Director of Dining Services - JSerra Catholic High

Compass Group•San Juan Capistrano, CA

1d•$95,000 - $100,000

About The Position

The Director of Dining Services is responsible for leading all aspects of dining operations at a private or independent K–12 school, ensuring outstanding service, food quality, and client happiness. This role involves leading all aspects of daily operations, handling financial performance, leading a team with dynamic strengths, and building positive relationships with school partners. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on leader with a passion for food service excellence, team development, and creating a welcoming dining experience for students, faculty, and guests.

Requirements

3–5 years of dynamic food service management experience, preferably in school dining, contract services, or high-volume hospitality.
Confirmed experience leading budgets, financial reporting, and cost controls.
Strong background in catering, special events, and high-volume food production.
Proven ability to lead and develop teams, handle deadlines, and implement critical initiatives.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field preferred.
ServSafe Certification preferred.
Passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering an outstanding dining experience.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction for all food service operations, including student dining, catering, and special events.
Maintain strong relationships with clients, school administrators, students, and guests, ensuring exceptional service and satisfaction.
Collaborate with the Executive Chef and culinary team to design and implement seasonal menus and new culinary programs.
Lead all financial aspects of the account including budgeting, forecasting, invoice processing, daily sales reporting, catering invoicing, and period-end closing.
Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and allergen protocols; champion a culture of safety for associates and guests.
Conduct daily pre-service meetings to align the team on expectations, service standards, and key updates.
Lead recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, training, and performance management for dining associates.
Conduct mid-year and annual performance reviews; provide mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
Drive participation and customer engagement through marketing, menu innovation, promotional events, and catering showcases.
Ensure high standards of service, cleanliness, and presentation across all dining areas.