What are the responsibilities and job description for the General Manager position at SFE - Southwest Foodservice Excellence?
Lead with Purpose – Become a General Manager in K-12 Food Service!
Are you ready to take the reins and drive impact in a school district’s food service program? As a General Manager, you’ll lead a dedicated team, oversee daily operations, and build strong relationships with district leaders — all while ensuring students receive high-quality, nutritious meals. This is your opportunity to combine leadership, strategy, and service to make a real difference every day.
Position Summary
The General Manager is responsible for overseeing food service operations across a school district site or group of sites. This includes leadership of salaried and hourly teams, direct client communication, financial oversight, operational efficiency, and program growth. The role requires a strong balance of leadership, strategy, and hands-on involvement in service and execution.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage salaried managers and hourly associates across multiple school sites
- Direct all aspects of account management and client relationships
- Train and develop Assistant Managers to support business expansion or new contracts
- Lead innovative efforts to increase student participation and support academic success
- Build and maintain strong relationships with district administrators and school boards
- Hire, train, evaluate, and support the development of all staff
- Oversee budget preparation and manage labor, food, and operational costs
- Ensure timely completion of required reports including inventory, production, and payroll
- Oversee food preparation and service in accordance with quality, safety, and sanitation standards
- Drive performance in sales, service, facility appearance, and cleanliness through staff training and development
- Follow all cash handling and reconciliation procedures
- Support daily service operations when needed to ensure smooth functioning
- Implement marketing and promotional activities to support program growth
- Fulfill additional duties as assigned
Qualifications
- High school diploma, GED, or relevant vocational training (Bachelor’s degree preferred)
- Bilingual in English and Spanish is strongly preferred
- Minimum 5 years of experience in food service, with 2–3 years as a Food Service Director (K-12 experience preferred)
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Adobe Acrobat
- Experience with POS systems and online reporting tools preferred
- Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills
- P&L accountability experience and strong cost control skills
- Must be able to pass a background check, fingerprinting, and MVR audit (driving required)
- Deep knowledge of food service trends, food safety, cost controls, and K-12 nutrition standards
- Ability to work independently and communicate effectively with executive leadership
Physical & Work Environment Requirements
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally
- Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands
- Moderate noise level in the work environment
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including occasional extended weeks
- Requires driving and attendance at meetings or company events
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (Gender/Minority/Veterans/Disabled) and participate with the federal E-Verify Employment Eligibility Program.
Salary : $65,000 - $75,000