Food Service Specialist

Food Service Specialist (Full Time)

Ypsilanti Community Schools serves over 3,800 PreK-12 students across 11 school buildings in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The district offers a wide variety of exciting and innovative educational options for scholars. All Ypsilanti Community Schools team members are dedicated to our mission to provide an excellent education to all scholars in a safe and nurturing environment.

The Food Service Specialist works with the Finance Director to provide administrative and compliance support for the district's Food Service Department and serves as a key point of contact between the district, the contracted food service provider, school staff, and families. This position supports daily operations while assisting with oversight of vendor performance, ensuring compliance with state and federal child nutrition program regulations, and maintaining accurate documentation for audits and reporting.

The successful candidate will be someone who is comfortable working on-site in schools, assisting and supporting day-to-day food service operations. The individual will be responsible for ensuring that food service personnel operate in accordance with the MDE and federal guidelines.

Qualifications

Associate degree or higher required. Minimum of two years of administrative or clerical experience, preferably in a school district, public agency, or food service/nutrition program. Familiarity with USDA Child Nutrition Program requirements preferred. Strong organizational and recordkeeping skills with accuracy and attention to detail. Proficiency with the Google Platform (Docs, Sheets, etc.) and ability to learn district-specific software. Effective written and verbal communication skills for working with vendors, staff, families, and state agencies. Ability to handle multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and support compliance activities.

Job Responsibilities

Serve as the district's primary administrative contact for the contracted food service provider. Assist in monitoring vendor compliance with contract terms, staffing levels, service standards, and USDA Child Nutrition Program requirements. Collect and review required documentation from the provider (menus, production records, staff training logs, safety/health inspection reports). Provide professional development and on-site training as required by MDE guidelines. Support on-site compliance reviews by scheduling visits, gathering records, and assisting with inspections/audits. Maintain and organize all district food service records, including meal counts, free/reduced meal applications, verification documents, and related reports. Assist with preparing and submitting state and federal reports for child nutrition programs. Track invoices, reconcile billing with district accounts, and flag discrepancies in coordination with the business office. Respond to inquiries from parents, students, and staff regarding meal programs, account balances, and eligibility. Provide clerical support for procurement activities, bid processes, contract renewals, and program audits. Assist with communication among district leadership, school sites, and the food service provider to address service concerns and implement corrective actions. Maintain confidentiality of scholars, family, and vendor information in compliance with FERPA, USDA, and district policies. Perform other duties as assigned to support effective food service operations. Monitor after-school and summer meal service, days and times vary. Collect documentation for PreK-12 meal service and ensure accuracy. Coordinate with building administrators to collect meal service forms; ours may vary. Attend district events to collect meal service forms; hours may vary. Approved mileage will be reimbursed at the federal rate. Attend Michigan Department of Education seminars and trainings.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements Regular use of computers, phones, and standard office equipment. Daily travel to schools across the district to assist with site monitoring, audits, and provider meetings. The physical demands described here are representative of those required of an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Frequent verbal and written communication using phone, email, and in-person interactions. Daily use of office technology, including computers, printers, and phones. May occasionally lift or move materials or packages weighing up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Food delivery, food service as needed. Other duties as assigned.