Job Description
TITLE: Food Operations Director
REPORTS TO: Chief Facilities & Safety Officer
CLASSIFIED: Full-time, Exempt
PAY RANGE: $60,000 to $70,000 annually, based on experience
LOCATION: Corporate Office in Brookings; same-day travel between Brookings, Flandreau, Milbank, Vermillion, and Yankton
MISSION: To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.
JOB SUMMARY: For many of the kids we serve, the meal they get at the Club is one of the most reliable meals of their day. The Food Service Director leads our food program across five Boys & Girls Clubs and three early childhood Clubhouses. This person makes sure every young person has access to safe, nutritious, and welcoming meals and snacks. They lead a team of kitchen staff, keep our sites compliant with health and child nutrition program rules, and manage food-related grants. They also partner with program staff to make nutrition fun and meaningful.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leading People
Serve as the direct supervisor for kitchen staff at all sites, with authority to hire, train, schedule, coach, discipline, and recommend termination. Unit Directors provide input on day-to-day performance.
Build a supportive team culture where kitchen staff feel valued, trained, and connected to the mission.
Provide temporary kitchen coverage during staffing vacancies while continuing to direct overall food service operations, and lead efforts to fill open positions quickly.
Menus & Nutrition
Plan monthly menus for snacks, lunches, and suppers that meet USDA and CACFP meal pattern requirements.
Coordinate meal modifications for youth with food allergies, disabilities, or other dietary needs, following program rules.
Create a welcoming mealtime environment where every young person feels safe and respected, and no child is singled out.
Operations, Safety & Compliance
Manage food purchasing, inventory, deliveries, and storage across all sites.
Conduct regular site visits and kitchen audits for cleanliness, food safety, and organization.
Ensure all kitchens meet SD Department of Health requirements, child care licensing rules, and CACFP standards.
Maintain required records, including menus, production records, and meal counts.
Complete annual civil rights training for USDA programs and make sure kitchen staff complete required training.
Grants & Partnerships
Lead the tracking, documentation, and reporting for food-related grants.
Partner with program staff on nutrition education activities.
Support food service for Club events and community gatherings.
Youth Safety
Follow all BGCA and Club child safety policies, including rules about one-on-one contact with youth.
Act as a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse or neglect, following South Dakota law and Club procedures.
Attend staff meetings, supervisor check-ins, and required trainings.
Perform other related duties that support the Club's mission.
EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS:
Required
High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 2 years of experience in food service, kitchen management, or institutional or school food programs.
At least 1 year of experience supervising staff.
ServSafe Manager certification, or the ability to earn it within 90 days of hire.
A valid driver's license and a driving record that meets the Club's insurance requirements for operating a Club vehicle.
Strong organization and communication skills.
Preferred
Experience with CACFP, the National School Lunch Program, or USDA meal patterns.
Grant reporting experience.
Culinary, nutrition, or dietetics training.
Experience working with youth.
SCHEDULE & TRAVEL:
Typical schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Flexibility is needed to oversee food operations and to cover kitchen staffing gaps between 7:30 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday.
Weekly same-day travel to sites as needed, with no overnight stays, using a Club-provided vehicle when possible.
Occasional support for Club events, which may fall outside regular hours.
PHYSCIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The following are essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform them.
Lift and carry up to 50 lbs, such as food deliveries and supplies.
Stand, walk, bend, and reach for extended periods in a kitchen setting.
Drive between sites in varied South Dakota weather.
Actively supervise and respond to youth and staff to support a safe environment.
This position is considered to be safety-sensitive.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Employment depends on successfully completing background screening that meets BGCA and child care licensing standards. This includes fingerprint-based criminal history checks, sex offender registry checks, child abuse registry checks, and a driving record review. Employees also complete BGCA-required child safety training. This position is designated safety-sensitive under the Club's Drug-Free Workplace policy.
The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain nor be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace!
All qualified applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, non-job-related disability, or any other protected class.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees in compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application/hiring process should contact Human Resources to communicate their request for accommodation at 605-692-3333.