Director of Dining Services - Loomis Chaffee School

Compass Group USA; Windsor (CT); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

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

Job summary

Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, seeks a Director of Dining Services to lead all dining operations, ensuring exceptional service, food quality, and client satisfaction. The role oversees daily operations, financial performance, and team development within a private K-12 school setting.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic, hands-on leader with a passion for dining excellence, teamwork, and creating a welcoming dining experience for students, faculty, and guests.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or related field.
• 3–5 years of dynamic food service management experience, preferably in school dining, contract services, or high-volume hospitality.
• Experience leading budgets, financial reporting, and cost controls.
• Strong background in catering, special events, and high-volume food production.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, handle deadlines, and implement initiatives.
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for all food service operations, including student dining, catering, and special events.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, school administrators, students, and guests, ensuring exceptional service and satisfaction.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and culinary team to design and implement seasonal menus and new culinary programs.
• Lead all financial aspects of the account including budgeting, forecasting, invoice processing, daily sales reporting, catering invoicing, and period-end closing.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and allergen protocols; champion a culture of safety for associates and guests.
• Conduct daily pre-service meetings to align the team on expectations, service standards, and key updates.
• Lead recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, training, and performance management for dining associates.
• Conduct mid-year and annual performance reviews; provide mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Drive participation and customer engagement through marketing, menu innovation, promotional events, and catering showcases.
• Ensure high standards of service, cleanliness, and presentation across all dining areas.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Catering & events

Team development

Communication

High-volume dining

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Salary:$100,000 - $110,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Comprehensive Benefit Package

Flik Independent School Dining has been leading the way in transforming private and independent school foodservice across 300 communities for over four decades. Our passionate team of associates is fully committed to delivering exceptional foodservice experiences every single time. Our meals are crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, supporting sustainable agricultural practices that benefit our communities. But we don't stop at just foodservice – we take it to the next level by offering cutting-edge nutrition education programs that empower students to make smart, healthy choices daily. By combining nutritious meals with comprehensive education, we equip students with the essential tools they need to lead a healthy and thriving life. We believe in nourishing the whole person, creating community through great food and programming, and doing what’s right, every time.

Job Summary

The Director of Dining Services is responsible for leading all aspects of dining operations at a private or independent K-12 school, ensuring outstanding service, food quality, and client happiness. Loomis Chaffee School is an independent, coeducational boarding and day school in Windsor, Connecticut, serving approximately 750 students in grades 9-12. The role involves leading all aspects of daily operations, handling financial performance, leading a team with dynamic strengths, and building positive relationships with school partners. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on leader with a passion for food service excellence, team development, and creating a welcoming dining experience for students, faculty, and guests.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for all food service operations, including student dining, catering, and special events.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, school administrators, students, and guests, ensuring exceptional service and satisfaction.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and culinary team to design and implement seasonal menus and new culinary programs.
• Lead all financial aspects of the account including budgeting, forecasting, invoice processing, daily sales reporting, catering invoicing, and period-end closing.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and allergen protocols; champion a culture of safety for associates and guests.
• Conduct daily pre-service meetings to align the team on expectations, service standards, and key updates.
• Lead recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, training, and performance management for dining associates.
• Conduct mid-year and annual performance reviews; provide mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Drive participation and customer engagement through marketing, menu innovation, promotional events, and catering showcases.
• Ensure high standards of service, cleanliness, and presentation across all dining areas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 3-5 years of dynamic food service management experience, preferably in school dining, contract services, or high-volume hospitality.
• Confirmed experience leading budgets, financial reporting, and cost controls.
• Strong background in catering, special events, and high-volume food production.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, handle deadlines, and implement critical initiatives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering an outstanding dining experience.

Associates at Flik Independent School Dining 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, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information. https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_FISD.pdf

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.

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

Flik Independent School Dining maintains a drug-free workplace.