Director of School Support Services

Wake County Public School System; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Wake County Public School System seeks a Director of School Support Services to lead the Child Nutrition Services division. Responsibilities include coordinating nutrition operations, ensuring compliance with federal/state laws, managing budgets, and guiding policy development for efficient school meals across the district.

The role requires a Master’s degree and at least seven years in food service with leadership experience in large operations, preferably within K-12.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of USDA regulations including NSLP/SBP/SFSP/ASAP/FFVP and CACFP.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations for public education nutrition services.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise POS and back-of-house systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe InDesign, and Google Apps.
• Working knowledge of OSHA standards.
• Knowledge of school food/policy requirements and budgeting.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage fiscal resources.
• Strong communication skills for clear, concise information flow.
• Ability to design and deliver adult training and supervise staff.
• Ability to set and achieve program goals and initiatives.
• Ability to work in a team or independently.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates CNS operations ensuring compliance with USDA, federal and board regulations.
• Monitors operations across food preparation, sanitation, purchasing, and records.
• Supervises CNS personnel and provides leadership to CNS staff.
• Leads internal and external CNS program operations and strategic support.
• Ensures documentation compliance for audits and reviews.
• Oversees CNS policies, procedures, and staffing to meet cost and service goals.
• Oversees free/reduced application processes and civil rights compliance.
• Manages recruitment, development, and performance of CNS staff; maintains MPLH metrics.
• Manages centralized documentation and external agency relations.
• Drives continuous improvement and oversees training programs.
• Participates in strategic planning and stakeholder engagement.
• Oversees budget and contract management for CNS programs.
• Represents CNS at meetings and professional development events.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Budget management

Leadership / team building

Communication skills

Training design & delivery

Customer service

OSHA knowledge

POS & back-of-house systems

Microsoft Office

Google Apps

Adobe InDesign

Education

Master's degree in hospitality management / culinary arts / business / nutrition or related field

7 years related food service experience

5 years leadership experience in multi-unit/high-volume operations

5 years budget/P&L management

3 years leadership with strategic oversight of K-12 programs

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe InDesign

Google Apps

POS systems

Job description

Overview

POSITION TITLE (Oracle title)

DIRECTOR

WORKING TITLE

Director of School Support Services

SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT

Child Nutrition Services (CNS)

LOCATION

Rock Quarry Road Office Complex, Raleigh, NC

PAY GRADE

Director-Band 2

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

No

WORK WEEK SCHEDULE

Monday-Friday (occasional evenings and weekends) Position is available for a hybrid telework workweek

POSITION PURPOSE:

Provides leadership and coordination for planning, implementation, and assessment of the School Nutrition Program. Ensures compliance with all state and federal laws, State Department of Education rules and regulations, and Wake County Public Schools Board of Education policies, where applicable, while simultaneously driving strategic innovation in service systems . Develops cost-effective, best practice solutions to support program sustainability and improve customer satisfaction, ensuring service systems meet time-relevant expectations for internal and external stakeholders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

• Comprehensive knowledge of USDA regulations including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), After School Snack Program (ASAP), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP);
• Comprehensive knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations and laws related child nutrition services for public education;
• Considerable knowledge of enterprise Point of Sale (POS) and back-of-house operations systems;
• Considerable knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Outlook), Adobe InDesign, and Google Apps;
• Working knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards;
• Knowledge of Federal, State and local school food and nutrition policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of purchasing, budget management, and financial management procedures;
• Excellent customer service, organizational, and leadership skills, as well as effective time management skills;
• Demonstrated leadership and team building skills;
• Skills to manage fiscal resources;
• Excellent critical thinking, decision-making, and problem solving skills;
• Ability to design and deliver training to adults and supervise diverse departmental personnel effectively;
• Ability to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate program goals and initiatives;
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form using a variety of communication techniques and tools to ensure the appropriate flow of information, collaborative efforts, and feedback;
• Ability to work in a team environment;
• Ability to work independently and complete tasks in the absence of clear direction;
• Ability to assess program needs and develop short-term and long-term goals and plans;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school system staff and students, external agencies, vendors, parents, and the community.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in hospitality management, culinary arts, business, nutrition, or related field;
• Seven years of related food service experience;
• Five years of leadership experience with direct responsibility for multi-unit or high-volume food service operations, preferably with child nutrition programs;
• Five years of experience related to budget/profit and loss (P&L) management;
• Three years of leadership experience that includes the strategic oversight of a K12 school nutrition program or other large food service operations;
• An equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and experience which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully meet the essential duties of the position may be considered.

