (PIC) experience in a school nutrition or institutional setting strongly preferred
• Experience with high-volume, fast-paced meal service
• Ability to pass a background check
• Valid food safety handler and sanitation certification (ServSafe or equivalent) in accordance with state and local regulations, or ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment
• High school or vocational school coursework in hospitality, culinary, or food safety, preferred

Special Demands:

• The work environment can be loud and busy. There are many kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and liquids, sharp knives, and slippery floors.
• Capability to work in a kitchen environment that may involve exposure to extreme heat or cold.
• Required to stand for long periods, up to 8+ hours, as well as walk, bend and stoop.
• Must be able to lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals

Upper Crust Food Service provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.