SR DIRECTOR, DINING SERVICES - Lawton Public Schools, OK

Compass Group•Lawton, OK

2d•$74,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

Step into something extraordinary—a brand-new Chartwells food service partnership with Lawton Public Schools, serving 14,000 students across 27 schools—where you’ll lead the vision, strategy, and execution of a districtwide dining program from the ground up. As the Senior Director of Dining Services, you’ll set the direction for a high-impact, multi-site operation, driving innovation, operational excellence, and an exceptional dining experience that resonates with students, staff, and the community. In this highly visible leadership role, you’ll oversee a dynamic team of leaders, including a Resident District Manager, Executive Chef, and a frontline workforce of up to 110 associates. You’ll be responsible for building and developing a strong leadership pipeline, fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability, and ensuring best-in-class execution across every school site. From strategic planning and financial performance to client relationships and program innovation, you’ll own the full scope of the operation. This is a rare opportunity to shape a program at its inception—establishing standards, driving engagement, and elevating the overall dining experience. If you’re a visionary leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, excels at building high-performing teams, and is passionate about creating meaningful impact at scale, this is your moment to lead, innovate, and leave a lasting mark on a district ready for something exceptional.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and minimum of three (3) years of management experience, preferably in foodservice, hospitality management, CULINARY OR NUTRITION
Is well-versed in foodservice management with proven track record of success, ideally in K12 foodservice
Has proven track record of leading a business and a team, strong customer service, and good business and financial acumen
Demonstrates strong initiative, critical thinking, ownership, communications (listening, written, and verbal), multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills
Champions the inclusion mindset, and is proactive, positive, professional, and resilient
Excellent computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and POS software

Responsibilities

Leads, manages, and inspires a diverse team(s) at a large account or multiple accounts, with the goal of providing top-notch service to the client, students, and community
Drives and develops self and team at the account(s) towards building strong relationships with client(s) and achievement of key performance indicators (profitability, safety, engagement, etc.)
May serve on district leadership team, and participates in ongoing conversations with peers to share best practices, mitigate risks, champion diversity, and build community
Ensures decisions are weighed for risk/reward and short/long term implications, while gathering input from the team and partners
Fosters a culture of transparency, understanding, education, safety, and accountability
Serves as the representative/brand ambassador of the Chartwells team within the district(s) and the community; attends key client and community events
Ensures client(s) needs are met or exceeded, we retain the account(s), find cross-sell opportunities, and assist in rebid process as directed
Supports functional areas including but not limited to safety, marketing, nutrition and culinary
Ensures adherence to local, state, federal and company policies, and conducts unit audits to ensure conformance for key areas (e.g. food storage, sanitation)
Maintains compliance with USDA regulations and guidance for all applicable meal and retail programs, along with completing all required reporting on time
Champions development within the account(s) and has a full understanding of all roles within the operation; conducts performance evaluations, along with succession planning for the account(s)
Owns the financial results for the account(s), and works to ensure accuracy for reporting, forecasting, and budgeting processes
Ensures consistent and fair administration of all policies and procedures