Food Service Director

Job Duties

Required Qualifications: Previous experience in a similar role.

Applicant Screening Notice: Due to the operational and regulatory responsibilities of this role, preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated experience managing food service operations, vendor coordination, and compliance with school nutrition or food safety regulations.

Preferred Qualifications: Current Certified Food Protection Manager and/or ServSafe certification (or ability to obtain upon hire); prior experience as a food service director, manager, or in a similar leadership role; demonstrated ability to plan, launch, and grow a food service program

FLSA: Full time, exempt role. Summer hours may vary..

Schedule: Approximately 6:30 AM – 3:00 PM on student contact days.

Schedule on non-student contact days and summer will be determined based on operational needs.

Desired Start Date: ASAP

Pay Range: $60,000 to $65,000 salary, based on experience

Report to MSA Operations Manager

Location: MSA Secondary Campus

Benefits: MSA offers a generous benefits package and 12 days of paid time off.

The duties below are not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all duties and tasks performed by those holding this type of position.

About the Role:

Math and Science Academy seeks an organized, proactive Food Service Director to lead and expand our school nutrition program, which launched in Fall 2026. Serving approximately 1,300 students with projected future growth, MSA operates a serve-only kitchen setup—all meals are prepared off-site by a contracted food vendor and delivered daily.

Because no raw food preparation occurs on-site, this role focuses on operational leadership, vendor management, state/federal compliance, logistics, and student engagement rather than culinary preparation.

Core Responsibilities

Vendor Management & Logistics

Serve as the primary liaison to the contracted food service vendor, monitoring contract delivery, meal quality, temperature compliance, and accurate portion control.

Direct daily meal service setup, line logistics, food holding/storage, and post-service cleanup in a serve-only kitchen environment.

Maintain kitchen equipment, sanitation protocols, and storage organization to meet local public health standards.

Compliance & Program Administration

Ensure full compliance with Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), USDA, and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) guidelines.

Manage point-of-service (POS) meal counting, daily recordkeeping, and audit-ready documentation.

Oversee administration and verification for Free and Reduced-Price Meal applications in accordance with state and federal requirements.

Program Growth & Operations

Support long-term program expansion, meal expansion initiatives, and menu feedback loops in partnership with the vendor and MSA leadership.

Monitor food service budgets, manage inventory oversight, and coordinate supply ordering.

Maintain clean, welcoming dining spaces that foster a positive school environment for a diverse student body.

Qualifications

Required:

Previous experience in a food service, school nutrition, or hospitality management role.

Demonstrated experience with vendor coordination, logistics management, and regulatory compliance.

High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred:

Current Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) or ServSafe Manager Certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).

Prior leadership experience as a Food Service Director, Coordinator, or Manager in a K–12 public or charter school setting.

Direct experience with MDE school nutrition programs, NSLP regulations, and POS software systems.

Key Competencies & Working Conditions

Knowledge & Skills: Strong written/verbal communication in English; proficiency with technology and administrative software; ability to troubleshoot operational bottlenecks in real time.

Physical Requirements: Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during meal service; regularly lift up to 10 lbs, and occasionally lift/move up to 50 lbs with assistance.

Environment: Fast-paced school setting requiring adaptability, prompt communication, and a strong commitment to serving students from all cultural and economic backgrounds.

Minimum Education Required

Required:

Previous experience in a food service, school nutrition, or hospitality management role.

Demonstrated experience with vendor coordination, logistics management, and regulatory compliance.

High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred:

Current Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) or ServSafe Manager Certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).

Prior leadership experience as a Food Service Director, Coordinator, or Manager in a K–12 public or charter school setting.

Direct experience with MDE school nutrition programs, NSLP regulations, and POS software systems.

Minimum Experience Required

Required:

Previous experience in a food service, school nutrition, or hospitality management role.

Demonstrated experience with vendor coordination, logistics management, and regulatory compliance.

High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred:

Current Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) or ServSafe Manager Certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).

Prior leadership experience as a Food Service Director, Coordinator, or Manager in a K–12 public or charter school setting.

Direct experience with MDE school nutrition programs, NSLP regulations, and POS software systems.

Shift

First (Day)

Number of Openings

1

Public Transportation Accessible

No

Veterans Encouraged to Apply

Yes

Physical Required

No

Drug Test Required

No

Compensation

$60,000.00 - $65,000.00

Postal Code

55129

Job Type

Full Time

Place of Work

On-site

Requisition ID

73690

Job Benefits

Employees with 0.5 FTE (working 20 or more hours per week) or higher are eligible for benefits listed below.

Please reach out to View email address on click.appcast.io to request a copy of our benefits handbook.

Paid Employee Benefits

Health Insurance: MSA covers 100% of Single or 50% of Family Coverage.

Dental Insurance: Single or Family Coverage. Math & Science Academy contributes 100% to the employee and 50% to the dependent(s) monthly dental premiums. Eligible dependents may participate in the plan. Those costs are the responsibility of the employee.

Vision: Coverage, Single, or Family Coverage. Vision is voluntary and 100% paid by the employee. MSA also reimburses employees up to $200 each year for prescription glasses or contact lenses.

Prescription Drug Coverage: Part of health insurance, see current benefits manual.

Life and AD&D: MSA provides Group Term Life (GTL) through Principal Financial of 2 times your salary to $50,000. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in GTL at no cost.

Voluntary Life: Voluntary Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance can be purchased by the employee through Principal Financial.

Each staff member is covered with both short term and long term disability insurance by MSA.

MSA offers a voluntary 403(b) for staff that qualify for benefits. MSA will match 50% of the staff contribution up to a maximum of 2% of the staff’s earned yearly salary for that fiscal year (not including extracurricular pay, supplemental pay, or any other extra pay).

MSA will make all legally required State Statute contributions to TRA for all licensed teacher staff and PERA for non-licensed staff and hourly staff. There are no third party costs related to the TRA and PERA plans.

Paid Time Off (PTO) benefits:

Licensed staff, working full school calendar: 12 days of PTO, prorated based on FTE status.

Hourly staff, school calendar based: 10 days of PTO, prorated based on FTE status.

District and Office Staff, year round: 20 days of PTO, prorated based on FTE status.

Administrative Staff: 30 days PTO, prorated based on FTE status.

MSA will pay out all unused PTO at the end of the fiscal school year, based on the employees calculated hourly rate.

To the extent that the employee is responsible for any portion of the premium not paid by MSA, the employee’s portion of the premium will be paid by payroll deduction.

Non­monetary Benefits

Ongoing Professional Development resources and training that include up to $1,000 in professional development funds for licensed roles and $200 in professional reading or memberships for licensed roles. This may be prorated based on FTE status.

MSA complies with all state and federal laws regarding leave of absences.

Sabbatical/Professional Leave (SPL) may be allowed after licensed teaching staff or administrative staff has completed five (5) consecutive fiscal years of employment at MSA.

Under Minnesota Statute, a charter school must employ or contract with necessary teachers, supervisory personnel, and support personnel, as defined by section 122A.15, who hold valid licenses to perform the particular service for which they are employed in the school. In addition, if a teacher employed by a district makes a written request for an extended leave of absence to teach at a charter school, the district must grant the leave. You also maintain your TRA benefits, since MSA is a public school. Refer to MN Statute 145E.11 to view enrollment preference requirements.