Position Overview
The Office of Operations (OoO) is comprised of the Strategic School Operations, Food & Nutrition Services, School Security, and Facilities divisions. OoO is responsible for guiding the operations and functions for all 118 schools within the District. Our mission is to ensure DCPS Stakeholders – principals, teachers, students, and central services teams – have the operational systems, facilities, and support to be excellent.
The Specialist, Food and Nutrition Services (Field Operations) is responsible for leading food service operations through multiple multi-unit vendor food-service managers and self-operated meal programs in 117 schools to ensure that all aspects of DCPS Food and Nutrition Services initiatives are properly executed while operational, financial, and compliance results are met. The Specialist assists in the oversight of food services contracts and self-operated meal programs while ensuring that the contractors and/or self-operated meal programs provide superior quality food services to our students. The Specialist is also responsible for producing and implementing high-level initiatives and projects that will enhance the overall operation and marketability of food services with DCPS students. The Specialist will serve as the lead for the Food and Nutrition Services team in their assigned region by overseeing a group of multi-unit managers to communicate food service policy and procedures and serve as the lead interface with other agencies in fulfilling the FNS mission. The Specialist visits schools within their oversight and ensures superior operations, facility conditions, nutritional compliance, and food and service quality. The Specialist also makes recommendations to ensure a high level of compliance with applicable codes, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
The Specialist, Food and Nutrition Services (Field Operations) will report to the Operations Manager, Food & Nutrition Services.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.
- Assists in the oversight of required annual federal and state audits to ensure DCPS is compliant with all National School Lunch Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and other regulatory standards.
- Collaborates directly with food services vendor management team to increase participation and performance of DCPS food service programs by developing strategic and systemic solutions.
- In self-operated meal program school sites, directs daily operations of food service to ensure employees have appropriate equipment, inventory, and resources; and ensures operating standards and regulatory requirements are met.
- Analyzes and determines needs for school facilities, including kitchen equipment.
- Tracks and monitors equipment repair process in school kitchens.
- Visits schools and ensures vendors are in compliance with specific contractual obligations, including menu items, nutrition and sanitation regulations, superior level of service, and execution; and resolves inconsistencies or deficiencies with the obligations with minimal oversight.
- Originates and files required regulatory documentation and other pertinent reporting immediately.
- Applies deep content knowledge and relevant expertise to DCPS projects and general operations; advises department management in specific area of focus; and helps build competency in others.
- Develops strategy and clear, specific, and ambitious performance measures for individual projects that are easily translated into individual work goals and deliverables for other team members.
- Creates detailed timelines for each initiative; assesses and tracks project progress regularly using various computer programs and tools; and drives project completion holding others accountable for responsibilities and deadlines.
- Helps manage the analysis and presentation of data and progress of data-driven initiatives for senior management team and external audiences; and communicates progress to key stakeholder groups and incorporates their input.
- Anticipates, identifies, and resolves complex obstacles to success of overall program as well as specific projects.
- Interviews and surveys other colleagues and management teams to determine opportunities for improvement; researches specific issues; and develops detailed recommendations and implementation plans to resolve.
- Builds relationships and liaises with various internal departments to drive collaboration and project success; and interacts with and responds effectively to urgent requests from multiple internal and external DCPS stakeholders.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and three to five years of related work experience.
- Master's degree preferred.
- Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
- Specific experience as a high-volume or multi-unit, full-service food service manager strongly preferred.
- Proficient in technology, including MS Office Suite and experience with food service Point-Of-Sale systems.
- Can articulate depth of knowledge in effective and exemplary people management, food-service operations, and controls.
- Can illustrate a pattern of job stability and upward mobility in prior organizations.
- Can articulate instances of project management and new program implementation.
- Can articulate best practices and provide examples of beneficial resources and relationships in an upward path of success.
- STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
- COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
- EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
- EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
- TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
- JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.
