Home / Find Jobs / Central Kitchen Manager - Richland County School District One

Central Kitchen Manager

Richland County School District One – South Carolina

  • Position Type:
      CLASSIFIED/NUTRITION SERVICES
  • Date Posted:
      8/26/2026
  • Location:
      NUTRITION SERVICES
  •   

    RICHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE
    CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTION

    Classification Title:  Food Service Manager, Central Kitchen & Logistics
    Department:  Nutrition Services
    Reports To:  Director of Nutrition Services
    FLSA Status:  Exempt                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Salary Range: $62,037.00-$83,904.00

    GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
    Under limited supervision, plans, organizes, directs, and manages the day-to-day operations of the District’s Central Kitchen, Warehouse, Distribution Center, Fleet Operations, and Catering Services. Provides leadership for all food production, inventory management, warehousing, logistics, transportation, and distribution activities necessary to support federally funded Child Nutrition Programs.
    Responsible for ensuring the efficient flow of food, supplies, equipment, and USDA Foods from vendors through receiving, storage, production, distribution, and delivery to schools and program sites. Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations governing school nutrition operations, food safety, transportation, procurement, and inventory accountability.   Reports to the Director of Nutrition Services.

    SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
    Essential Functions
    Operational Leadership
    1.    Directs and manages the daily operations of the Central Kitchen, warehouse, distribution center, transportation services, and catering functions.
    2.    Establishes operational procedures that ensure efficiency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
    3.    Coordinates production, inventory, receiving, storage, distribution, and delivery activities to support uninterrupted meal service.
    4.    Ensures operational readiness for all District meal programs, special events, and emergency feeding operations.
    5.    Monitors operational performance and implements corrective actions as needed.
    Production Management
    1.    Oversees quantity food production for breakfast, lunch, afterschool meals, summer feeding, special events, and catering programs.
    2.    Directs production planning based on menus, participation projections, inventory availability, and program requirements.
    3.    Ensures compliance with USDA meal pattern requirements, standardized recipes, portion control standards, and menu specifications.
    4.    Monitors production records, forecasting practices, yield management, and waste reduction initiatives.
    5.    Ensures meals are prepared, packaged, and distributed accurately and on schedule.
    Warehouse and Inventory Management
    1.    Oversees all warehouse receiving, storage, inventory control, and distribution functions.
    2.    Maintains inventory systems for purchased foods, USDA Foods commodities, supplies, equipment, and consumable goods.
    3.    Establishes procedures for ordering, receiving, inventory counts, stock rotation, reconciliation, and inventory accountability.
    4.    Maintains appropriate inventory levels to support uninterrupted operations while minimizing waste and excess inventory.
    5.    Ensures proper handling, storage, and security of all inventory assets.
    Logistics and Fleet Operations
    1.    Oversees food and supply distribution operations for all schools and program sites.
    2.    Develops delivery schedules and routing plans to ensure efficient and timely service.
    3.    Oversees Nutrition Services fleet operations including vehicles, delivery equipment, maintenance schedules, inspections, repairs, and fuel management.
    4.    Ensures compliance with transportation safety regulations and District operational standards.
    5.    Monitors delivery performance, fleet utilization, and overall logistics effectiveness.
    Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance
    1.    Serves as administrator of the department’s HACCP Food Safety Program.
    2.    Maintains food safety plans for the Central Kitchen, Warehouse, and Distribution Operations.
    3.    Oversees sanitation, food handling, storage, receiving, product traceability, and recall procedures.
    4.    Ensures compliance with USDA, South Carolina Department of Education, DHEC, OSHA, and District requirements.
    5.    Coordinates inspections, audits, reviews, and corrective action plans.
    6.    Maintains emergency preparedness and continuity of operations plans.
    Personnel Management
    1.    Supervises Warehouse Lead, Production Lead, Shipping & Distribution Lead, and Catering Lead.
    2.    Plans, assigns, reviews, and evaluates employee performance.
    3.    Participates in hiring, employee development, disciplinary actions, and workforce planning.
    4.    Coordinates employee schedules and staffing assignments.
    5.    Ensures staff receive required training and professional development.
    Procurement Coordination
    1.    Coordinates food and supply ordering activities with purchasing staff and approved vendors.
    2.    Monitors inventory needs and utilization patterns to support procurement decisions.
    3.    Assists with forecasting, product evaluations, bid specifications, and implementation of approved products.
    4.    Supports compliance with federal procurement requirements and District purchasing procedures.
    Financial and Administrative Responsibilities
    1.    Assists in preparing and monitoring operational budgets.
    2.    Monitors food, labor, transportation, and supply costs.
    3.    Reviews operational reports and performance metrics.
    4.    Maintains records required by federal, state, and District regulations.
    5.    Utilizes data to improve operational effectiveness and resource utilization.
    Additional Duties
    1.    Attends meetings, workshops, conferences, and professional development activities.
    2.    Supports emergency feeding and disaster response operations.
    3.    Performs related duties as assigned.

    KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)
    The Food Service Operations Manager is accountable for achieving measurable results in the following areas:
    Production Operations
        Meal production and distribution completion rates
        Meal order fulfillment accuracy
        Production forecasting effectiveness
        Food waste reduction
        Service continuity across all schools
    Inventory Management
        Inventory accuracy
        Inventory turnover
        USDA Foods accountability
        Product loss prevention
        Inventory reconciliation compliance
    Warehouse Operations
        Receiving efficiency
        Product traceability
        Storage compliance
        Stock rotation effectiveness
        Inventory accountability
    Logistics and Distribution
        On-time delivery performance
        Delivery accuracy
        Route efficiency
        Operational reliability
        School service satisfaction
    Fleet Management
        Preventative maintenance compliance
        Vehicle availability
        Safety and inspection compliance
        Fleet utilization
        Reduction in vehicle downtime
    Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance
        HACCP compliance
        Successful inspections and audits
        Corrective action completion
        Recall readiness and traceability
        Sanitation compliance
    Financial Stewardship
        Budget adherence
        Labor cost management
        Food cost management
        Transportation cost management
        Operational efficiency improvements
    Workforce Management
        Training compliance
        Employee safety performance
        Staffing effectiveness
        Productivity measures
        Employee retention and engagement
    Customer Service and Operational Support
        School support responsiveness
        Internal customer satisfaction
        Vendor relationship management
        Communication effectiveness
    Continuous Improvement
        Process improvement initiatives
        Operational efficiency gains
        Data-driven decision making
        Strategic goal achievement

    MINIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING
    Bachelor’s degree in Food Service Management, Nutrition, Business Administration, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field.
    Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in large-scale food service operations, quantity food production, warehouse management, logistics, supply chain operations, or institutional food service management.
    Preferred:
        School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) Credential
        Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
        ServSafe Manager Certification
        Experience with USDA Child Nutrition Programs
        Experience in K-12 school nutrition operations
    Must possess a valid South Carolina driver’s license.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS REQUIRED
    Physical Requirements
    Must be physically able to operate a variety of office equipment, industrial kitchen equipment, warehouse equipment, delivery vehicles, and computer systems. Must be able to occasionally lift up to fifty (50) pounds and work in both warehouse and production environments.
    Knowledge
        USDA Child Nutrition Program regulations
        Quantity food production systems
        Inventory management systems
        Warehouse operations
        Supply chain and logistics management
        Fleet operations
        HACCP and food safety requirements
        Federal procurement regulations
        Budget development and cost control methods
        OSHA and workplace safety requirements
    Skills and Abilities
        Strong leadership and supervisory skills
        Excellent organizational and planning abilities
        Ability to analyze operational and financial data
        Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills
        Effective oral and written communication skills
        Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
        Proficiency in food service, inventory, and operational software systems

    PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CRITERIA
        Job Knowledge
        Leadership and Supervision
        Quality of Work
        Quantity of Work
        Production Management
        Inventory Management
        Warehouse Operations
        Logistics and Distribution Performance
        Fleet Management
        Food Safety Compliance
        USDA Regulatory Compliance
        Budget and Cost Control
        Initiative and Judgment
        Communication and Customer Service
        Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement
        Coordination and Planning
        Dependability
        Relationships with Others