K-12 Food Service Director | Mon–Fri Day Shift

SFE- Southwest Foodservice Excellence; Yuma (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid time off

401(k) with employer match

Health Savings Accounts

Professional development

Employee discounts

Job summary

SFE- Southwest Foodservice Excellence seeks an experienced food service leader to manage district accounts, drive profitability, and oversee program development and staff performance. The role emphasizes strong client relations, budgeting, and revenue growth within K-12 environments.

Responsibilities include cost control, labor optimization, and ensuring HACCP-compliant, high-quality meals while managing contracts and promoting program innovation across districts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with an academic major in areas including food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2-5 years in the Food Service industry, with 2-3 years as a Chef Manager, preferably in the K-12 market.
• Strong knowledge of food and catering trends with a focus on K12, quality, production, sanitation, food cost controls, and presentation
• Previous P&L accountability for $500K-$2 million in revenues; including cost management and growth aspects
• Experience managing various contract types including cost-reimbursable and fixed meal rate contracts
• Developing financial plans that improve profitability and outline cost savings
• Strong culinary background with 5 years leadership
• Experience using data to drive KPIs for managing food supplies and labor costs
• Developing programs and concepts to drive meal counts and increased revenues
• Understanding inventory processes, meals per labor hour, and food cost management
• Developing financial forecasts and budgets
• Effective client management and relationship building, conflict resolution, and negotiation
• Knowledge of food and catering standards, sanitation, and presentation
• Leadership, staff management, coaching, and supervisory skills
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation abilities
• Ability to engage across management, client, customer, and staff levels
• Strong accounting and computational skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and POS systems
• ServSafe certification
• Background check and Motor Vehicle Report required
• Valid driver's license and auto insurance
• English language proficiency

Responsibilities

• Manages salaried managers and hourly associates in the Food Service Department
• Oversee the overall management, direct client interface, direction, and quality of the account
• Train the Assistant Food Service Director to take on newly awarded contracts or other current business
• Lead program innovation efforts to ensure academic success through feeding more students
• Establishes and maintains excellent relationships with District Administrative staff
• Hiring, training, and development of staff; plans, assigns, and directs work; appraises performance; rewards and disciplines
• Prepares district annual budget and manages labor, food costs, and other elements to deliver targets
• Completion of required daily/weekly/monthly reports such as inventory, production records, payroll/timekeeping
• Oversees and participates in preparation and service of food and beverages adhering to standards, HACCP/OSHA
• Achieve company objectives in sales, service, quality, facility appearance, sanitation and cleanliness
• Control cash and receipts per policies
• Fill in where needed to ensure customer service standards
• Develop and carry out SFE marketing and promotional activities
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

P&L management

Food service leadership

K-12 market experience

Contract management

Budgeting

Staff development

Vendor negotiations

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Excel

POS systems

Inventory management software

Job description

SFE- Southwest Foodservice Excellence seeks an experienced food service leader to manage district accounts, drive profitability, and oversee program development and staff performance. The role emphasizes strong client relations, budgeting, and revenue growth within K-12 environments.

Responsibilities include cost control, labor optimization, and ensuring HACCP-compliant, high-quality meals while managing contracts and promoting program innovation across districts.