Area Director - K-12 School Food Service

Lunchtime Solutions•Sioux City, IA

About The Position

Lunchtime Solutions is seeking an Area Director to join its Operations leadership team. The role is based along the I-29 corridor in the Sioux Falls or Sioux City area and provides strategic direction and leadership to Food Service Directors (FSDs) across an assigned geographic area. The Area Director helps create exceptional operations by hiring and developing team members and ensuring systems and procedures are properly implemented and consistently executed at the school district level. The role is guided by Lunchtime Solutions’ mission and values and calls for an authentic, collaborative, and energetic leadership style. The schedule is Monday through Friday with flexibility. The Area Director may work from a home office when not traveling to assigned K-12 school districts. Travel within the assigned territory may account for up to 50% of working time and includes some overnight travel. A company-issued vehicle is provided for business-related travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
For external hires, 5–7 years of multi-site food service management experience.
Proven experience leading teams of professionals within a decentralized organization.
Extensive food service industry experience, including broad knowledge of establishing and maintaining customer relationships.
Exemplary leadership skills.
Strong communication and customer management skills.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent training and development skills.
Ability to read and analyze P&L statements, develop budgets, and interpret trends in operational metrics.
Ability to develop long-term strategic plans and lead or participate in short-term operational implementation.
Ability to set priorities, manage time effectively, and develop work plans to complete tasks and projects.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including business correspondence and the development and presentation of business presentations and trainings.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 Suite.
Ability to travel within an assigned territory, including some overnight travel; travel may account for up to 50% of time.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate commitment to the company’s mission, culture, and values, and ensure they are communicated, understood, and practiced by team members in the assigned area.
Lead and manage a productive, motivated team through regular meetings, strong communication, empowerment, recognition, and coaching.
Engage Food Service Directors and foster consistent two-way communication, collaboration, trust, and openness.
Manage customer relationships to maintain customer satisfaction and business retention, using regular meetings and transparent, accountable relationship management.
Develop short- and long-term operational goals and strategies with assigned Food Service Directors, and monitor progress.
Develop operating budgets with assigned Food Service Directors and drive operating goals and profitability through P&L and key performance metric analysis.
Conduct audits and ensure school-level performance in operational policies, safety and regulatory compliance, menu planning, food production, ordering, recipe standards, service, point of sale, team management and training, inventories, promotions, and customer feedback evaluation.
Directly oversee and manage the start-up of new schools.
Prepare and present business presentations and trainings as required.
Serve on company project teams and committees and contribute to the company’s growth and development.