AREA DIRECTOR/DISTRICT MANAGER - K12 SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE - NORTHERN NEW JERSEY

Job Summary

Working as an AREA DIRECTOR (previously titled "District Manager") you are responsible for managing the Chartwells K12 food service accounts throughout Northern New Jersey. You will manage and lead a team of Dining Service Directors. You will be responsible for managing client relations.  You will provide overall planning and direction to achieve operations and financial goals, align with all applicable regulations, maintain strong client relationships, and ensure we continuously support our community in our dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Monitors the overall financial performance of the accounts to ensure profitability
• Ensures consistent and fair administration of personnel policies
• Leads, manages, and encourages a number of Directors of Dining Services, and their teams, to provide outstanding service
• Drives and develops self and team towards building positive relationships with client(s) and achieving critical metrics (profitability, safety, engagement, etc.) 
• Participates in ongoing conversations with peers to share best practices, mitigate risks, champion diversity, and build community
• Leads accounts in territory, ensuring decisions are weighed for risk/reward and short/long term implications 
• Supports senior leadership in setting the cultural tone in district and region; meets regularly with team and partners to ensure full visibility, understanding, safety, and accountability
• Serves as representative/brand ambassador of territory; attends client and community engagement events 
• Collaborates with the Sales, Retention, and Finance teams on sales proforma and proposal development; participates in full sales and retention process
• Collaborates with partners to support district needs and solves problems by thinking through all angles and downstream impacts 
• Ensures compliance with regional, state, and local policies governing meal and retail programs, along with safety and QA requirements; conducts audits and offers solutions for improvement 
• Champions development, performance evaluations, succession planning, and building single- and multi-unit management skills such as a full understanding of all roles within operation; support team with tools and systems
• Owns financial results/P&L for districts in the territory, and works with leadership to ensure accuracy in reporting, forecasting, and budgeting 
• Completes required reports on time as outlined by policy 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or five + years of progressive experience in multi-unit food service
• Strong background in a leadership role with exposure to contract/budget management, customer service, people development, food services, negotiations, etc.
• Has a consistent track record, knowledge of growing a business, and proven business and financial proficiencies. 
• Has the ability to think quickly, analytically, strategically, and accurately 
• Shows expert client relationship, influencing, presentation, listening, and communication (written and verbal) skills 
• Champions the inclusive approach, and is proactive, positive, professional, flexible, and resilient
• Demonstrates initiative, ownership, multitasking, prioritization, and organization skills
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Suite
• Working experience in K12 food service and knowledge of NSLP regulations
• Traveling throughout the State of Rhode Island to provide management support to all K-12 School food service accounts.  This position will include a company vehicle.