Assistant Food Service Director

The Assistant Food Service Director at Andover Public Schools manages daily food service operations, including staff supervision, ensuring compliance with USDA regulations, and maintaining efficiency in school kitchens. They address operational challenges such as equipment issues, inventory management, and menu execution. The role also involves supporting staff development through ongoing training, ensuring food safety standards are upheld, and implementing improvements to enhance overall efficiency. Specific activities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Support the Food Service Director in overseeing daily operations, including food production, staff supervision, compliance documentation, and coordination of school meal programs.
• Manages and supervises food service staff, including assigning tasks, training, and monitoring performance.   
• Work in conjunction with the Director, Principals and school nurses in support of students with dietary restrictions and cultural meal preferences.
• Provide on- and off-site training and support to individual schools in district, including assistance regarding Titan POS system.
• Field all questions from staff regarding issues (such as menu substitutions, broken equipment, student & parent correspondence, allergens, etc.) and coordinate appropriate response.
• Supervise nutrition and dietetic interns, as needed.
• Assist in procedures and protocol for food safety, state and federal regulations.
• Assist in the inspection of food service operations to ensure that standards of diet, cleanliness, health and safety are being maintained, and observing and making recommendations for improvement. 

• Provide recommendations to Director regarding equipment, staffing, production, and time efficiency.
• Assist in the development, analysis and marketing of school breakfast and lunch menus.

• Review and handle requests for special feeding needs, and communicate needs with parents, school personnel, and SNP staff. Communicate with nursing department regarding food allergens/intolerances and other special dietary needs.
• Manages catering department and communicates orders with appropriate food service staff.

• Assist in placing orders with food vendors, while monitoring inventories.

• Monitor inventories at schools, coordinate movement of stock where needed for cost control.
• Make recommendations for operational changes and trainings, as needed.
• Coordinate staff coverage when needed; provide coverage at schools as needed.
• Participates in the development, implementation and management of marketing plans and campaigns, as requested, including department’s website, digital menu boards and department’s social media outlets.
• Manages production of materials on time and within budget, as requested.

• Develop focus groups to gain input from parents, students and school personnel.
• Participate in Wellness Committee and ensure that National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program requirements are met regarding school wellness policy initiatives.
• Keeps up to date with USDA and State Regulations and ensures compliance with legal requirements.
• Assists in review cycles, including but not limited to administrative and procurement reviews. 
• Assist in coordination and tracking of food service staff professional development.

• Attend state conferences and trainings as scheduled.

• Assist in planning and implementation of Farm to School initiatives.  Assist in school garden planning and coordination with school kitchens.   Assist with local and clean label food procurement.
• Monitor local, state, and federal resources for grant opportunities and disseminate or apply when appropriate.
• Review and process free and reduced applications for students in the district, as needed, and conduct direct certification reports at state mandated times of the year and more often as able.

• Assists with bookkeeping and administrative tasks in the Food Service office, as needed, including fielding questions from staff, parents and community.
• Assist Director in food service union contract negotiations, when necessary.
• Completes all other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of four years food service, or related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree, preferred or equivalent culinary degree and experience.
• Supervisory experience in food service operations.
• Knowlege of USDA Child Nutrition Programs, food labels, ingredients and allergens. 
• Serve Safe certified, or certified within 3 months of hire.
• Certified member of SNA, or certified within 6 months of hire
• Computer knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and willingness to learn new programs, including District-wide POS System, Nutrition Analysis Program, and Department Website management.
• Valid Driver’s License, use of reliable vehicle.
• Physically able to walk, bend and stand for long periods, lift and carry objects weighing 50 pounds.

Andover Public Schools (APS) seeks candidates who embody our ethos, which includes valuing the identities of all students, high expectations for all students, teaching excellence, collaboration, innovation, respect, and responsibility. APS is committed to hiring and supporting a racially and ethnically diverse faculty and staff. Racially and ethnically diverse staff produce a myriad of positive outcomes for all students, especially the most historically marginalized students.

Performs all other related duties as assigned. 

Reports to: Food Service Director
Supervises: Food Service Operations Supervisors, Utility Workers, and other Food Service staff.
Terms of Employment: 1.0 FTE (210 days)   
Andover is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer