District Manager, Culinary Operations (No Nights/Weekends) - NYC

Red Rabbit; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k option

Professional development

Education reimbursement

Travel reimbursements

Paid family leave

Job summary

Red Rabbit in NYC is seeking a District Manager to lead regional onsite culinary teams, guiding 2-4 Head Chefs and 10-20 kitchen staff to prepare hundreds of meals in our school kitchens.

You will partner with school leadership to deliver culturally relevant, nutritious meals while managing budgets, food safety, and operations to uphold Red Rabbit’s mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Operations, or Management.
• 5+ years of professional culinary experience in fast-paced settings.
• 2+ years in a senior management role with P&L or budget responsibility.
• NYC Food Handler's certificate or ability to obtain within 90 days.
• Experience managing exempt and non-exempt staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel between multiple kitchens in the Philadelphia area.
• Able to manage multiple priorities with strong organization and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Head Chefs and kitchen staff to meet Red Rabbit’s mission.
• Manage school relations, ensure on-time meals and accurate deliveries with proper paperwork.
• Oversee kitchen organization, inventory, and food safety per DOH, CACFP, and NSLP standards.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team management

Food safety

Communication skills

Operational planning

Budgeting & cost control

Education

BA/BS in Culinary Arts, Operations, or Management

Job description

What Do We Do

Red Rabbit is the largest Black-owned K-12 School Food Management Company in the country. We work with hundreds of schools, districts, and food banks to uplift communities of color throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Our professionally trained chefs create menus, source farm-fresh ingredients, and cook delicious, thoughtful, and familiar food. School food matters not only because it’s integral to good health, but because what children eat is an essential part of their cultural identity and sense of self.

About the Role

We are looking for a District Manager to lead our regional onsite culinary teams. This role provides a unique opportunity to uplift communities of color by building school cafeterias that honor the heritage and history of Black and Latino food in America.

The District Manager leads a team of 2-4 Head Chefs and 10-20 kitchen staff in the daily cooking and expediting of hundreds of meals in our school kitchens. Responsibilities are split between leadership, customer service, and administrative duties. The ideal candidate has a culinary background with significant experience leading dynamic teams with a service focus while embodying our commitment to uplifting and affirming the heritage of the children we serve. Success in this role requires the ability to work with school administration to ensure their students are receiving culturally relevant, nutritious, and safe meals that they enjoy.

Critical Functions

• Team Management: Lead, support, and uplift Head Chefs and front-line kitchen teams, ensuring they work cohesively toward Red Rabbit’s mission. Place the right people in the right roles, foster unity across kitchens, and build a culture rooted in service, excellence, and affirming children. Provide coaching and development to help your teams grow and succeed., support, and coach kitchen leadership and team members.
• Customer Service & Logistics: Serve as the main point of contact for schools, ensuring strong, positive relationships with school leaders and staff. Confirm that meals and deliveries are accurate and on time, that daily service matches the school’s schedule and needs, and that all required paperwork is filed and tracked correctly. Be proactive in addressing issues, increasing meal participation, and showing schools the value Red Rabbit brings to their community.
• Kitchen Organization & Food Safety: Ensure kitchens are organized, efficient, and compliant. Oversee inventory management so that food is received, stored, and documented properly. Maintain high standards of cleanliness, flow, and food safety to ensure all kitchens pass DOH, CACFP, and NSLP inspections and operate within a budget.

Skills & Requirements

• BA/BS degree in Culinary Arts, Operations, or Management.
• 5+ years of professional culinary experience in a fast-paced role, either in the service industry (i.e. restaurant management) or managing high-volume kitchen production (i.e. commissary kitchen). Strong preference given to farm-to-table or scratch-cooking experience.
• 2+ years in a senior management role with P&L or full budget responsibility.
• Demonstrated understanding of food service financials, managing costs, and defining budgets.
• Must have a NYC Food Handler's certificate (or obtain within 90 days of hire).
• Experience managing and training an exempt and non-exempt workforce.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to travel between multiple kitchens in the Philadelphia area.
• Must be able to manage multiple competing priorities; highly organized, detail-oriented, and analytical.
• Must be reliable, function well within a team, and work calmly and efficiently in a fast-moving environment.

Additional Information

• Job Type: Full Time
• Typical Hours: Monday-Friday
• Location: NYC
• Salary: $60K - $75K

Benefits

• Generous PTO
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• 401k Option
• Professional Development
• Education Reimbursement Opportunities
• Travel Reimbursements
• Paid Family Leave Options

About Red Rabbit

Founded in 2005, Red Rabbit is an MWBE-certified K–12 school food management company on a mission to transform school dining. We believe that serving diverse, high-quality meals to children in urban communities is about more than food, it’s about dignity, representation, and opportunity.

Our professionally trained chefs work in commissaries and onsite in school cafeterias, preparing scratch-made, culturally relevant meals that reflect the heritage and lived experiences of the students we serve. We don’t just deliver food...we become part of the school community.

Today, Red Rabbit prepares and serves millions of meals each year across the Greater New York region, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

If you’re passionate about food, community, and making an impact every day, we’d love to meet you.

Red Rabbit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Pro tip: When applying to this job, note that we value creativity in thinking and real problem-solving skills. Tell us how you’ve added value to a team in the past and why you want to join Red Rabbit.