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Must hold and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license according to the State of NC requirements;
• Hold and maintain certification in food service sanitation or obtain certification within three months of hire;
• Must acquire professional development continuing education units (CEUs) to comply with federal and state regulations for child nutrition programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFIACTIONS

• Experience in management of child nutrition programs;
• Experience selecting and managing the utilization of United States Department of Agriculture Foods (commodities);
• Experience developing and leading teams with both culinary and non-culinary backgrounds to achieve results;
• Experience managing warehousing and distribution operations;
• School Nutrition Specialist credentialed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Coordinates Child Nutrition Program operations by utilizing comprehensive knowledge of USDA, Federal, State, and Board regulations to ensure full compliance with all policies, guidelines, and established food service standards and practices.
2. Monitors, documents, and evaluates food service operations to ensure local school nutrition personnel are maintaining all required standards, including but not limited to, the areas of food preparation and service, sanitation and safety, kitchen design, large equipment, record keeping, purchasing and storing foods, accountability, and organization
3. Supervises assigned personnel and School Nutrition Program areas
4. Provides leadership for internal and external child nutrition program operations, fostering teamwork and collaboration among CNS and school system staff; administrative support to the CNS Senior Director.
5. Ensures CNS maintains supporting documentation in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and policies. Assists with the collection and assembly of documentation for administrative reviews and audits.
6. Oversees the development and maintenance of CNS Policies & Procedures for school operations, Support Services operations, and Area Administrators assigned Area(s) of Responsibility to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements while maintaining/improving resource utility and customer service. Contributes to the development of other CNS policies and procedures and provides implementation support.
7. Provides oversight for Free and Reduced Application and annual verification process. Ensures the development, collection and approval of free and reduced-price meal application and civil rights forms and processes comply with all regulations and policies.
8. Oversees staff recruitment, selection, placement, development, training, and performance management. Prepares CNS allotments and position modifications; maintains CNS staff roster, distributes monthly and cumulative Meals Per Labor Hour (MPLH) data, and adapts staffing to achieve cost and service objectives.
9. Oversees file management of all centralized documentation. Coordinates the assessment and resolution of general services and external agency concerns.
10. Leads continuous improvement initiatives and monitors school operations through observations and audit reviews to drive efficiency, compliance, and fiscal performance; initiates process changes based on these initiatives.
11. Contributes to the development and oversight of the Child Nutrition Training programs to include: Manager Training Program, Sanitation Certification, Summer Training, Back to School training, Calendar-based training, procedure/policy updates, and periodic manager meetings; coordinates the collection and retention of training documentation to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements.
12. Participates with administrative team to develop and implement the Strategic Plan including identifying new initiatives setting benchmarks, and data collection and tracking.
13. Contributes to the development of the annual marketing and communication plan and coordinates the implementation through Area Administrators. Supports the development and implementation of these programs by participating in stakeholder events.
14. Utilizes appropriate budgetary and financial management techniques and effective metrics to develop and achieve goals for revenue production and expenditures for labor, food, supplies, transportation, and equipment; manages assigned contracts.
15. Attends local, regional, state, and national meetings and professional development to gain knowledge beneficial to the continued progress of the Child Nutrition Program.
16. Performs other related duties, as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This job operates in a professional office environment and food preparation environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, scanners, and copiers, and requires the ability to use food preparation equipment. The position, at times, must be able to come into direct contact school system staff, parents, students, external agencies, vendors, the public, and community groups. Due to the amount of time spent standing and/or walking, physical requirements are mostly sedentary with occasional moderately heavy work, requiring the exertion of up to 50 pounds of force. The work frequently requires driving automotive equipment as travel within Wake County is required.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

10/2026

DISCLAIMER:

The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this position. They are not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required by the employees assigned to this position. This description may be revised by HR and approved at any time.