Operations Manager - Illinois School Nutrition

Operations Manager – Drive Excellence in School Nutrition Operations Support + Strategy + Impact Are you a seasoned food service professional who thrives on supporting teams, ensuring compliance, and driving operational excellence? Join Whitsons as an Operations Manager and help elevate school nutrition programs across our districts—fueling student success one meal at a time. What You’ll Do Provide operational support to District Manager and General Managers within the District Managers regions across multiple school districts. Step in as acting General Manager when needed to ensure seamless operations. Monitor and support compliance with all USDA, state, and local regulations related to NSLP, SBP, and food safety. Assist in budget development, financial forecasting, and variance analysis. Oversee staff training, scheduling, and performance management to ensure team excellence. Support new account openings and serve as a key player in onboarding processes. Conduct regular site visits (80% travel) to assess quality, safety, compliance, and team support needs. Collaborate with wellness and nutrition committees and participate in district meetings and community events. Bachelor’s degree in Food Service Management, Nutrition, Culinary Arts, or a related field (or equivalent experience). 7–10 years of progressive food service management experience, with 5+ years in K–12 school nutrition required. Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire teams and build strong relationships. Deep knowledge of USDA school meal guidelines, state regulations, and food safety practices. ServSafe certification required; SNS certification highly preferred. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to quickly learn new systems and tools. Must be willing to travel frequently to Whitsons’ operating sites. Why Join Us? Competitive salary + performance bonus potential Work that makes a difference in students' lives Health, dental, and vision insurance Paid holidays and PTO 401K with company match Professional growth opportunities and supportive leadership About Us At Whitsons Culinary Group , we believe that school meals are more than just food— they’re a foundation for learning and success. As an Operations Manager , you’ll play a vital role in supporting our mission to deliver nutritious, high‑quality meals across the districts we serve. Be a champion for school nutrition—and a catalyst for positive change. Apply today and bring your leadership to the next level with Whitsons – Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™. This role offers a salary range of $80,000–$85,000 annually, based on skills, experience, and location. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, generous PTO, and paid holidays. Requirements Education : Bachelor's degree or equivalent with concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business or a related field. Bachelor's degree or equivalent with any academic major AND a state‑recognized certificate in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, or business. At least one year of management experience, preferably in school nutrition strongly recommended. Master's degree or willingness to work toward master's degree preferred. Certifications : ServSafe Mandatory – Local food safety certification if required in jurisdiction of employment. Must be knowledgeable of all local ordinances. Computer Skills : Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications is required. Must be able to communicate electronically through use of email and other similar computer platforms. Able to learn new programs easily and quickly. Effective communication, written and oral. Customer focus – act in the best interest of the customer, both internal and external. Create new ideas, processes or products which, when implemented, lead to positive, effective change. Organizational leadership – apply strategic thinking, prioritization and decision-making to drive results. Effectively assess, select, develop and empower individuals and teams. Other Qualifications, Experience : 10 years’ experience in Food Service Management required. Minimum 7 years’ experience in high‑volume urban K‑12 programs required. Strong interest in school nutrition program development. Culinary background is required – must have a passion and interest in food. Working knowledge of cooking procedures and recipe adherence and scaling. Must possess excellent time management and organizational skills. Bilingual Spanish highly desirable. As an exempt position, it is expected that team members will devote whatever time necessary to accomplish the goals and responsibilities. This will often require extended work hours, evening and/or weekend work. Work Schedule Monday–Friday, occasional weekends for special events. Salary Target $80,000–$85,000 EEO is the Law. #J-18808-Ljbffr