On‑Site School Kitchen Leader | Food Service Manager

whitsonsculinarygroup; Kendall Township (IL); On-site; USD 46,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Mon-Fri, no nights or weekends

Health, dental, vision insurance + 401

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Whitsons Culinary Group is hiring an Assistant Food Service Manager to support daily operations across several school kitchens and ensure compliance with USDA nutrition programs. You will help lead teams, manage schedules, inventory, and food safety while maintaining high-quality, nutritious meals for students.

You will mentor staff, monitor costs, and participate in audits. The role is on-site 80% of the day, with a focus on teamwork, student well-being, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in food/nutrition, management, or related field.
• Associates degree with related coursework and school nutrition experience.
• High School diploma with extensive school nutrition experience.

Responsibilities

• Support General Manager in day-to-day operations across multiple school kitchens.
• Lead a team in preparing and serving nutritious meals to students.
• Assist with scheduling, inventory, and food safety compliance (USDA NSLP/SBP).
• Act as point of contact for staff and clients when GM is unavailable.
• Train and mentor staff to maintain a positive kitchen culture.
• Monitor budgets, control costs, and optimize commodity use.
• Assist with audits and inspections to stay review-ready.
• Spend ~80% of the day on-site in schools to support teams.

Skills

Food service management

Culinary background

Communication & leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in related field

Associates degree with related field

High School diploma with 5 years in school nutrition

Tools

Microsoft Office

POS systems

OpenTable

Job description

Whitsons Culinary Group is hiring an Assistant Food Service Manager to support daily operations across several school kitchens and ensure compliance with USDA nutrition programs. You will help lead teams, manage schedules, inventory, and food safety while maintaining high-quality, nutritious meals for students.

You will mentor staff, monitor costs, and participate in audits. The role is on-site 80% of the day, with a focus on teamwork, student well-being, and operational excellence.