Job Description

JobID: 1104

Position Type:
Administration/Director

Date Posted:
3/6/2026

Location:
Allendale Public Schools

Date Available:
07/01/2026

Closing Date:
03/22/2026

Position: Food Service Director

Location/School: Allendale Public Schools (District-wide)

Posting Dates: March 6 - March 22, 2026

Reports To: Superintendent

Date of Employment: July 1, 2026

Terms of Employment: 43 weeks per year, full-time salaried.Work schedule aligned to the school year calendar.

Compensation: $54,486 - $66,291; Salary commensurate with experience, qualifications, and other factors.

Position Purpose

The Food Service Director leads and manages Allendale Public Schools' district-wide School Nutrition Program, maintaining the safe, efficient, and compliant preparation and service of meals to students. This role oversees food production and service systems, budgeting, procurement, inventory, staff supervision, program accountability, and continuous improvement while maintaining conformance with USDA Child Nutrition Program requirements and applicable state and local regulations.

Minimum Qualifications (USDA Professional Standards + District Needs)

Applicants must meet (or exceed) the USDA Professional Standards (minimum hiring standards) for School Nutrition Program Directors and demonstrate the ability to manage a compliant, high-quality school nutrition program.

Education / Experience (Minimum based on USDA Professional Standards)
For districts like APS in the USDA 2,500 - 9,999 student enrollment category, minimum qualifications include one of the following pathways:

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with an academic major in related areas (e.g., food & nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family/consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business), OR
  
  
• Bachelor's degree in any major and State-recognized certification for school nutrition directors or a minimum of 2 years of relevant school nutrition program experience, OR
  
  
• Associate's degree (or equivalent) with an academic major in related areas and at least 2 years of relevant school nutrition program experience.

Food Safety Training (Required):

• Must have food safety training (minimum 8 hours) completed within the last 5 years or complete within 30 calendar days of start date (APS may also require ServSafe or equivalent).

Preferred Qualifications:

• School nutrition leadership experience in a K - 12 setting.
• Strong budget/financial management and program accountability experience.
• Experience with USDA reimbursement claims, POS systems, purchasing/procurement, and audit readiness.
• School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) credential.

Essential Job Responsibilities & Functions:

Program Leadership & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and USDA Child Nutrition Program requirements.
• Maintain accurate records, supporting documentation, and reimbursement reporting/claims.
• Prepare for and demonstrate strong performance on audits and regulatory reviews (e.g., MDE/USDA/health department).

Nutrition, Menu Planning & Food Production

• Develop and implement menus that are nutritious, appealing, cost-effective, and compliant with meal pattern requirements.
• Oversee food production and service to ensure quality, nutrition integrity, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with staff/parents/health professionals to address special dietary and nutrition needs.

Sanitation, Food Safety & Risk Management

• Provide and maintain safe, sanitary food production and service environments and implement risk management procedures.
• Maintain compliance with food safety expectations and required training/certifications.

Financial Management, Budgeting & Procurement

• Develop and manage the food service budget, monitor expenditures, and implement financial controls aligned with program goals.
• Implement and oversee procurement systems, purchasing guidelines, inventory controls, and receiving/storage standards.

Personnel Leadership

• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate food service staff and establish performance expectations and professional development systems.
• Promote a district-wide customer service culture focused on value, satisfaction, and student experience.

Communication, Marketing & Continuous Improvement

• Communicate program information to build support with administrators, staff, students, parents, and the community.
• Develop nutrition education strategies that encourage participation.
• Use data, stakeholder feedback, and best practices to improve services and operations.
• Maintain regular, reliable attendance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of research-based instructional practices and effective school leadership structures.
• Ability to inspire and motivate staff, students, and families around a shared vision.
• Strong data analysis skills and ability to translate data into action plans and measurable results.
• Effective verbal and written communication and strong interpersonal skills across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage timelines, and maintain accuracy and confidentiality.
• Note: The above descriptions are illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task or responsibility

Additional Duties:

• Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Superintendent and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.
• Use standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copier and fax machines, and telephone.
• Travel Requirements: Travel to school district buildings, student extra-curricular activities and professional meetings as required.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards:

• Work in standard office and school building environments.
• Ada Requirements: The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment), taste and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.
• Work Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate.
• Mental Functions: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile, and negotiate.

Additional benefits

The position offers competitive Health Insurance benefits or CIL, paid sick and paid

vacation time, paid holidays, and tuition reimbursement.

Method of Application: Frontline / Applitrack

Contact Person: Troy VanderLaan ( vanderlaantro@apsfalcons.net )

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

FLSA Status: Exempt

• APPLICATIONS: SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, INDIVIDUAL COVER LETTER AND RESUME THROUGH THE ONLINE APPLITRACK/FRONTLINE APPLICANT CENTER.
• NO HARD COPY APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA MAIL OR HAND DELIVERY
• Visit the district website:

Allendale Public School District provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Allendale Public School District complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the District has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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