Assistant Director of Catering and Engagement - Pendergast Elementary Schools, Phoenix, AZ

Compass Group•Phoenix, AZ

11h•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Catering and Engagement for our long‑tenured Pendergast Elementary School District (PESD92) account is a highly interactive, student‑focused culinary role supporting Discovery Kitchen programming, food‑literacy activities, and on‑site events across 12 schools serving 8,000 students. Working closely with the Executive Chef and managment team, this hands‑on position leads cooking demos, interactive classes, and student engagement experiences—often in a chef jacket—designed to inspire healthy eating and build excitement around food. Roughly 75% of the role centers on student and community engagement, with the remaining 25% supporting catering operations, including scheduling and event assistance. Ideal candidates may come from culinary instruction, Sous Chef roles, catering environments, or strong kitchen‑based backgrounds with a passion for working with students. The schedule is primarily Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., but occasional evenings or weekends may be required for special events, so some flexibility is important. This is a great opportunity to make a direct impact on student nutrition while gaining valuable exposure to K–12 dining operations and building toward future growth into a Director of Dining Services role.

Requirements

2+ years of food service management experience.
Experience in restaurants, hotels, corporate dining, education, military, health care, and/or related food service operations.
Strong communication skills.
Proficient computer skills and knowledge of MS Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and internet.

Nice To Haves

Catertrax experience, helpful, not mandatory
Associate’s degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

Works with the management team creating nutritious and top quality food.
Ability to be highly engaged with staff, students and clients.
Implements new culinary programs in conjunction with the marketing and culinary teams.
Maintains excellent relationships with the client.
Trains, and assists to develop associates.
Performs other duties as assigned.