Food Service Lead

Hemlock Public Schools; Hemlock (MI); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hemlock Public School District is seeking a Food Service Lead to guide the school kitchen team, ensuring nutritious and safe meals prepared to district standards. You will lead by example, train staff, and support daily operations in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include overseeing ordering, production records, portioning, labeling, and inventories while maintaining high food quality, service, and safety in collaboration with the Food Service Director and district administration.

Qualifications

• Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds.
• Maintain sanitation standards.
• Lead and train kitchen staff.
• Ensure meals meet recipes and portion standards.
• Assist in labeling, dating, and rotation of products.
• Maintain accurate production records and inventories.
• Attend training and site meetings as required.
• Collaborate to maintain a positive, solution‑focused environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, prepare, present, and serve food with day‑to‑day supervision of kitchen staff.
• Provide hands‑on training and support to ensure recipes and safety practices are followed.
• Oversee ordering and daily operations to maintain high food quality and service.
• Record quantities used, produced, and meal counts in compliance with regulations.
• Ensure proper labeling, dating, and rotation of dry storage, coolers, and freezers.
• Assist in inventories and accurate counting of food and supplies.
• Participate in cooking, preparation, and service for special events when required.
• Attend required meetings and training with the Food Service Director and District Admins.

Skills

Team leadership

Food safety

Lifting heavy items

Training staff

Record keeping

Communication

Job description

Food Service Lead

The Lead prepares, presents, and serves food while providing day-to-day leadership, support, and direction to kitchen staff. This position ensures meals are nutritious, safe, properly prepared and presented, and meet District, USDA, and accrediting agency standards. The Lead works alongside the kitchen team, demonstrating strong cooking skills and providing hands‑on training and support to ensure recipes, preparation methods, portion sizes, food safety practices, and established procedures are followed.

We are seeking a team‑minded leader who leads by example and helps create a positive, collaborative kitchen environment. The ideal candidate is level‑headed, flexible, dependable, and able to thrive in a fast‑paced setting while maintaining a positive and solution‑focused approach. This position also oversees accurate ordering, supports efficient daily operations, and works collaboratively with staff to maintain high standards of food quality, service, and safety.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Must be able to handle lifting to weights of at least fifty (50) pounds.
• Maintains sanitation standards..
• Patience and enjoy working with students of all ages.
• Positive attitude about school food service and willing to expand knowledge of food service.
• Using recipes: cooks and prepares various entrees, vegetables, sandwiches, and other menu items.
• Assists Food Service Director in maintaining accurate daily production records.
• Collects, records, and reports quantities used, amounts produced, amounts left over and meal counts accurately in compliance with District and government regulations.
• Offers and serves correct portions.
• Assists in proper labeling, dating, and rotation of product in dry storage, coolers and freezers.
• Assists Food Service Director in accurate counting of food and supplies for inventories.
• Assists in the cooking, preparation and service of food for special events when required.
• Attends training and development classes and work site meetings as required by the Food Service Director, the Director of Nutrition Services, and the District Administrators.
• Maintains a positive and professional approach to workplace relationships, avoiding unnecessary conflict and contributing to a respectful, solution‑focused team environment.
• Provides strong, consistent leadership by leading by example, supporting staff, setting clear expectations, and promoting accountability and teamwork.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Dining Services.

Rate of Pay: As defined in the HASEL Agreement, Food Service Leads will be compensated at a rate of $2.50 more above the base rate of a Food Service Worker.

Date Posted: September 15, 2026

Deadline: September 30, 2026, Applications screening ongoing

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

The Hemlock Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies:

Direct all inquiries related to discrimination to:

Superintendent’s Office

1095 N. Wilson Road

Hemlock, MI 48626

[phone]