Food Services Program Specialist

San Diego Unified School District; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Job summary

San Diego Unified School District is seeking a Food Services Program Specialist to plan, organize, and direct food services projects within the Food Services Department in San Diego, CA. The role involves coordinating special programs, evaluating policies, and supporting nutrition education across schools.

This position oversees district-wide sustainability efforts, food rescue partnerships, and data-driven program improvements to nourish students while promoting environmental stewardship.

Qualifications

• Education/experience equivalent to college major in business, institution management, school food service management, dietetics, or related field, plus one year institutional food management experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and assist in directing food services projects and programs.
• Coordinate and monitor special programs within the department.
• Support two sustainability initiatives: Farm to School and Love Food Not Waste.
• Perform data analysis, program evaluation, and cross-department collaboration.

Education

College/University major in business or related field; 1 year institutional food management experience

Job description

Food Services Program Specialist

San Diego Unified School District Food Services Department - San Diego, California Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Job ID: 5876688

Application Deadline: Aug 21, 2026 11:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time)

Posted: Aug 07, 2026 7:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: To Be Determined

The San Diego Unified School District is currently accepting applications for the position of Food Services Program Specialist. This opportunity is open to all interested candidates.

OVERVIEW

San Diego Unified School District, the second largest district in California and one of the top largest urban school districts in the United States, is looking for professionals who care deeply for students and are committed to the communities in which they serve.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Because each person is born with inherent worth and dignity, and because equitable access and opportunity are essential to a just, educated society, San Diego Unified employee commitments include being respectful of differences and diverse perspectives, and being accountable for one’s actions and the resulting impact.

BASIC FUNCTION

The Food Services Program Specialist will plan, organize, and assist in the direction of food services projects; implement, coordinate, and monitor special programs; perform studies and prepare reports; assist in the development, evaluation, and implementation of department policies, programs, and procedures.

As a Food Services Program Specialist, you will directly manage and advance two of SDUSD’s flagship sustainability initiatives: the Farm to School Program and the Love Food Not Waste Program. In this role, you will bridge day-to-day operations with community impact by coordinating hands-on nutrition education, supporting school gardens (Garden to Café and Youth Garden Stand), facilitating training/presentations, and representing the district across local and statewide organizations. Additionally, you will oversee district-wide food rescue efforts by maintaining partnerships with hunger relief agencies, tracking operational metrics, and refining policies to safely redirect surplus meals from production and satellite kitchens away from landfills and into the community. Through data analysis, program evaluation, cross-departmental collaboration, and public outreach, you will play a critical role in nourishing students while promoting environmental stewardship throughout the San Diego Unified School District.

To view the detailed position description for this classification, click here .

VACANCY / POSITION SPECIFICS

• Working Location: Food and Nutrition Services Department. 6735 Gifford Way, Room 5, San Diego, CA 92111
• The District covers a large portion of San Diego County. Refer to the District Area Map at this Link and make sure to identify any and all specific area(s) you are interested in working in. The area(s) you identify in your application will be used for any future vacancies filled using the eligiblity list from this recruitment.
• School/Department Website: Sandi Coast Cafe
• Work Schedule:12 months per year / 40 hours per week.
• Salary: This position is paid on the Office-Technical and Business Services (OTBS) Salary Schedule. Grade 48. To view the Salary Schedule, click here .
• Positions 20 hours per week or greater qualify for District-paid health and wellness benefits for the employee and their eligible dependents.

TRANSFER REQUESTS

If you are currently working in this jobtitle as a monthly (not hourly) District employee and wish to transfer DO NOT submit an online application through this posting. Instead, complete a Transfer Request Form .

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Any combination of training, experience, and/or education equivalent to graduation from a college or university with a major in business, institution management, school food service management, dietetics, or a related field and one year of institutional food management experience.

NOTE: Your related education and experience must be clearly represented in the work history and education section of your application.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Application Process

To be eligible for consideration, interested candidates must submit the following items. Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all required information, including completion of the Work Experience and Education Sections of the online application, required attachments, and responses to all application questions.

