Associate Director of Food Service

Job Description

Job Description
Associate Director of Food Service

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Food Service role is an integral part of the Operations team, ensuring that KIPP DC’s food and nutrition program operates optimally, providing healthy, appealing, and compliant meals to students daily. The starting salary range for this role is $103,491-$114,384. This is a full-time, occasional flexible role based at Headquarters with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

About KIPP DC

By 2025, KIPP DC will build upon two decades of proven results to develop into a more impactful, innovative, and inclusive school system that provides joyful, identity-affirming learning experiences so that all students and alumni achieve extraordinary outcomes.

Our work is grounded in a commitment to excellence, equity, and justice. We believe all students have the right to rigorous, relevant, and joyful learning experiences led by exceptionally talented and diverse educators who promote student achievement and a sense of belonging. We believe students and teachers best succeed when surrounded by an ecosystem of supports, including our central headquarters team that supports KIPP DC’s 20 schools and two programs, 7,500 students, and 1,300 teachers, leaders, and staff members dedicated to this mission.

About the Role
The Associate Director of Food Service will support all KIPP DC’s campuses by providing administrative and logistical support and oversight of the organization’s food and nutrition services. This includes, but is not limited to, training staff and other responsibilities as needed related to the National School Lunch Program.

Location and Type of Work
This is an exempt position and will report to the Senior Director of Food Service. As a headquarters team that is focused on being responsive to our schools and meeting the needs of our students and families, we approach our work in a way that reflects these priorities. Schools operate in person and our students and families rely on us for in-person support, and this position will regularly provide on-site support to school teams, frequently partner with other headquarters teams, or regularly work in multiple locations. Because of the nature of the work, this role allows for occasional flexibility and will be required to be onsite 4 days per week.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Development (30% of time)

• Recruit, train, and mentor meal program staff, setting performance standards and fostering a culture of accountability and growth.
• Develop and implement annual training for Lunch Administrators on National School Lunch Program compliance, Civil Rights, and specialty topics.
• Coach and provide feedback to regional operations teams to strengthen program outcomes.

Program Monitoring and Compliance (30% of time)

• Conduct regular school meal program audits and observations to ensure adherence to federal, state, and local regulations.
• Oversee data collection and analysis for meal program participation and financial claims, implementing corrective action plans as necessary.
• Track grant and program budgets, ensuring accurate and timely claims submission for initiatives such as the FFVP.
• Maintain program’s asset management tools to ensure risk mitigation.

• Collaborate with third-party vendors to monitor food service delivery, resolve issues, and align services with program goals.
• Serve as the main point of contact for school-based Directors of Operations, providing guidance and support for meal program initiatives.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between schools, vendors, and KIPP DC’s regional teams.

Strategic Planning and Special Projects (20% of time)

• Lead special projects, including pilot programs, procurement processes, and menu development initiatives, ensuring continuous improvement and innovation.
• Design and conduct student surveys and focus groups to enhance meal program participation and inform strategic decisions.

Requirements & Preferences

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• At least 5 years of experience in project management
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and Google Suite (Google Docs, sheets, Slides and Forms)
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and external partners

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Previous experience in PK-12 settings
• At least 2 years relevant experience in school nutrition programs
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations governing school food programs, including those set by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) under the National School Lunch Program
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with the ability to create an inclusive and culturally responsive food service environment.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Ability to stand frequently
• Ability to travel across KIPP DC schools
• Prolonged periods of sedentary work
• Flexibility to work outside normal business hours or weekends when necessary to support program operations

Demonstrated Excellence in the Following Areas:

• Commitment to Students and Schools: Demonstrates commitment to education reform, believing in every child's potential for success and prioritizing students, schools, and the essential role of families.
• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving: Finds creative solutions to challenges that achieve broader goals of team and organization.
• Project Management: Sets a high bar for own work and supports others to achieve desired team outcomes.
• Communications and Influence: Demonstrates adept communication skills and influence to advance work by adjusting content and style.
• Teamwork: Contributes to a supportive team culture, fostering diverse work styles and maintaining a high performance standard.
• Trust and Collaboration: Establishes and nurtures effective relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders to support the best outcomes for our work.
• Cultural Humility: Advances KIPP DC’s commitment to anti-racism by creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all stakeholders.
• Continuous Learning: Commits to continuous learning through feedback, self reflection, humility, and action.

Benefits & Compensation

KIPP DC offers an extremely competitive compensation and benefits package:

• The anticipated starting salary range for this position is $103,491-$114,384. At KIPP DC we strive for clarity, equity, and to be highly competitive. When determining salaries we look at benchmarks in the education and non-profit sector.
• KIPP DC offers a robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurances; various voluntary benefits; and employer paid benefits such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and a membership to One Medical.

• KIPP DC also offers a 403(b) retirement account with a 3% employer contribution and a 3% match with vesting after three years.
• Currently, individuals in this role have up to 15 paid time off days, up to 10 paid sick days, 12 paid holidays, and paid Thanksgiving week break, and winter break. This is subject to change and your exact schedule will be shared in your offer letter.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

KIPP DC Public Schools does not discriminate against, or tolerate discrimination against, employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis or protected class including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status (except as necessary to comply with federal, DC, state, or local law), religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), marital status (including domestic partnership status), genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, family responsibilities, personal appearance, veteran status, uniform service member status, status of being unemployed, status of victim a survivor of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking, matriculation or any other protected class under federal, state, DC, or local law.

Click here or here to review KIPP DC’s non-discrimination policy and KIPP DC’s Title IX Coordinator’s contact information.

Please Note: If you encounter difficulties submitting your application or fail to receive a confirmation email after applying, kindly reach out to Danica Cunningham at danica.cunningham@kippdc.org. Please include your name, resume, and specify the role you are applying for in your email. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience caused.

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