Food Service Jobs 2026 (Now Hiring) – Smart Auto Apply

Chartwells K12

Position Title: DIRECTOR CULINARY OPERATIONS - K-12 FOOD SERVICE, JACKSONVILLE, FL

Pay Grade: 18

Reports To: Regional Director of Operations

Salary: $145,000 - 160,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Medical, Dental & Vision insurance, 401K, PTO

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 www.ChartwellsK12.com.

This position is eligible for an Employee Referral Bonus! If you know someone that is qualified for this role, please use the 'job search' in PeopleHub to refer your referral and email them a link to apply. Your referral will be able to apply by clicking the link in the email. You can check the status through your profile, accessible via Careers in PeopleHub, by clicking on 'referral tracking.' For Employee Referral guidelines, FAQs and the Compass Employee Referral Policy, email MyReferral@compass-usa.com.

Job Summary

Working as the Director of Culinary Development you will be responsible for the research, testing, development, documenting, training, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and making necessary adjustments to innovative new dishes, concepts and/or food programs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serves as Department Head to provide leadership and set standards of culinary excellence
• Works with Division leadership in planning, implementing and supporting new food concepts or programs at their locations
• Develops and mentors senior chefs in various Company divisions and geographical regions
• Creates training opportunities for chefs and managers through manufacturer and vendor resources and sharing / promoting internal best practices
• Stays current with market trends and customer demands
• Participates in and attends trade shows and continuing education opportunities
• Plans menus for daily offerings, seasonal or limited time specials, daily and special event catering for a wide variety of locations and applications
• Conducts food tastings and evaluate food presentation
• Establishes food specifications
• Works with food manufacturers and vendors to select best product / value for needs
• Ensures that food products and handling procedures adhere to local, state and federal regulations
• Contributes expertise in kitchen and servery design and / or remodeling projects
• Leads culinary teams in planning, training, set-up and opening new and / or remodeled accounts
• Collaborate with other departments such as Purchasing, Marketing and Business Development on special projects and Company initiatives
• Direct sustainability initiatives throughout Company locations
• Oversee Nutrition staff and programs
• Updates senior management, supervisory managers and account management teams on industry trends and new food programs

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent professional experience
• Minimum of five years of progressive culinary experience in high volume, complex service and catering operations
• Minimum of two years of menu development
• Knowledge of budgets, food and labor costs, inventory controls
• Comprehensive knowledge of international cuisines and catering trends
• Thorough understanding of food equipment and safety standards
• Strong organizational, leadership, coaching and training skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Flexible and adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and work demands
• Self-starter, innovative and ability to multitask
• Ability to travel extensively
• Capable of representing the Company in food service industry events and public relations appearances
• Strong computer skills; including MS office, recipe management and nutrition programs

Apply to Chartwells Schools today!

Chartwells Schools is a member of Compass Group USA

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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.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wpcontent/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_ChartwellsK12.pdf

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/