DIRECTOR, DINING SERVICES - FOOD SERVICE - Lansing Public School District, MI

Job Description

Job Description

Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,500 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent. For more information, visit

Job Summary

As a Director of Dining Services , you will play a critical leadership role in the successful launch and ongoing operations of a major dining account within the K12 Education sector for our New Business for Lansing Public School District. Reporting to the Resident District Manager, you will ensure consistency in service and food quality while driving operational excellence and client satisfaction. Your responsibilities include monitoring consumption to minimize waste, maintaining compliance with all regulatory and company standards, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Sucessful candidate will play a key role in leading and mentoring a diverse team through hands-on coaching and comprehensive training to strengthen skills and achieve exceptional results. You will collaborate closely with fellow Directors of Dining Services, Executive Chefs, and leaders across marketing, finance and HR to ensure flawless menu execution, consistent service delivery, and strict adherence to best practices. This position calls for a proactive leader who can drive collaboration, maintain uncompromising standards, and create dining experiences that consistently exceed expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manages hourly associates in the Food Service Department
• Oversees the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the account
• Interviews, hires, and trains associates; plans, assigns, and directs work; appraises performance; rewards and disciplines associates; addresses complaints and resolves problems
• Prepares and manages annual budget
• Utilize company systems for completion of required daily/weekly/monthly reports such as inventory, cash reports, production records, payroll/time-keeping, etc.
• Oversees and participates in the preparation and service of food and beverage items in adherence to company food standards for preparation, presentation, sanitation and safety (meeting HACCP and OSHA guidelines) and portion control
• Other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications:

• B.S. Degree in Hospitality, Nutrition or Culinary or related field; or A.A. Degree plus four years of directly related education experience preferred
• Five plus years of direct foodservice operational management experience
• Strong knowledge of food and catering trends with a focus on quality, production, sanitation, food cost controls, and presentation
• Previous P&L accountability or contract-managed service experience is desirable
• Strong supervisory, leadership, management and coaching skills
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to communicate on various levels to include management, client, customer and associate levels
• Excellent financial, budgetary, accounting and computational skills
• Proficient computer skills to include; various computer programs, Microsoft Office programs, e-mail and the Internet
• ServSafe® Certified

Apply to Chartwells Schools today!

Chartwells Schools is a member of Compass Group USA

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Chartwells K-12 maintains a drug-free workplace.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Associates at Chartwells K-12 are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

- usa.com/wpcontent/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_ChartwellsK12.pdf

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details:

Req ID: 1527839

Chartwells K12

KRISTEN STROHMYER

[[req_classification]]