Area Director - K-12 School Food Service

Lunchtime Solutions•Grand Island, NE

About The Position

Lunchtime Solutions is seeking an Area Director to join its Operations leadership team and support its continued growth in the Nebraska area. The Area Director provides strategic direction and leadership to Food Service Directors (FSDs) within an assigned geographic area, helping create exceptional operations by hiring and developing team members and ensuring systems and procedures are implemented and executed effectively at the school district level. The role is guided by the company’s mission and values and calls for an authentic, collaborative, and energetic leadership style. The position works Monday through Friday on a flexible schedule. The Area Director works from a home office when not traveling to assigned K-12 school districts. Travel within the assigned territory may take 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, at least 5–7 years of multi-site food service management experience.
Proven experience leading professional teams within a decentralized organization.
Extensive food service industry experience, including substantial 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 determine priorities, manage time effectively, and develop work plans to accomplish tasks and projects.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including business correspondence and presenting business presentations and trainings.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 Suite.
Ability to travel within an assigned territory up to 50% of the time, including some overnight travel.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate 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, communication, empowerment, recognition, and coaching.
Engage with Food Service Directors and maintain two-way information flow that supports collaboration, trust, and open communication.
Manage customer relationships to maintain customer satisfaction and business retention, using regular meetings and transparent, accountable communication.
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 support operating goals and profitability through P&L and key performance metric analysis.
Conduct audits and ensure schools comply with operational policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements, and perform effectively in 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 or committees and contribute to the company’s growth and development.