K-12 Dining Services Director: Culinary Leadership & Catering

FLIK Independent School Dining; Windsor (CT); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

The Director of Dining Services at Flik Independent School Dining leads all dining operations for Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT, overseeing dining services, catering, and special events to ensure outstanding service, food quality, and client happiness.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in dynamic school dining management, a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality/Business, proven budgeting and team leadership abilities, ServSafe certification, and a passion for exceptional student dining

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 3–5 years of dynamic food service management experience, preferably in school dining, contract services, or high‑volume hospitality.
• Confirmed experience leading budgets, financial reporting, and cost controls.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, handle deadlines, and implement critical initiatives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering an outstanding dining experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for all food service operations, including student dining, catering, and special events.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, school administrators, students, and guests, ensuring exceptional service and satisfaction.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and culinary team to design and implement seasonal menus and new culinary programs.
• Lead all financial aspects of the account including budgeting, forecasting, invoice processing, daily sales reporting, catering invoicing, and period‑end closing.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and allergen protocols; champion a culture of safety for associates and guests.
• Conduct daily pre‑service meetings to align the team on expectations, service standards, and key updates.
• Lead recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, training, and performance management for dining associates.
• Conduct mid‑year and annual performance reviews; provide mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Drive participation and customer engagement through marketing, menu innovation, promotional events, and catering showcases.
• Ensure high standards of service, cleanliness, and presentation across all dining areas.

Skills

People leadership

Team development

Customer service

Budgeting

Food safety

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Excel

Job description

The Director of Dining Services at Flik Independent School Dining leads all dining operations for Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT, overseeing dining services, catering, and special events to ensure outstanding service, food quality, and client happiness.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in dynamic school dining management, a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality/Business, proven budgeting and team leadership abilities, ServSafe certification, and a passion for exceptional student dining