Director of Nutritional Services

Kansas City Kansas Public Schools; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools seeks a Director of Nutritional Services to oversee the district's food service program for over 20,000 students. The role ensures compliance with local and federal regulations, leads budget and staffing decisions, and drives quality food production and safety across facilities.

The position requires strategic planning, grant pursuit, and strong communication with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience administering child nutrition programs.
• Knowledge of Federal and local requirements governing a child nutrition program.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Bachelor degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate daily school food service operations for all district schools.
• Prepare and administer the division’s budget and monitor accounts.
• Serve as a member of the Assistant Superintendent’s directors’ team.
• Pursue and secure grant funding for nutritional services programs and ensure compliance.
• Engage in fiscal and long-range planning for the food service program.
• Supervise purchasing of foods, supplies and equipment.
• Assist in salary determinations for food service personnel.
• Evaluate and recommend meal prices for students and adults.
• Procure supplies meeting USDA procurement standards and fair competition.
• Supervise staff, develop performance standards and conduct evaluations.
• Provide staff development and performance evaluations.
• Complete administrative reports for District, KSBE and USDA.
• Ensure adherence to division guidelines in all operations.
• Verify Free and Reduced Price meal applications.

Skills

Budget mgmt

Grant funding

HR management

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

TITLE: Director of Nutritional Services

LOCATION: Central Office and Training Center

The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is a nationally recognized urban school district that serves approximately 20,000 students, and 60+ different languages are spoken in the homes of our students. KCKPS is home to Sumner Academy, the #6 highest-rated high school in the Nation and #1 High School in Kansas according to the US News rankings. With Head Start/preschools, 28 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 college and career academies/high schools, we are the fifth largest district in the state of Kansas, and our student population is approximately 58% Hispanic, 22% African American, 8% White, 7% Asian, and 4% Pacific Islander. To serve our students, the district employs approximately 4,000 employees, including more than 1,800 teachers.

JOB GOAL: Responsible for the overall food service program for a student population over 20,000 and the staff in the division. The position assures that compliance is met for local and Federal regulations; as well as establish standards and develop an effective system for quality food production, service and safety in our food service facilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Plans and coordinates the daily food service operation for all schools within district
• Prepares and administers the division’s budget
• Monitors the accounts of the division
• Serves as a member of the Assistant Superintendent’s directors’ team
• Pursues and secures grant funding to support the District’s nutritional services programs, including identifying grant opportunities, preparing and submitting applications, coordinating required documentation, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements and reporting obligations.
• Engages in fiscal planning an in long-range planning for the food service program
• Supervises the purchasing of all foods, supplies and equipment for division
• Assist in salary determination for food service personnel
• Evaluate and recommends prices to be charged for student and adult meals
• Procure supplies as needed for operation of the food service program, considering, quality, price and fair opportunity to all suppliers and meeting all USDA procurement standards
• Supervise food service staff, develop performance standards and evaluation of job performance
• Provide continuing staff development performance standards and evaluation of job performance
• Complete administrative reports and documents as needed by the District, KSBE and USDA
• Supervises the adherence to division guidelines in all school food service operations
• Supervises and administers the approval and verification of Free andReduced Pricemeal applications
• Verifies the nutritional values of meals served
• Market the school food service program to all stakeholders
• Works with district personnel, consultants and architects on the planning of new food service facilities
• Other related duties, as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree, preferred
• Minimum 5 years successful experience administering child nutrition programs
• Knowledge and/or experience in management of human resources
• Knowledge of Federal and local requirements and laws governing a child nutrition program
• Good oral and written skills
• Bachelor degree preferred

COMMUNICATION / ORGANIZATION: Maintains communication with internal and external stakeholders such as Board of Education, Educational Agencies, Federal/State/Local agencies, teachers, other school personnel, parents/guardians, businesses, and community to enhance cooperative action which will meet the educational needs of students. Compiles data for statistical purposes. Maintains confidentiality regarding district records. Ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communication. Includes giving instructions, assignments, or directions to subordinates or assistants as needed to carry out duties.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics of data, people, or things.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Functions of the job include: pertinent laws, codes, policies, and/or regulations; personnel processes; curriculum adoption process; program planning and development; and learning styles and curriculum models. Ability is required to schedule a number of activities, meetings, and/or events; often gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to independently work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; analyze data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with data of widely varied types and/or purposes. Independent problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data frequently requires independent interpretation of guidelines; and problem solving with equipment is moderate to significant.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and is a standard acceptable level for this environment.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 261 days

SALARY: Based on KCKPS Salary Schedule

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

REPORT TO: Executive Director of Operations

EVALUATION: Performance of this position will be evaluated in accordance with Board of Education policy.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. The individual holding this position performs additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KCKPSis an equal opportunity employer and shall not discriminate in its employment practices and policies with respect to hiring, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex/gender (to include orientation, identity, or expression), age, disability, national origin, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Position Type: Full-Time

Job Requirements

• At least 5 year(s) of relevant experience preferred.
• Bachelor degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required