Operations Lead

About Us:

At Yay, lunch is our favorite subject. Yay is out to fundamentally change K-12 school food for the better. We believe that every student should have the opportunity to enjoy a freshly made, wholesome meal they’ll love while at school, and that parents should trust that their child feels cared for and nourished.

Founded by parents for parents in 2018, we have expanded and evolved, now serving multiple markets from Chicago to Connecticut and down the East Coast. We have exciting plans and we can’t wait to bring our mission to more schools.

We’d love to have you on the team! As a startup, we hustle with heart. We’re team players and self-starters. We want you to love what you do, and we give you the tools to succeed with our commitment to flexibility, transparency, respect, empowerment, and positivity. Come join us!

We are looking for a proactive and team-oriented Operations Lead to support our daily front-of-house and back-of-house teams at schools in our Austin market. This person will help supervise both our Lunch Coordinator team and our Kitchen team to ensure smooth, high-quality service each day. The Operations Lead reports directly to the Regional Operations Manager and will serve as the on-site leader when the Regional Manager is unavailable.

This is a dynamic role ideal for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves, keeping things running on time, and supporting a team-driven, mission-first environment. The Operations Lead will also be trained on key administrative tasks, including inventory tracking and schedule writing, to step in seamlessly when needed.

This role is hourly and scheduling will be based on the school and its service needs. Full time or part time hours may be available.

• Oversee daily operations of both lunch distribution and kitchen production teams, ensuring timely service and adherence to safety and quality standards
• Responsible for day to day operations at one or more partner schools in the Austin area and reports directly to the Regional Operations Manager
• Support team members through clear communication, hands‑on assistance, and consistent feedback
• Monitor day‑to‑day operational needs and resolve any issues that arise during meal service
• Assist with onboarding and training of new team members
• Help conduct inventory counts and manage supply tracking
• Assist and coordinating labor coverage when needed
• Support the implementation of food safety and cleanliness standards across all areas of operation
• Maintain strong relationships with school partners, team members, and other Yay colleagues

• Prior experience in a food service, hospitality, or operational supervisory role
• Strong leadership skills and a collaborative, team‑first mindset
• Ability to multitask, problem‑solve, and maintain a positive attitude in a K-12 school environment
  Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Willingness to work hands‑on in both front‑of‑house (distribution) and back‑of‑house (kitchen) settings
• Serv Safe Food Manager certification preferred (or willingness to obtain within 14 days of hire)
• Ability to clear a pre‑employment background check and earn additional certifications if required by the school
• Reliable, punctual, and committed to upholding Yay’s mission and values

• A supportive, people‑first team environment
• Competitive hourly pay at $20-$23/hour
• Flexible scheduling — part‑time or full‑time options may be available depending on school and market availability
• The opportunity to grow within a mission‑driven organization
• Predictable hours that support work‑life balance