Nutrition Services | Senior Manager | Elementary Operations

Senior Manager Of Elementary Operations

The Senior Manager of Elementary Operations leads all school-based Nutrition Services operations across elementary sites, ensuring consistent, compliant, and efficient meal service within the elementary satellite model. This position supervises elementary cafeteria managers, owns segment-level performance and accountability, and drives participation growth particularly breakfast through disciplined execution of standardized procedures, staffing readiness, and service quality. The Senior Manager translates department strategy into daily operational results for the elementary segment and serves as the primary point of accountability for elementary site performance. This position reports to the Director of School Operations and takes daily operational direction from the Assistant Director on execution and cross-segment coordination matters.

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Food Service Management, Business, Hospitality, Nutrition, or a related field, or three to five (35) years of progressive supervisory/operations experience in food service, school nutrition, hospitality, retail, or a comparable multi-unit service environment in lieu of degree.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, evaluating, and developing site-based managers in a multi-location operation.
• Working knowledge of food safety and sanitation requirements; knowledge of USDA school meal program operations preferred.
• Ability to analyze operational data (participation, labor, service issues) and translate findings into practical improvements and measurable results.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to provide clear direction, manage conflict professionally, and hold people accountable.
• Proficiency with office productivity tools and ability to learn and operate district systems (e.g., LINQ, UKG, and related tools).
• Food Safety Training Certification (must obtain within 30 days of employment).
• Valid Indiana driver's license and ability to travel between district sites.

Essential Functions

1. Lead all elementary Nutrition Services operations across satellite sites, ensuring readiness, service execution, and consistent implementation of department SOPs, standard work, and operational expectations; serve as the day-to-day operational point of contact with building administrators for assigned elementary sites, escalating strategic or relationship-level concerns to the Director.
2. Supervise and evaluate elementary cafeteria managers; set clear performance expectations, conduct evaluations, provide coaching and mentoring, and initiate corrective or disciplinary action in coordination with the Director of School Operations and HR.
3. Own elementary segment performance, including participation rates, claimed meal volume, service quality, and operational consistency; identify underperforming sites, diagnose root causes, and implement targeted improvement actions.
4. Lead consistent execution of the elementary breakfast service model (breakfast-in-the-classroom and late breakfast access), including forecasting discipline, distribution routines, accountability, and end-of-service procedures to maximize participation and minimize waste.
5. Manage staffing readiness across assigned sites by partnering with cafeteria managers to address call-offs, vacancies, and daily adjustments; coordinate relief coverage needs with the Assistant Director's dispatch process to maintain uninterrupted service.
6. Conduct routine site observations to verify service quality, speed of service, customer service behaviors, food safety practices, and adherence to standardized procedures; ensure corrective actions are documented and completed.
7. Ensure compliance with USDA meal pattern standards, offer-versus-serve requirements, food safety/HACCP protocols, civil rights requirements, and district wellness practices across all elementary sites; support audit readiness through consistent documentation and follow-through.
8. Participate in hiring, onboarding, and training of elementary cafeteria managers; partner with the Field Performance & Training Lead to ensure managers complete required certifications and skill development aligned with department standards.
9. Coordinate with NPC operations (production, distribution) to address delivery issues, product availability, and the operational impact of menu changes on elementary execution; escalate systemic issues to the Director.
10. Collaborate with the Participation & Student Experience Lead and Field Performance & Training Lead on elementary-specific initiatives and system implementations; own the execution of approved systems and interventions within the elementary segment and ensure managers adopt and sustain them as designed.
11. Monitor site-level financial indicators within the elementary segment, including labor utilization and food cost alignment; flag variances and recommend adjustments to the Director of School Operations.
12. Provide on-call support as needed for urgent food-safety situations across school sites (e.g., equipment/power issues), including coordination, escalation, and documentation per SOPs.
13. Provide regular reports to the Director of School Operations on elementary segment performance, including participation trends, staffing metrics, site observations, compliance status, and corrective action follow-through.
14. Support the FWCS Schools of Success mission to empower all students to reach their potential through equitable and relevant community-connected experiences to ensure students achieve at least one of the 4E's - (Enrollment, Employment, Enlistment, or Entrepreneurship.)
15. Positively promote and embody the FWCS Schools of Success six core competencies in our daily work: Creativity and Innovation, Critical and Analytical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, Cultural Agility, and Self-Direction
16. Perform related duties, as assigned.

Physical Requirements

To perform the essential functions of this job effectively and safely, employees must meet the following physical qualifications:

• Communication Skills: Ability to speak clearly and hear effectively in various environments.
• Manual Dexterity: Adeptness in the use of hands and fingers.
• Postural Endurance: Sit or stand for prolonged periods, as the job requires.
• Flexibility: Ability to bend at the waist, kneel, or crouch to perform specific duties.
• Visual Acuity: Close vision ability with the capacity to adjust focus.
• Mobility: Freedom to sit or walk at will throughout the work environment.
• Strength and Stamina: Capability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to forty (40) pounds or more.
• Outdoor Work: Tolerance of work outside in various weather conditions.

FWCS will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.