School Nutrition Culinary Coach

Young World Physical Education; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Richmond City Public Schools is seeking a School Nutrition Culinary Coach to lead culinary standardization, menu development, and staff training across school kitchens. This role focuses on hands-on coaching to elevate food quality, safety, and customer service while driving culturally responsive menus.

The position requires strong training capabilities, USDA guidelines knowledge, and collaboration with supervisors to implement continuous improvements in a high-volume environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• SERVSafe Certification or equivalent.
• Minimum of three (3) years of institutional or large-scale food service experience.
• Experience training or mentoring adults in food service or culinary environments preferred.
• Associate’s degree preferred.
• Experience as Cafeteria Manager or Culinary Trainer in K-12 or institutional food service preferred.
• Comprehensive understanding of USDA Child Nutrition Program regulations.

Responsibilities

• Design and facilitate in-person and virtual training for cafeteria staff and substitutes.
• Set measurable quality benchmarks for food presentation, taste, and yield.
• Develop training materials, handbooks, and SOPs.
• Observe kitchen operations and provide coaching aligned with USDA guidelines.
• Document observations and training outcomes for leadership.
• Lead student taste tests and promotional events to encourage participation.
• Collaborate to identify training needs and design learning programs.
• Assist with recipe development and standardization for all meal programs.
• Support kitchens during peak periods and staff shortages.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable nutrition regulations.

Skills

Training adults

Culinary coaching

Food safety

Public speaking

Spanish/English bilingual

Education

High school diploma or GED

SERVSafe Certification

Associate’s degree preferred

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Menu planning software

Cloud-based platforms

Job description

School Nutrition Culinary Coach

Richmond City Public Schools School Nutrition Services - Richmond, Virginia Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Job ID: 5888448
Application Deadline: Aug 24, 2026 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
Posted: Aug 17, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

JOB TITLE: School Nutrition Culinary Coach
GRADE LEVEL: 120
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 260 days; 8 hours
FLSA STATUS: Non-exempt
WORK LOCATION: School Nutrition Services
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Director, School Nutrition Services

SUMMARY
Under the direction of the Director of School Nutrition Services, the School Nutrition
Culinary Specialist serves as the division’s technical culinary expert responsible for
recipe standardization, menu development, produce evaluation, and targeted skill
advancement across all school kitchens to strengthen operational excellence and
elevate the student dining experience. This position provides hands‑on coaching to
cafeteria teams to enhance food quality, presentation, safety, and customer service
while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Central to this role
is driving menu innovation by introducing culturally responsive menu offerings. Through
daily site visits, the Culinary Specialist will ensure these innovative menus inspire
student participation, celebrate diversity, and support local agriculture.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and facilitate dynamic in-person and virtual training sessions for cafeteria
  managers, food service assistants, and substitutes; instruction will focus on advanced culinary fundamentals, food safety, customer engagement, large‑volume recipe scaling, yield conversion, and strict adherence to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritional requirements.
• Establishes strict, measurable quality benchmarks for food presentation, taste, and yield, passing findings directly to Area Supervisors to enforce.
• Develop and maintain training materials, handbooks, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Observe kitchen operations and provide constructive coaching aligned with School Nutrition Services standards and United States Department of Agriculture guidelines.
• Documents and communicates site observations, training outcomes, and equipment needs to the Director and Area Supervisors to support continuous improvement.
• Captures photos of food presentation and serving lines for menu guidance, staff training, and approved social media sharing that highlights program excellence.
• Collaborate with Area Supervisors and Cafeteria Managers to identify training needs and design targeted learning programs.
• Support kitchens during high-volume periods, staff shortages, or emergencies to maintain efficient operations.
• Assist with the development, testing, and standardization of recipes for all meal programs.
• Lead student taste tests and promotional events to encourage meal participation.
• Participate in selecting new food products and equipment that promote innovation and efficiency.
• Conduct kitchen inspections and time studies focused on food quality, sanitation, and service excellence.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local school nutrition regulations.
• Serve as a role model of professionalism, teamwork, and positive leadership.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Serve as the department’s procurement liaison by collaborating with vendors and brokers to evaluate new products, assess quality standards, and develop technical culinary specifications for food bids.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or GED required.
• SERVSafe® Certification or equivalent food safety credential required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in institutional or large-scale food service.
• Demonstrated experience training or mentoring adults in food service or culinary environments preferred.
• Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Nutrition, or an equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Experience as a Cafeteria Manager or Culinary Trainer in K-12 or institutional food service preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Comprehensive understanding of USDA Child Nutrition Program regulations and compliance requirements.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and provide a reliable personal vehicle for frequent travel between school sites to conduct on-site culinary coaching and kitchen evaluations
• Skilled in leading engaging presentations and workshops for small and large audiences of over 100 stakeholders.
• Proficient in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, menu planning software, and cloud-based platforms.
• Familiarity with digital design and presentation tools (e.g., Adobe Express, PowerPoint) preferred.
• Effective organizational and time-management skills with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Demonstrates professionalism, empathy, and effective communication in all interactions.
• Bilingual fluency (Spanish/English) preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands of this role involve a high level of endurance and mobility. The candidate
must be able to stand and walk for extended periods, ranging from occasional to frequent use,
while regularly stooping, bending, and reaching. Strength is essential for the frequent lifting of 10-pound items and the occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds. Success in this role requires fine motor dexterity for repetitive motions and knife work, along with the physical coordination to push and pull heavy carts. Using all five senses to assess the palatability, quality, and safety of food products is imperative.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment is dynamic, split between a standard office and a high-volume institutional kitchen. Significant temperature fluctuations, moving between the extreme heat of cooking lines and the freezing cold of walk-in units. The atmosphere includes exposure to noise, vibrations, and continuous blowers. Daily tasks require using computer screens, operating a motor vehicle for site visits, and strict adherence to hairnet and single-use glove requirements.

Position Type: Full-Time
Salary: $62,005 to $95,353 Per Year

Job Requirements

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required