DIRECTOR, DINING SERVICES -K12 FOOD SERVICE - Fort Worth ISD (FWISD), TX

Job Summary

Chartwells K12 | Compass Group USA
Fort Worth Independent School District – Fort Worth, TX
Director of Dining Services (DDS)

We are seeking a high‑performing Director of Dining Services (DDS) to lead elementary and middle school dining operations within Fort Worth ISD in Texas, supporting a district portfolio of approximately 122 schools and a $50 million operation. This role oversees a defined group of schools and serves as a primary point of contact for school administrators, while collaborating closely with a team of fellow Directors of Dining Services and senior leadership who share a common mission: delivering exceptional service and feeding kids well.

Reporting to the Area Director, the DDS provides boots‑on‑the‑ground, hands‑on leadership, driving operational execution, financial performance, regulatory compliance, and team development. You will spend significant time in schools coaching managers, building strong relationships, and supporting the consistent execution of programs across this large, high‑visibility district account.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manages salaried managers and hourly associates in the Food Service Department
• Oversees the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the account
• Interviews, hires, and trains associates; plans, assigns, and directs work; appraises performance; rewards and disciplines associates; addresses complaints and resolves problems
• Prepares and manages annual budget
• Utilize company systems for completion of required daily/weekly/monthly reports such as inventory, cash reports, production records, payroll/time-keeping, etc.
• Oversees and participates in the preparation and service of food and beverage items in adherence to company food standards for preparation, presentation, sanitation and safety (meeting HACCP and OSHA guidelines) and portion control

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in foodservice, hospitality management, dietetics, culinary or related fields.
• Five (5) years of direct foodservice operational management experience with inventory and purchasing knowledge and control, K12 experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food and catering trends with a focus on quality, production, sanitation, food cost controls, and presentation
• Previous P&L accountability or contract-managed service experience is desirable
• Strong supervisory, leadership, management and coaching skills
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to communicate on various levels to include management, client, customer and associate levels
• Excellent financial, budgetary, accounting and computational skills
• Proficient computer skills to include; various computer programs, Microsoft Office programs, e-mail and the Internet
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) with the ability to communicate in Spanish in a professional work environment preferred.