Food Services Operations Manager

Mary's Place Seattle; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Life Insurance

403(b) plan with employer match

Unlimited ORCA pass

10 days PTO per year

10 days sick time per year

Floating holidays

Job summary

Mary’s Place Seattle seeks a Food Services Manager to lead kitchen operations for shelter programs, manage menus, inventory, and food safety, and partner with program teams to support families experiencing homelessness.

The role requires at least 5 years in institutional/restaurant settings, 3+ years of supervisory experience, and a commitment to trauma-informed, culturally responsive service. It is full-time with some weekends/evenings and a salary range of $88,000–$93,000 per year.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ institutional and restaurant experience, with sanitation & safety knowledge.
• 3+ years of management experience hiring, training, developing and coaching staff.
• High school diploma or GED; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with menu planning, inventory management and ordering.
• Experience delegating tasks and maintaining speed in a busy kitchen.

Responsibilities

• Lead Food Service Production Management (40%) to deliver guest‑centered, trauma‑informed meals for 450–500 shelter guests.
• Supervise and develop kitchen staff, fostering hospitality and cultural humility.
• Oversee budgeting, purchasing, inventory, and safety compliance for kitchen operations.
• Coordinate with Programs and Shelter Operations teams and with vendors/donors.
• Schedule and manage maintenance and cleanliness of kitchens; ensure health regs compliance.

Skills

Food service management

Menu planning

Inventory management

Staff training

Budgeting

Hiring and coaching

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Description

Mary’s Place provides safe and inclusive shelter and services for women, children and families on their journey out of homelessness. We operate a women’s day center and several 24x7 family centers/shelters in King County. We serve hundreds of families–moms, dads, and children–providing a safe place for them to be inside and together at night, along with food, showers, clothing, and access to housing and employment resources. We believe that no one’s child should sleep outside.

The Food Service Manager provides leadership and actively engages in Mary’s Place racial equity work – striving for equitable outcomes and taking responsibility for creating, maintaining, and affirming communities for people of color, immigrants, and refugees, trans and gender‑non‑conforming people, and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppressions.

The position oversees all food service functions including kitchen operations, menu planning, food preparation, inventory management, purchasing, donor and vendor relationships, and food safety compliance. The Food Services Manager ensures food services are delivered in a manner that is guest‑centered, trauma‑informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with Mary's Place mission of serving families with dignity and respect. The Food Services Manager reports to the Director of Shelter Operations.

This is a full‑time, salaried, exempt management position with the flexibility to work some weekends, evenings, and holidays and respond to emergency situations as needed to meet the demands of the job.

The standard schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The annual salary is $88K - $93K DOE.

Key Responsibilities

Food Service Production Management (40%)

• Execute and maintain a guest‑centered, trauma‑informed, nutritious, and cost‑effective food service program that supports the dignity, wellness, and stability of families experiencing homelessness.
• Ensure food service operations reflect trauma‑informed principles by promoting choice, dignity, consistency, and a welcoming dining experience for shelter guests.
• Develop and implement culturally responsive menus that provide nutritious, appealing, and family‑friendly meals for approximately 450-500 shelter guests, including children of all ages.
• Partner with Program and Shelter Operations teams to address guest food preferences, dietary accommodations, cultural traditions, religious practices, celebrations, and special events while maintaining a welcoming and inclusive dining experience.
• Regularly gather and evaluate resident feedback regarding meal quality, variety, and dining experience, incorporating feedback into menu and service improvements when feasible.
• Support, promote, and adhere to vision, mission, and values of Mary’s Place
• Participate effectively as an operations management team member through communication, cooperation, information sharing, and creative problem solving
• Communicate and coordinate with vendors and other in‑kind donation partners on regular basis to share information on food donations, ordering and delivery logistics.
• Supervise Food Services drivers

Food Production Team Supervision (35%)

• Supervise and develop kitchen staff through coaching, training, and performance management while fostering a culture rooted in hospitality, guest service, cultural humility, and trauma‑informed care.
• Foster open communication and collaboration among team members while promoting respectful, culturally responsive interactions with guests and colleagues.
• Manage team performance, providing direction and guidance, maintaining acceptable levels of team and individual performance. Take corrective action to improve performance as appropriate.
• Lead by example with regular and consistent attendance.
• Participate in staff training and programs as required.
• Assign training to staff and follow up to ensure training completion.

Food Production Planning and Safety Program Management (25%)

• Oversee and maintain food and supplies budget and work with vendors and donors to manage meal costs.
• Take inventory and place orders for food, ingredients, and supplies.
• Ensure that Mary's Place kitchens are compliant with all health and safety regulations.
• Manage cleanup and maintenance routines for the kitchens.
• Oversee proper documentation of all food related safety regulations and protocols.
• Work with the Facilities Manager to schedule and oversee necessary maintenance and repairs of kitchen equipment.
• Partner closely with Program Managers to understand resident demographics, emerging needs, and opportunities to enhance food service support for families.
• Collaborate with program staff to support resident wellness, community‑building activities, and shelter events through thoughtful meal planning and food service participation.
• Participate in cross‑functional planning efforts to ensure food services contribute to positive resident experiences and successful shelter operations.
• Other tasks or duties as assigned.

Requirements

Skills/Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ institutional and restaurant experience, as well as a good working knowledge of institutional food preparation and production standards including sanitation & safety standards.
• 3 + years of management experience hiring, training, developing and coaching staff.
• High school diploma or GED; plus, at least three years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience menu planning, inventory management and ordering.
• Experience with delegating tasks and maintaining a fast‑paced kitchen.
• Working knowledge of all commercial grade kitchen equipment.
• Strong communication skills, flexibility, and willingness to shift priorities as needed.
• Ability to interact effectively as a team member.
• Ability to set appropriate boundaries and maintain professional demeanor in a high‑stress environment.
• Effective team management skills in providing direction, giving and receiving feedback and improving individual and team performance.
• Ability to follow all sanitation procedures.
• Food Handler permit required.
• Highly motivated, resourceful, flexible and possess a positive attitude.
• Willingness to take a TB test within 30 days of hire.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, type, and reach with hands and arms; and requires the ability to occasionally push, pull, lift and/or carry supplies up to 50 pounds.
• The employee is required to perform physical and repetitive motions.
• Work takes place in a social services environment where long periods of siting, working on a computer, walking to various work areas, going up and down stairs, and standing are required.
• Travel to program sites and meetings outside the office and around the county are necessary.
• Efforts like attention to detail, interacting with others in‑person and through email, using critical thinking skills to strategize, develop and implement business plans, create and edit documents, listen and participate verbally at meetings.

Details

In addition, Mary's Place offers the following benefits to full‑time staff:

• Medical and dental insurance with the cost for core employee coverage paid at 100% by the company and competitive family rates
• Basic Life Insurance of $50,000 at no cost to employee; option to buy up for additional coverage
• 403(b) plan with a 50% employer match on the first 6% employee contribution. Eligible to participate upon hire; eligible for the match after first year of employment.
• Unlimited use ORCA pass for a small deduction per pay period
• 10 days paid time off (PTO) each calendar year (accrued by pay period)
• 10 days of sick time each calendar year (accrued by pay period)
• 10 days of flexible floating holidays each calendar year (accrued 40 hours on January 1st and 40 hours on July 1st). Prorated based on date of hire for first year of employment.
• Employee Assistance Program

Mary’s Place is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, people of color and other underrepresented groups, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, foreign‑born residents, and veterans to apply. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.