Nutritional Services Culinary Relief Manager

Nutrition Services Culinary Relief Manager (Assistant Manager)

Operating under the direction of the Nutrition Services Culinary Manager, this position prepares and serves nutritious, scratch-cooked meals that support student health and learning. This position ensures compliance with USDA, state, and District nutrition standards, maintains strict food safety and sanitation procedures, and provides excellent customer service to students and staff. The role is cross-trained across all kitchen operations and serves as a trained backup for the Culinary Manager, assuming full operational and supervisory responsibilities when assigned.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Scratch Meal Production: Prepare daily meals from scratch using district-approved recipes and production records. Control food and kitchen waste through careful preparation, portioning, and storage. Safely and effectively operate commercial kitchen equipment.
• Meal Service and Customer Experience: Support the Culinary Manager in serving meals that meet USDA standards, Counting and Claiming procedures, and District policies. Provide professional, friendly interactions with students, staff, families, and community members to promote the Nutrition Services mission.
• Food Safety and Compliance: Apply food safety knowledge and procedures when handling scratch ingredients, including raw proteins and produce. Ensure compliance with USDA, Colorado Department of Education, state, federal and District regulations.
• Sanitation and Cleaning: Complete daily cleaning tasks, including dishwashing, sanitizing food-contact surfaces, and clearing non-food areas in accordance with Health Department and District standard operating procedures. Properly maintain kitchen equipment; empty trash/recycling, sweep, and mop floors.
• Financial Accountability and Point-Of-Sale (POS) Operations: Operate point-of-sale (POS) system including meal counts, payments, and daily reports. Accurately handle cash, deposits, and change funds; verify balances at the end of each shift.
• Inventory and Ordering: Assist with ordering, receiving, storing, and rotating food and supplies. Conduct inventories as scheduled and maintain accurate daily production and storage records.
• Cross-Training and Culinary Manager Support: Rotate through all scratch meal production and service stations to ensure quality and efficiency. Cross-train in Culinary Manager responsibilities, including staff scheduling, training, and supervision. Maintain "at ready" status to cover schools during interim or long-term Culinary Manager absences. Assume full managerial duties, including daily operation and staff supervision, as directed by the District Manager.

Education and Experience: High school diploma or equivalent required. One year prior food service experience required. Prior culinary and/or school nutrition services experience preferred. Operating knowledge of point-of-sale and kitchen database management softwares within 180 days of hire. Position requires conversational English skills.

Licenses, Registrations or Certifications: Criminal background check required for hire. Valid Colorado driver's license or valid Colorado identification required. Must be able to lift 50 pounds. Lift test required at time of hire. Current Mesa County Food Handlers Card required. Serve Safe or State Food Safety Certified Food Protection Manager Certifications required within 90 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Oral bi-lingual skills English/Spanish are desirable. Basic professional written communication skills in English. Ability to communicate, coach, teach, and develop using the 3 C's continuum to all types of learners. Ability and passion for culinary training in order to develop and grow their role with the District. Ability and desire to conduct as needed culinary training in the school kitchens. Ability to work independently as needed with minimal direction and/or supervision. Ability to manage multiple priorities and frequent interruptions in a timely manner. Ability to be adaptable and flexible with collaborative critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities. Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills. Strong customer service skills, with the ability to provide support in a professional and approachable manner. Commitment to handling sensitive and confidential information with the highest ethical standards. Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with staff and various stakeholders. Ability to follow applicable federal, state, local laws and Board of Education policies, in addition to building and department procedures. Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator. Ability to follow and comply with the current Colorado Department of Education and District policies and guidelines regarding food preparation, delivery, and storage. Operating knowledge of and experience with institutional food service equipment; ovens, warmers, mixers, steamers, kettles, meat slicers, food processors, sectionizers, and immersion blenders etc.; Operating knowledge of and experience with personal computers and peripherals; Operating knowledge of and experience with office software such as word processing and spreadsheets; Operating knowledge of and experience with typical office equipment, such as telephones, copier, fax machine, E-mail, etc.

Mesa County Valley School District 51