Director of Food Services

Woodlands Academy; Lake Forest (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Woodlands Academy seeks a Director of Food Services to lead the dining program for students, faculty, and guests. This hands-on executive role combines culinary expertise with strong operations, budget stewardship, and vendor management in a Catholic, all-girls school setting in Lake Forest, IL.

The Director will shape menus, supervise kitchen staff, ensure food safety, and coordinate with the Business Office and Head of School’s Office to deliver a dignified dining experience aligned with

Qualifications

• Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management degree, or equivalent professional experience.
• ServSafe Certification required.
• Proven institutional or school food service leadership experience.
• Strong budgeting, vendor management, and cost-control abilities.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute menus reflecting nutritional excellence and seasonal variety for boarding and day students, faculty, and staff.
• Oversee kitchen operations, food safety, cleanliness, and equipment maintenance per Health Department rules and ServSafe best practices.
• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and supervise kitchen staff with clear communication and accountability.
• Coordinate with Residence Life to accommodate dietary requirements and meal attendance for boarders.
• Plan and manage catering for school events with precision and hospitality for faculty and community celebrations.
• Develop and oversee procurement and vendor relationships to balance quality, cost, and waste reduction.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Staff leadership

Food safety

Communication

Organization

Education

Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management degree, or equivalent

Job description

Position Overview

The Director of Food Services is the heart of the Woodlands dining experience—responsible for nourishing our students, faculty, staff, and guests with meals that reflect the care, warmth, and excellence that define life at Woodlands. Far more than a culinary role, this position shapes the daily rhythm of our community: from the boarding students who call Woodlands home, to the faculty who dedicate themselves to our mission, to the guests who experience our campus for the first time.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring both culinary expertise and strong operational management. The Director of Food Services oversees all aspects of the dining program—menu development, kitchen operations, staff leadership, food safety, vendor relationships, and financial stewardship—in close partnership with the Business Office and Head of School’s Office.

About Woodlands Academy

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic, independent college-preparatory day and boarding school for young women in grades 9–12, and one of 25 Sacred Heart schools in the United States and Canada. Established in 1858 and rooted in the Sacred Heart tradition, Woodlands forms global citizens and transforms young women through a dynamic of relationships that responds to the dignity of each member of the school community. Our dining program is not ancillary to that mission—it is woven into it.

Key Responsibilities

• Culinary Leadership & Menu Development: Design and execute menus that reflect nutritional excellence, seasonal variety, and the diverse dietary needs of boarding students, day students, faculty, and staff. Bring creativity and consistency to every meal, with particular attention to the warmth and home-like quality of boarding student dinners.
• Kitchen Operations & Food Safety: Oversee all kitchen and service areas, maintaining rigorous standards for cleanliness, food safety, and equipment upkeep in accordance with Health Department regulations and ServSafe best practices. Ensure safe food storage and handling procedures are followed without exception.
• Staff Leadership: Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and supervise all kitchen staff with clarity, respect, and accountability. Communicate expectations effectively, document performance, and foster a team culture aligned with Woodlands’ values.
• Dining Experience: Cultivate a dining environment that is inviting and dignified—especially for boarding students whose meals are an important part of community life. Coordinate with Residence Life to understand dietary requirements, preferences, and meal attendance.
• Event Planning & Catering: Plan and execute catering for school events in coordination with the Head of School’s Office—from intimate faculty gatherings to large-scale community celebrations—with the precision and hospitality that reflect Woodlands’ reputation.
• Procurement & Vendor Relations: Manage ordering of food, serving, and storage supplies with attention to quality, cost control, and waste minimization. Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors in partnership with the Business Office.
• Financial Management: Maintain accurate records supporting budgeting, cost control, inventory, and operational reporting. Collaborate with the Business Office on dining program finances, including development and oversight of a POS system for meal purchases.
• Community Partnership: Work collaboratively with the Business Office and Director of Facilities on equipment maintenance, capital planning, staffing decisions, and the long-term vision for the Woodlands dining program.

Why This Role Matters

Food is community. At Woodlands, the dining program is where students gather after a long day of classes, where boarding students find comfort far from home, and where faculty and staff are sustained for the work of forming young women of conscience and purpose. The Director of Food Services is entrusted with that responsibility—and the right candidate will take it seriously.

This role calls for someone who combines culinary skill with operational rigor, who leads with both authority and approachability, and who understands that every meal served at Woodlands is a reflection of our commitment to the dignity and well-being of each person in our community.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management degree, or equivalent professional experience, a minimum of 2 years
• ServSafe Certification required
• Proven experience in institutional, school, or high-volume food service leadership
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff, budgets, and vendor relationships effectively
• Flexible schedule with availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the school calendar.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work collaboratively across departments; ability to read and write in English
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail in record-keeping and cost management
• Commitment to food safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance
• Physical ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds
• Exceptional personal hygiene and professional presentation
• Alignment with the mission and values of Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart

Core Competencies

• Adaptability: Thrives in a dynamic school environment; manages competing demands and responds gracefully to change, unexpected challenges, and evolving community needs.
• Leadership & Accountability: Sets clear expectations, holds self and others to high standards, and fosters a kitchen culture of pride, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Customer Service Orientation: Approaches every interaction—with students, parents, faculty, or staff—with responsiveness, warmth, and a commitment to exceeding expectations.
• Planning & Organization: Prioritizes effectively, manages time and resources efficiently, and executes with precision across multiple concurrent responsibilities.
• Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally in all settings; listens actively, resolves issues constructively, and represents the dining program with confidence.
• Reliability & Professionalism: Consistently present, punctual, and prepared—modeling for kitchen staff the standards Woodlands upholds across every area of school life.

Why Join Us?

At Woodlands Academy, you will be part of a mission-driven community where your work directly nourishes and sustains the people at the center of our school. As Director of Food Services, you are not simply running a kitchen—you are contributing to an environment where every student is known, valued, and cared for. If you bring passion for your craft, pride in your leadership, and a genuine belief that meals matter, we invite you to bring those gifts to Woodlands.

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is an all-girls, Catholic, college preparatory day and boarding school in Lake Forest, IL. Visit the school’s website at www.woodlandsacademy.org and the website of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools at www.sacredheartusc.education to learn more.

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion*, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, genetic information, age, disability, status as a veteran or being a member of the Reserves or National Guard, or any other classification under state of federal law.

*The School reserves the right to use religion as a hiring criterion for selected positions and nature of a school as a faith-based institution as permitted by law.