Director of Food and Nutrition Services

Terms of Employment: 12 Months
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Scale: AFSCME, UB G24-25
https://www.ccboe.com/careers/salary-scales

Job Summary
Provides leadership and strategic oversight for the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) program. Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations; manages all meal programs and food service operations; and supports student health and academic success through the delivery of nutritious, appealing meals in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

Minimum Qualifications
•    Education: Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Food Service Management, Business Administration, or a related field required. Master’s degree in Nutrition, Food Service Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
•    Experience: Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in school or institutional food service, including at least five (5) years in a management or leadership role.
•    Minimum (5) years of experience required in Food Service management, to include budget preparation, cost analysis, menu planning, food production and preparation, procurement, and personnel management overseeing a multi-unit operation.

•    Other Requirements:
o    Must possess a valid driver’s license.
o    Valid ServSafe certification or equivalent required.
o    School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) certification required.
o    Must meet USDA Professional Standards for school nutrition program directors.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
•    Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations related to school nutrition programs and child nutrition reimbursement.
•    Knowledge of large-scale food service operations, menu planning, food safety, procurement, and budget management.
•    Knowledge of USDA meal pattern requirements and commodity food programs.
•    Skill in managing complex budgets and interpreting financial data to make cost-effective decisions.
•    Skill in supervising, evaluating, and developing staff at all levels.
•    Skill in reviewing, evaluating, and negotiating vendor contracts and RFPs.
•    Ability to develop menus that meet regulatory requirements and appeal to students across all grade levels.
•    Ability to effectively collaborate with construction and facilities teams regarding kitchen design and equipment needs.
•    Ability to analyze and apply student feedback to improve menu offerings and program satisfaction.
•    Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to the Board of Education and other stakeholders.
•    Ability to travel to conferences, training events, and schools throughout the district.

Essential Duties
•    Leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of food service programs that meet or exceed USDA and Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) guidelines.
•    Manages the application and ongoing compliance of all CCPS meal programs through MSDE, including reimbursement and reporting requirements.
•    Interviews, hires, and evaluates all Food and Nutrition Service staff.
•    Oversees department operations, including meal preparation and distribution, inventory management, and food safety.
•    Develops and administers the annual FNS operating budget and manages all revenues and expenditures, including USDA-restricted commodity funds.
•    Approves expenditures related to supplies, services, and employee reimbursements.
•    Reviews and evaluates Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and vendor contracts for food, supplies, services, and equipment.
•    Collaborates with the Planning and Construction Department on kitchen designs for new school construction and renovations to ensure functionality and efficiency.
•    Oversees and collaborates on the designs of cycle menus for Pre-K, elementary, middle, and high school levels, ensuring compliance with federal meal pattern requirements and alignment with student preferences.
•    Meets regularly with student groups to gather feedback and educate students on nutritional guidelines and menu planning processes.
•    Travels to attend industry trainings, product demonstrations, and conferences to stay informed of emerging trends in school nutrition and food service equipment.
•    Ensures food service staff adhere to all sanitation and safety standards, and that kitchens are maintained in accordance with health regulations.
•    Leads and prescribes staff training and professional development initiatives to improve service quality and staff retention.
•    Represents the Food and Nutrition Service department at public meetings and gives presentations to the Board of Education when requested.
•    Partners with administrators, principals, and community stakeholders to support student wellness and academic achievement through effective nutrition services.
•    Directs the development of public information materials and media releases pertaining to school food service programs and meets with stakeholders to promote school food service programs.
•    Participates in the School Wellness Advisory committee in a leadership role to ensure compliance of the system wellness policy and triennial assessments.
•    Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands & Work Environment
•    Must be able to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights (10 - 50 pounds).
•    Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, fine motor skills, and visual acuity for computer use. 
•    Frequently required to sit or stand, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear during job tasks.
•    Frequently moves about school kitchens, offices, and storage facilities.
•    Exposure to kitchen environments, including heat, food service equipment, and food allergens.
•    Occasional exposure to hazardous cleaning materials with proper use of PPE.

ADA Compliance
Charles County Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer, ensuring ADA compliance and reasonable accommodations as needed.

Charles County Public Schools reserves the right to re-advertise and modify the content of vacancy announcements at any time; however, this may be the only notice for this position during the noted advertisement period.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability in its programs, activities, or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations, call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.