Director of Dining Services - Menlo School

Director Of Dining Services

Flik Independent School Dining has been leading the way in transforming private and independent school foodservice across 300 communities for over four decades. Our passionate team of associates is fully committed to delivering exceptional foodservice experiences every single time. Our meals are crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, supporting sustainable agricultural practices that benefit our communities. But we don't stop at just foodservice we take it to the next level by offering cutting-edge nutrition education programs that empower students to make smart, healthy choices daily. By combining nutritious meals with comprehensive education, we equip students with the essential tools they need to lead a healthy and thriving life. We believe in nourishing the whole person, creating community through great food and programming, and doing what's right, every time.

We are Nourishing a Brighter Future.

Job Summary

The Director of Dining Services is responsible for leading all aspects of dining operations at Menlo School, an independent coeducational day school in Atherton, California, serving approximately 800 students in grades 6-12. This role ensures outstanding service, food quality, and client satisfaction while overseeing daily operations, managing financial performance, leading a talented team, and building strong relationships with school partners. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on leader with a passion for food service excellence, team development, and creating a welcoming dining experience for students, faculty, and guests.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and direction for all food service operations, including student dining, catering, and special events.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, school administrators, students, and guests, ensuring exceptional service and satisfaction.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and culinary team to design and implement seasonal menus and new culinary programs.
• Lead all financial aspects of the account including budgeting, forecasting, invoice processing, daily sales reporting, catering invoicing, and period-end closing.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and allergen protocols; champion a culture of safety for associates and guests.
• Conduct daily pre-service meetings to align the team on expectations, service standards, and key updates.
• Lead recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, training, and performance management for dining associates.
• Conduct mid-year and annual performance reviews; provide mentorship, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Drive participation and customer engagement through marketing, menu innovation, promotional events, and catering showcases.
• Ensure high standards of service, cleanliness, and presentation across all dining areas.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 35 years of dynamic food service management experience, preferably in school dining, contract services, or high-volume hospitality.
• Confirmed experience leading budgets, financial reporting, and cost controls.
• Strong background in catering, special events, and high-volume food production.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, handle deadlines, and implement critical initiatives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams).
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering an outstanding dining experience.

Associates at Flik Independent School Dining are offered many fantastic benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, holiday time off, associate shopping program, health and wellness programs, discount marketplace, identity theft protection, pet insurance, commuter benefits, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, paid parental leave, and personal leave.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening.