Kitchen Manager - Elementary

Douglas County School District; Highlands Ranch (CO); On-site; USD 29,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision, dental

Retirement plan options

Job summary

Douglas County School District is seeking a Kitchen Manager for an elementary school to oversee all aspects of meal preparation and service, staff supervision, and training. The role requires maintaining production standards, staff development, and compliance with food safety and regulatory requirements.

The Kitchen Manager will lead daily operations, monitor quality, manage inventory, and ensure accurate payroll and staffing.

Qualifications

• Experience supervising kitchen staff and managing food service operations.
• Ability to plan, organize, direct, coordinate and delegate responsibilities.
• Must have strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage kitchen operations, staff supervision, and training to ensure quality meals.
• Maintain food production per labor hour and profitability targets.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, safety, and USDA standards; monitor inventory and costs.

Skills

Communication skills

Team leadership

Time management

English proficiency

Education

High School or Equivalent

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Kitchen Manager - Elementary

Job Description:

Responsible for the overall management of the kitchen, including all aspects of food preparation and service, supervision of staff, and training. Develops and promotes good community relations among various community and school clientele.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Frequent standing, reaching, lifting (including occasional overhead lifting), bending, kneeling, stooping, squatting, climbing, pushing, twisting, and pulling items weighing 40 lbs or less. Standing or walking 75% of the work day
• Occasional climbing and balancing using step stool
• Repetitive motions including lifting, keypad entry, typing, chopping, filling and sealing packaging. Make fast repeated movements of fingers, hands and wrists
• Use both hands to grasp, grip, move or operate objects or equipment

Position Specific Information (if Applicable):

Responsibilities:

Maintain meals per labor hour to a Profit and Loss ratio to meet business requirements.

Must annually complete all USDA Mandatory Professional Standards training hours, as required by position category. Must ensure all Kitchen Staff complete their annual Professional Standards training hours.

Responsible for Production Management and daily Production Reports to ensure regulatory compliance, correct serving size, minimal waste, and theft control. Monitor sales lines for customer control; record supervisor site visits. Ensure all staff can recognize a reimbursable meal.

Handles employee issues with discretion and confidentiality. Follows district Human Resources policies. Have critical conversations with staff to manage performance. Must have leadership skills; ability to plan, organize, direct, coordinate and delegate responsibilities to food service staff. Must have critical thinking skills to problem solve issues as they arise. Receive and respond to parent/staff/student complaints in a timely and professional manner. Let Supervisor know of all issues that arise quickly.

Maintain food inventory to a Profit and Loss ratio to meet business requirements. Place all orders by deadlines given. Ensure inventory is accurate in the Inventory system at all times.

Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

Oversee the sanitation and cleaning of all kitchen facilities, equipment, and areas. Maintain the security of the unit. Follow safe/acceptable food preparation practices. Responsible for health inspections and site reviews of the kitchen.

Stays current on all District and Department communications including voicemail, email and newsletters. Shares all information with Kitchen staff in a timely manner.

Train and develop kitchen staff. Creates and develops new training, revises existing material to enhance employee performance. Deliver safety and HACCP training to all kitchen personnel; monitor safety and HACCP practices. Manage and train up to 4 kitchen assistants. Ensure growth opportunities and cross training for all employees.

Maintain food costs to a Profit and Loss ratio to meet business requirements.

Maintain all kitchen financial records, including deposits and forms, and reports for the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). Ensures accurate collection, counting and recording of all cash collected at the site. Monitor compliance of all school food service regulatory agencies. Actively pursue upcoming regulatory changes and provide sustainable solutions. Responsible for the breakfast program, if applicable.

Pursue opportunities to create positive relationships with the surrounding community, including other Nutrition Services staff, school staff, students and parents. Must have a focus on customer service. Must be pleasant, cooperative and able to work with a wide variety of people. Flexibility in learning new concepts, cooperates with others, and adapts to a variety of assignments and conditions.

Approve and ensure accurate payroll for employees on a monthly basis. Approve employee time off and manage proper staffing at site. Works with Manager and Central office to ensure coverage of absences and turnover.

Certifications:

ServSafe Manager Certification within 6 months of hire - ServSafe

Education:

High School or Equivalent

Skills:

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to support positive outcomes, Effective oral and written communication skills, Maintains a generally positive attitude, Observes all District policies and procedures, Strong organizational and time management skills, Verbal and written communication skills in English and a demonstrated ability to read and comprehend written/graphic and oral instructions

Position Type:

Regular

Primary Location:

Cougar Run Elementary

One Year Only (Yes or No):

No

Scheduled Hours Per Week:

35

FTE:

0.88

Approx Scheduled Days Per Year:

172 Work Days

• (260 days indicatesa year-round position. Time off [or Off-Track Days] are the granted based on the position. Any exceptions to the normal off-track time will be noted in the Additional Position Details section above, as scheduled work days.)

Minimum Hire Rate:

$21.17 USD Hourly

Maximum Hire Rate:

$26.91 USD Hourly

Full Salary Range:

$21.17 USD - $32.65 USD Hourly

• All salary amounts listed above are based on a full-time (1.0) FTE. If applicable, part-time salaries will be prorated according to the assigned FTE.

Benefits:

This position is eligible for health, vision, dental, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), District paid and voluntary additional (supplemental) life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, critical illness and accident voluntary insurance, employee assistance program (EAP), voluntary 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plan options.

Time Off Plans:

This position is eligible for paid sick and personal time.

This position will be open until filled, but will not be open past:

October 27, 2026