School Kitchen Manager: Lead Food Service & Safety

Southwest Foodservice Excellence, LLC; Red Oak (IA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Foodservice Excellence, LLC is seeking a Kitchen Manager to oversee daily school kitchen operations, train staff, manage inventory, and ensure compliance with food safety standards.

You will lead a fast-paced team, handle paperwork and scheduling, and maintain high service quality while adhering to district policies and budgets. This full-time role requires leadership, organization, and a passion for feeding hundreds of students daily.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• ServSafe certification required (or willing to obtain prior to start).
• Food service experience required; school nutrition experience preferred.
• Prior supervisory experience strongly preferred.
• Inventory and ordering experience preferred.
• Strong communication, time management, and multitasking skills.
• Reliable transportation required.
• Comfortable working around children and within a school environment.
• Must pass a background check and fingerprint screening.
• Experience with POS systems and online reporting preferred.
• Basic math and computer literacy required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all food production and service to meet quality, safety, and portion standards
• Train and supervise kitchen staff on recipes, equipment safety, and sanitation
• Prepare daily and weekly paperwork, reports, and schedules
• Monitor inventory and ensure proper ordering, receiving, and storage of supplies
• Maintain equipment cleanliness and report any repair needs
• Enforce compliance with HACCP, health department regulations, and ServSafe standards
• Manage labor and ensure schedules align with staffing and budget needs
• Uphold company policies and administer fair, consistent performance evaluations
• Ensure accurate temperature logs, cleaning schedules, and food safety documentation
• Follow proper cash handling and reconciliation procedures
• Act as the on-site leader responsible for smooth, safe, and efficient kitchen operations
• Submit reports and complete tasks on time as assigned
• Perform other duties as needed to support the school and food service program

Skills

Supervisory experience

Food service experience

Strong communication

Time management

Multitasking

Reliable transportation

Comfortable around children

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ServSafe certification

Tools

POS systems

Online reporting

Job description

Southwest Foodservice Excellence, LLC is seeking a Kitchen Manager to oversee daily school kitchen operations, train staff, manage inventory, and ensure compliance with food safety standards.

You will lead a fast-paced team, handle paperwork and scheduling, and maintain high service quality while adhering to district policies and budgets. This full-time role requires leadership, organization, and a passion for feeding hundreds of students daily.