• Online employment application
  • A completed online employment application must be submitted/received electronically by the closing date. This application MUST include all required attachments, current and previous employment history and education to evaluate your qualifications, and all other requirements identified in the recruitment and application questions. It is important to note that a resume does not substitute for completing the Work Experience and Education sections. Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all relevant details and attachments.
  • Paper applications are not accepted.
• Answer all application questions.
  • The application questions should be answered thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the entire application package) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process.
• Contact information for all previous places of employment where you served in a classified (non-certificated) position must be listed under the 'Employment History' section of the application (Senate Bill 848).
  • As of January 1, 2026, in accordance with SB 848 Education Code section 44051 applicants for classified positions are required by law to provide a complete list of every school district, county office of education, charter school and/or state special school (also known as a Local Education Agency (LEA)) with which you have previously been employed, regardless of the length of service. The District may contact current and former LEAs at any time during the application screening process.
• In accordance with SB 848 and Education Code, all applicants for classified (non-certificated) positions must provide a complete employment history. Please adhere to the following:
  • List Every Educational Employer: You must include every school district, county office of education, charter school, other educational institutions, or state special school where you have been employed, regardless of your length of service.
  • HR Contact Information: In the Employer Email field, you must provide the email address for that employer's Human Resources or Personnel Office (i.e., not your direct supervisor).
• Note: These email addresses are required to satisfy the employment verification and background requirements mandated by Education Code.
• Contact information for three references must be listed in the 'Reference' section of the application.
  • References should be from a current or previous supervisor. Reference email requests may be sent at any time during the application screening process of this recruitment. These reference requests are not an indication of progression in the recruitment process or an interview opportunity. Written reference letters dated within the last year are also accepted and may be attached to your online application in the Reference Section.
• Attach any relevant documents in the Attachment Section of the online application (PDF format recommended).
• Attach required documents (PDF format recommended)
  • Verification of Education. Education, training, or certifications will only be considered if acceptable documentation is attached. Accepted documents include:
  • Copy of a degree or official transcript
  • Copy of Licenses and/or Certifications
  • Note on Foreign Equivalency Certification. Individuals who have completed high school or college-level coursework at an institution in a country other than the United States must provide a Foreign Equivalency Certification to satisfy the education requirement. A Foreign Equivalency Certification can be obtained for a fee from a professional organization. For more information, including acceptable providers, please see Foreign Transcript Evaluation.
• Additional Documents (Optional)
  • Cover Letter / Letter of Intent
  • A Resume may be attached, but not substituted for completing the work history, education sections, or the additional application questions of the employment application. Providing incomplete responses or answering "See Resume" or "See Application" may automatically disqualify your application from further consideration.
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Additional documents, if any, may be attached to the online employment application.

Examination Process

The examination process includes an application screening and evaluation based on the applicant's education, work history, and responses to the application questions. Only applicants whose application packet demonstrates a combined education and experience which meets the minimum requirements for the position will be considered qualified and advance in the process. Some positions require applicants to pass additional components which may include one or more of the following: a multiple-choice, oral, written, or performance exam specific to the position. NOTE: Most exams are conducted remotely utilizing an online testing platform. For these exams, access to the internet and the use of a camera-ready desktop/laptop with a microphone is required to participate in these processes.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you have questions about your application, please email [e-mail].

The San Diego Unified School District communicates information regarding the hiring process via email. Please be aware that the District is not responsible for messages blocked by your email service. In an effort to allow our emails through your personal spam filter, you can try to add emails@domain/sandi.net and [e-mail] to your safe senders list.

San Diego Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying by reason of the following actual or perceived characteristics: age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, immigration status, marital or parental status, medical condition, nationality, national origin, actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

For more information about equity in employment, contact:

Title II Coordinator & Uniform Complaint Compliance Officer Eric Rico: [phone], [e-mail] / Title IX Coordinator Anna Ward: [phone], [e-mail] /504 Coordinator Eri Nall: [phone], [e-mail]

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: $6,537.14 to $7,943.06 Per Month

Job Categories:

• Administration > Food Services
• Organization-level Positions > Specialist
• Support Staff > Food Service

Job Requirements

Contact Information

• San Diego Unified School District Human Resources
• 4100 Normal Street
• San Diego, California 92103
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]

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