Nutrition Services | Participation & Student Experience Lead

Fort Wayne Community Schools; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Fort Wayne Community Schools seeks a Participation & Student Experience Lead to drive higher breakfast and lunch participation across the district. You will design field-based interventions, partner with site leaders, and build practical feedback loops to improve service flow and access.

Collaborate with nutrition services and menu planning to balance student experience with reimbursement goals, while creating standardized toolkits and scalable improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing communications, business, public health, hospitality, nutrition or a related field, or three to five (3‑5) years of experience improving customer experience, participation/sales, student engagement, or operational performance in a multi‑site service environment in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze trends, identify root causes and translate findings into practical site‑level interventions.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to influence and support site leaders without direct supervisory authority.
• Ability to use technology systems and data (e.g. LINQ or similar) to monitor participation trends and track intervention results.
• Food Safety Training Certification (must obtain within 30 days of employment).
• Valid Indiana driver’s license and ability to travel between district sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead field‑based participation improvement initiatives designed to increase breakfast and lunch participation and support district reimbursement goals.
• Evaluate student experience across sites (service flow, speed, accessibility, customer service) and recommend practical improvements that can be standardized and replicated.
• Establish and maintain student feedback mechanisms (taste tests, quick surveys/polls, student panels where appropriate) and summarize actionable findings for field and menu‑planning partners.
• Identify underperforming or declining‑participation sites using participation trends; develop targeted intervention plans and support implementation with site leadership.
• Create standardized participation toolkits that support consistent execution (service messaging guidance, basic merchandising standards, implementation checklists) aligned to district expectations.
• Partner with Nutrition Services leadership to reduce operational barriers that discourage participation (e.g., access timing, friction points, inconsistent service quality).
• Coordinate with training/field support resources to ensure participation initiatives are executed consistently and staff are prepared to implement changes effectively.
• Perform related duties as assigned by the Schools Operations Manager to meet the particular needs of the department and must demonstrate participation in and contributions to the goals of the district cross‑functional teams.
• Support the FWCS Schools of Success mission to empower all students to reach their potential through equitable and relevant community‑connected experiences to ensure students achieve at least one of the 4E’s – Enrollment, Employment, Enlistment, or Entrepreneurship.
• Positively promote and embody the FWCS Schools of Success six core competencies in our daily work: Creativity and Innovation; Critical and Analytical Thinking; Collaboration; Communication; Cultural Agility; and Self‑Direction.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Skills

Trend analysis

Communication

Data systems

Food safety

Travel readiness

Interventions

Education

Bachelor’s degree or 3–5 years experience

Job description

Purpose

The Participation & Student Experience Lead drives measurable improvement in student meal participation and service experience across all Nutrition Services school sites. This position designs and supports field‑based interventions that improve service flow, reduce friction in access (especially breakfast), strengthen customer experience, and create a consistent approach to student engagement. Working closely with field leadership and menu planning partners, the Participation & Student Experience Lead establishes practical feedback loops, identifies participation barriers, and supports implementation of scalable improvements that increase reimbursement and improve student satisfaction.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing communications, business, public health, hospitality, nutrition or a related field, or three to five (3‑5) years of experience improving customer experience, participation/sales, student engagement, or operational performance in a multi‑site service environment in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze trends, identify root causes and translate findings into practical site‑level interventions.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to influence and support site leaders without direct supervisory authority.
• Ability to use technology systems and data (e.g. LINQ or similar) to monitor participation trends and track intervention results.
• Food Safety Training Certification (must obtain within 30 days of employment).
• Valid Indiana driver’s license and ability to travel between district sites.

Essential Functions

• Lead field‑based participation improvement initiatives designed to increase breakfast and lunch participation and support district reimbursement goals.
• Evaluate student experience across sites (service flow, speed, accessibility, customer service) and recommend practical improvements that can be standardized and replicated.
• Establish and maintain student feedback mechanisms (taste tests, quick surveys/polls, student panels where appropriate) and summarize actionable findings for field and menu‑planning partners.
• Identify underperforming or declining‑participation sites using participation trends; develop targeted intervention plans and support implementation with site leadership.
• Create standardized participation toolkits that support consistent execution (service messaging guidance, basic merchandising standards, implementation checklists) aligned to district expectations.
• Partner with Nutrition Services leadership to reduce operational barriers that discourage participation (e.g., access timing, friction points, inconsistent service quality).
• Coordinate with training/field support resources to ensure participation initiatives are executed consistently and staff are prepared to implement changes effectively.
• Perform related duties as assigned by the Schools Operations Manager to meet the particular needs of the department and must demonstrate participation in and contributions to the goals of the district cross‑functional teams.
• Support the FWCS Schools of Success mission to empower all students to reach their potential through equitable and relevant community‑connected experiences to ensure students achieve at least one of the 4E’s – Enrollment, Employment, Enlistment, or Entrepreneurship.
• Positively promote and embody the FWCS Schools of Success six core competencies in our daily work: Creativity and Innovation; Critical and Analytical Thinking; Collaboration; Communication; Cultural Agility; and Self‑Direction.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

To perform the essential functions of this job effectively and safely, employees must meet the following physical qualifications:

• Communication skills: Ability to speak clearly and hear effectively in various environments.
• Manual dexterity: Adeptness in the use of hands and fingers.
• Postural endurance: Sit or stand for prolonged periods as the job requires.
• Flexibility: Ability to bend at the waist, kneel or crouch to perform specific duties.
• Visual acuity: Close vision ability with the capacity to adjust focus.
• Mobility: Freedom to sit or walk at will throughout the work environment.
• Strength and stamina: Capability to lift, carry, push or pull up to forty (40) pounds or more.
• Outdoor work: Tolerance of work outside in various weather conditions.

FWCS will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.