Lead Cafeteria Worker

The Opportunity:  Mary Phalen School is seeking a dedicated, organized, and hands-on Child Nutrition Manager to lead our school cafeteria team. In this role, you will do more than just manage paperwork—you will be actively involved in the daily preparation of nutritious, delicious meals for our students.

The ideal candidate brings a passion for healthy student meals, a strong work ethic, and excellent culinary instincts. We are looking for a leader who knows their way around a professional kitchen, understands the art of scratch cooking, and takes pride in food safety and quality.

The Details: 

Key Deliverables: 

• Hands-on Meal Preparation: Lead and assist in the daily preparation and cooking of breakfast and lunch menus, utilizing scratch-cooking techniques wherever possible to ensure fresh, high-quality meals.
• Kitchen Operations: Manage daily kitchen setup, including safely operating commercial kitchen equipment, preheating ovens, and monitoring precise cooking and holding temperatures.
• Inventory & Ordering: Order food, milk, and kitchen supplies accurately to meet menu requirements while minimizing waste. Inspect all incoming deliveries for quality and accurate counts.
• Compliance & Safety: Maintain strict compliance with local health department regulations, USDA child nutrition guidelines, and school district policies.
• Team Leadership: Supervise, train, and schedule school staff. Maintain a positive, efficient, and collaborative kitchen environment.
• Financial & Record Keeping: Complete accurate daily production records, inventory logs, and point-of-sale (POS) meal counting reports

Experience and Education Requirements:

• Experience: Previous experience in school nutrition, commercial cooking, or high-volume batch cooking is preferred.
• Culinary Knowledge: Proven ability to scratch, cook, properly heat/hold food, and safely operate commercial ovens, steamers, and slicers.
• Certification: Must possess a valid Food Handlers License (or ServSafe certification) at the time of hire, or be willing to obtain one immediately.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to stand for extended periods, lift up to 40 lbs routinely, and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Background Check: Must pass all state-mandated background checks and fingerprinting required for working in a school environment.

The Network:

PLA is a transformative education nonprofit changing communities across the country by providing a depth of resources not found in the traditional education model. In addition to serving as one of the country’s best turnaround school operators and successfully launching charter school start-ups, PLA also provides our school communities with a successful, research-based summer learning program (Summer Advantage), a successful Reading and Math Intervention program (Reading and Math Advantage), and a workforce development program (Skilled US) that provides expanded opportunities for our high school graduates, along with the family members of our current staff and students. This menu of programs and services is unique to our network, sets us apart from other organizations, and provides expanded opportunities for our staff through career advancement opportunities and expanded income opportunities.  

The Campus: Mary Phalen Leadership Academy 408 94th Street Marmet, WV 25315

Compensation and Benefits:

PLA Media Specialists receive a base salary that is competitively aligned with the market. In addition to a base salary, Media Specialists receive: 

• Competitive Compensation
• Benefits – Healthcare, vision, and dental insurance
• Professional development opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and being a part of professional communities within the school
• Incentive and bonus opportunities 

PLA is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristics as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

Please read carefully.

Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer. PLA does not discriminate in employment on account of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service.

By completing this application you understand that neither the completion of this application nor any other part of my consideration for employment establishes any obligation for PLA to hire me. If hired, I understand that either PLA or I can terminate my employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and without prior notice. I understand that no representative of PLA has the authority to make any assurance to the contrary.

You attest by applying to this position that you have given PLA true and complete information on this application. No requested information has been concealed. I authorize PLA to contact references provided for employment reference checks. If any information I have provided is untrue, or if I have concealed material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for the denial of employment or immediate dismissal.