Operations Manager - Whitson Culinary

Whitsons Culinary Group•Richton Park, IL

48d•$80•Onsite

About The Position

Food Service Operations - Lead with Purpose in School Nutrition! School Dining Leadership Are you a food service leader who's passionate about people, operations, and purpose? Join our school nutrition team as a Food Service Operation Manager and take the lead in a mission-driven kitchen that fuels young minds and futures. What You'll Do: Inspire and lead the food service team to deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to students and staff Oversee all aspects of daily operations: scheduling, inventory, compliance, and food safety Partner with school staff to ensure meals support student health, learning, and well-being Ensure compliance with state and federal child nutrition program guidelines (NSLP, SBP, etc.) Manage budgets, staffing, vendor relationships, and performance goals Foster a positive, student-centered, and inclusive kitchen culture We're Looking For: 3-5 years of experience in food service management (K-12 or institutional preferred) Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills Knowledge of USDA school meal guidelines and food safety regulations A hands-on leader who builds strong teams and models accountability ServSafe certification (or ability to obtain) Why Join Us? Competitive salary + performance bonus opportunities Family-friendly schedule - no nights or weekends Health, dental, and vision benefits Paid holidays, time off, and retirement plans A chance to shape a food program that supports learning, growth, and equity About Us: At Whitsons, we believe that every school meal is an opportunity to fuel success. As our General Manager, you'll lead a team dedicated to serving nutritious, student-approved meals with care, efficiency, and pride. Your leadership will help create a kitchen that's more than a workplace-it's a hub of health, learning, and community. Apply now and bring your leadership to the lunch line-one student, one meal at a time! At Whitsons our mission is Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time. Salary 80k REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES: Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent with concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business or a related field. OR Bachelor's degree or equivalent with any academic major AND a state recognized certificate in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, or business. OR Associate's degree or equivalent with concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business or a related field AND at least one year of relevant school nutrition programs experience

Requirements

3-5 years of experience in food service management (K-12 or institutional preferred)
Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
Knowledge of USDA school meal guidelines and food safety regulations
A hands-on leader who builds strong teams and models accountability
ServSafe certification (or ability to obtain)
Bachelor's degree or equivalent with concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business or a related field. OR Bachelor's degree or equivalent with any academic major AND a state recognized certificate in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, or business. OR Associate's degree or equivalent with concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business or a related field AND at least one year of relevant school nutrition programs experience
ServSafe Mandatory- Local food safety certification if required in jurisdiction of employment. Must be knowledgeable of all local ordinances.
Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications is required.
Must be able to communicate electronically through use of email and other similar computer platforms.
Able to learn new programs easily and quickly.
5 years' experience in Food Service Management required.
Minimum 3 years experience in K-12 programs required.
Strong interest in school nutrition program development.
Culinary background is required - Must have a passion and an interest in food
Working knowledge of cooking procedures and recipe adherence and scaling.
Must have demonstrated experience developing talent and managing multiple priorities
Must be able to use "critical thinking" skills in order to resolve problems or would result in improving program overall.
Ability to effectively communicate verbally, electronically and written with clients, parents, students and support staff.
Must possess excellent time management and organizational skills

Nice To Haves

K-12 or institutional preferred
Bilingual Spanish is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Inspire and lead the food service team to deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to students and staff
Oversee all aspects of daily operations: scheduling, inventory, compliance, and food safety
Partner with school staff to ensure meals support student health, learning, and well-being
Ensure compliance with state and federal child nutrition program guidelines (NSLP, SBP, etc.)
Manage budgets, staffing, vendor relationships, and performance goals
Foster a positive, student-centered, and inclusive kitchen culture