Cafeteria Assistant Manager - IDEA Harlingen (Immediate Opening)

IDEA Public Schools•Harlingen, TX

4d•$16 - $20

About The Position

The Cafeteria Assistant Manager assists the Cafeteria Manager in leading the campus Child Nutrition Program (CNP) team and supporting the district’s goal of becoming one of the healthiest school districts in the nation. The role follows food and nutrition standards set by the USDA and relevant state agencies. Responsibilities include placing food and supply orders, monitoring kitchen food production quality, and ensuring students receive nutritious, appealing meals. The role also supports sales recordkeeping, payment processing, data entry, customer service for parents and students, inventory management, and the College For All initiative. The position supervises Food Service Specialists and substitutes. It supports campus meal-program participation, compliant counting and claiming, team development, menu execution, and food-service operations. The role is hourly, with compensation stated as $16.26 for 0 years of experience up to $20.33, and is eligible for a performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 2 years of experience in the food service, restaurant, or hospitality industry.
Valid Texas driver’s license.
Ability to motivate, delegate to, and lead a team.
Knowledge of food-production and food-service management methods, materials, equipment, and processes.
Strong understanding of food-production safety and sanitation practices.
Ability to understand and interpret data, including charts and graphs.
Ability to handle stress and meet deadlines.
Effective organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Computer literacy, including understanding of Microsoft Office Suite such as Excel.
Ability to follow verbal and written directions and ask for clarification when needed.
Problem-solving ability, adaptability, and flexibility.
Good mathematical skills and basic finance understanding.

Nice To Haves

Leadership experience.
Valid Food Handler’s Card; candidates without one are willing to obtain it within the first 30 days.

Responsibilities

Assist the Cafeteria Manager in leading the campus CNP team and carrying out the district’s nutrition mission.
Place food and supply orders daily and weekly, and monitor food production quality.
Maintain sales records, process payments, enter data, provide customer service to parents and students, and manage inventory.
Direct the team to execute the approved menu every day and ensure students participating in the meal program take a reimbursable meal.
Ensure counting and claiming methods comply with requirements; observe procedures during meal service and verify student meal counts.
Enter meal counts accurately into internal trackers and PrimeroEdge.
Recruit Food Service Specialists and substitute candidates, hold weekly employee huddles, and review and submit employee timesheets every Tuesday.
Use the Staff Development Cycle to provide timely performance feedback and support staff growth and promotion readiness.
Meet campus budgeted breakfast and lunch participation targets and conduct Breakfast in the Class audits targeting 100% compliance accuracy.
Report recipe and menu errors to the Cafeteria Manager immediately; engage parents about meal-program participation and investigate why students bring lunch from home.
Meet and maintain the IDEA Healthy Kids Here standard; promote fresh fruits and vegetables, rotate milk, use appealing and informative serving-line signage, and implement salad bars for College Prep students where approved.
Follow the designated menu and state food-service policies and procedures; track compliance and policy changes, correct noncompliance, and seek HQ CNP guidance as needed.
Complete food production records daily.
Supervise Food Service Specialists and Food Service Specialist Substitutes.

Benefits

Performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.
Medical plan with the majority of the employee premium covered, and most costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children subsidized.
Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid family leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on tenure and caregiver designation.
Tuition reimbursement of up to 50% of tuition for a qualifying degree program, capped at $5,250 per year and subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
Employer-paid mental and behavioral health services, including five face-to-face counseling sessions per year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services.
Dental and vision plans.
Disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Parenting benefits.
Generous vacation time.
Referral bonuses.
Professional development.
Relocation allowance may be offered, if applicable.