Director of School Dining & Catering

Compass Group USA; Weston (MA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Meadowbrook School in Weston, MA seeks a Director of Dining Services to lead all food service operations for approximately 300 students. The role oversees dining, catering, budgeting, and program development, ensuring exceptional service and high-quality menus.

The ideal candidate will drive safety, staff development, and client satisfaction while partnering with the Executive Chef to design seasonal menus and innovative culinary programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience 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.
• Background in catering, special events, and high-volume food production.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, handle deadlines, and implement initiatives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Passion for continuous improvement and delivering an outstanding dining experience.

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

Team leadership

Budgeting

Catering

Food safety

Hospitality

Microsoft Office

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

Word

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

Meadowbrook School in Weston, MA seeks a Director of Dining Services to lead all food service operations for approximately 300 students. The role oversees dining, catering, budgeting, and program development, ensuring exceptional service and high-quality menus.

The ideal candidate will drive safety, staff development, and client satisfaction while partnering with the Executive Chef to design seasonal menus and innovative culinary programs.