DINING SERVICES TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR - K-12 SCHOOLS

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000

Chartwells K12's goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,500 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent. For more information, visit

Job Summary

Are you an energetic leader with a passion for transforming dining experiences and developing high-performing teams? We're seeking a dynamic Dining Services Training and Professional Development Director to lead our team in delivering outstanding service and unforgettable culinary experiences for our premier K-12 school district located in Winston-Salem, NC. In this role, you will provide operational leadership while serving as the primary driver of employee training, onboarding, safety compliance, and field development programs.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring all associates receive the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to succeed through comprehensive training initiatives, safety education, and continuous professional development.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on operational leader who is passionate about developing people, promoting workplace safety, and building a culture of continuous learning. They possess strong training and coaching capabilities, excel at coordinating large-scale training initiatives, and are committed to ensuring every associate has the tools and knowledge necessary to provide exceptional service while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary coordinator and administrator for all training platforms, ensuring training programs are scheduled, tracked, and completed on time.
• Partner closely with field training teams to align training strategies, deliver consistent learning experiences, and support operational excellence across all locations.
• Oversee the onboarding and in-service training process for all newly hired employees, ensuring a seamless and effective transition into their roles.
• Schedule, coordinate, and monitor all required food safety and certification training programs, including ServSafe® and other regulatory compliance training.
• Ensure all field-based training programs are effectively planned, communicated, and executed throughout the district.
• Champion a culture of safety by leading and reinforcing safety training initiatives, compliance programs, accident prevention efforts, and best practices for all associates.
• Drive strategic initiatives that enhance customer satisfaction, employee engagement, operational efficiency, and financial performance
• Ensure adherence to all company, client, local, state, and federal quality, safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards.
• Build strong relationships with clients, school administrators, customers, associates, and community stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the efficient functioning of dining service operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Services Technology, Hospitality Management, Business, Education, Training & Development, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Five plus years of foodservice management experience
• Demonstrated experience leading employee training, onboarding, and safety programs.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, sanitation standards, and ServSafe certification requirements.
• Experience coordinating training schedules, maintaining training compliance records, and managing learning platforms.
• Proven ability to partner effectively with field operations and training teams to drive workforce development initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of high-volume food production and catering operations preferred.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple training and operational priorities simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, training management systems, and other business technology platforms.

Apply to Chartwells Schools today!

Chartwells Schools is a member of Compass Group USA

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. 

Chartwells K-12 maintains a drug-free workplace.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Associates at Chartwells K-12  are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details:

Req ID:  1570728

Chartwells K12 

JENNIFER HILL

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