ASST DIR, DINING Services | Catering - Kalamazoo Public Schools, MI

Chartwells K12

Salary: $62,000 - $70,000

Other Forms of Compensation:Medical, dental & vision insurance, 401K, PTO

Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,500 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent.

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Assistant Director of Dining Services,
Catering Operations
Kalamazoo Public Schools | Kalamazoo, Michigan

We are seeking a hands‑on Assistant Director of Dining Services focused on Catering Operations to join its leadership team. Reporting to the Resident District Manager and partnering closely with the Executive Chef, Registered Dietitian, and two additional Assistant Directors, this role supports a dynamic K-12 dining program serving more than 12,000 students across 30+ locations. Based in the district's newly opened,
state‑of‑the‑art central kitchen
, the Assistant Director will lead a high-volume catering program featuring daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner events, buffet functions serving up to 800 guests, Board of Education dinners, summer events, and occasional weekend functions.

This highly visible role oversees all aspects of catering operations, including menu planning, culinary execution, event coordination, pricing, invoicing, and staff management. The successful candidate will work closely with the Catering Cook and Aide while remaining actively involved in food preparation and event execution. Beyond catering, this leader will provide operational support throughout the district as needed, including employee training, staffing support, compliance oversight, and assistance with meal service operations.

The ideal candidate is a skilled culinary professional and proven leader who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, can successfully manage multiple events simultaneously, and maintains a flexible schedule to support varying catering demands
. Catering management experience and strong cooking skills are required. This is an exceptional opportunity to help grow an innovative catering program while making a meaningful impact within one of Michigan's largest and most progressive school districts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works with the Director and Frontline team in creating nutritious and top quality food.
• Cateirng experience is a must!
• Managment experience is a must!
• Hands on cooking experience a must!
• Implements new culinary programs in conjunction with the marketing and culinary teams.
• Maintains excellent relationships with the client.
• Manages, trains, and develops associates.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of food service supervisory or lead experience.
• Experience in restaurants, hotels, corporate dining, education, military, health care, and/or related food service operations.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Financial experience and business acumen skills.
• Proficient computer skills and knowledge of MS Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and internet.

Chartwells Schools is a member of Compass Group USA

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this…