Across the state of Texas, millions of children live in educationally underserved communities, struggling in poor-performing schools. For more than 24 years, the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) has demonstrated the powerful impact a high-quality education has on improving graduation rates and college attainment, enabling students and communities to command their futures. Through the network of schools in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, KIPP Texas is a driving force in raising expectations for academic success. In our first year after combining the four separate KIPP programs into KIPP Texas Public Schools, we are serving over 27,700 students in 52 schools, which places the organization among the top 50 largest school districts in the state. With our mission to provide our students with the academic and character skills necessary to thrive in college and lead choice-filled lives, we intend to grow to more than 100,000 students, proving what is possible for our students, families, communities, and state.

The Opportunity

KIPP Texas is seeking an experienced Child Nutrition Manager to oversee the Child Nutrition program operations in our Austin schools. The Child Nutrition Regional Manager reports to the KIPP Texas Child Nutrition Director. This position oversees the work of the Child Nutrition team in Austin and actively collaborates on and supports our state-wide initiatives. The Child Nutrition Regional Manager is responsible for maintaining full compliance with all State and Federal regulations, managing a healthy FSMC relationship, handling the regional budget, maintaining accurate Child Nutrition data and records while upholding the highest professional customer service standards. 

The role is an ideal opportunity for a highly motivated, collaborative, results-driven and service minded leader with a passion for fighting to close the achievement gap in Texas. 

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Collaborate with the Child Nutrition SR. Director, the Child Nutrition Regional Managers in all other regions and others to provide input and strategic thinking for the structure, direction, and vision of the Child Nutrition program.
• Develop and mentor the Child Nutrition personnel to support them to implement the Child Nutrition vision and operate with excellence every day.
• Through impact and influence, work closely with School Leaders and school-based operations leaders to maximize the potential of our Child Nutrition program. 
• Establish and collaborate with direct reports to establish department goals and objectives which align to the KIPP Texas Child Nutrition Mission and operational goals.
• Manage annual personnel performance review process.

Operations oversight and performance

• Ensure the day-to-day operations of serving breakfast, lunch and supper across the Region are executed reliably and with a high level of service.
• Schedule and conduct site visits to facilitate communications and to inspect quality of services.
• Implement operational process improvements and policies which support compliance, standardize and drive efficiencies, and improve the quality of food we serve and our service to both internal clients and our children and families.   
• Provide direct reports with leadership training, professional development opportunities, sharing of best practices, team building, standard policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Monitor department KPIs and accountability systems to drive performance and measure success against program goals. 
• Support in introducing and training staff on new technologies which improve service, lowers costs, and drives efficiencies.
• Ensures operations procedures for food production and service are efficient and effective. 

Financial performance and oversight

• Oversee the Austin Child Nutrition budget.
• Track performance against budget on a monthly basis, and KPIs against targets weekly. 
• Maintain strong vendor relationships and manage contract and service agreements. 
• Ensure all invoices are accurate and sent in a timely manner.
• Audit all counting and claiming activities for Austin’s Child Nutrition Program.
• Submit Federal reimbursement information for Austin in a timely manner.

Experience and Background

• 3+ years of professional work experience in a food and hospitality-related leadership role.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 
• Experience in school-based Child Nutrition a strong plus
• Experience in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and fast-growing organization a strong plus
• Must have demonstrated experience in leading, motivating, growing, and developing high performing teams which deliver results
• Experience using data to problem solve
• Must be able to adopt new technology quickly and be very proficient with Microsoft and other productivity tools (BlueJeans, Slack, Google Drive) 

Personal Values and Leadership Style  

• Unquestioned integrity, passion, and commitment to KIPP Texas’s mission, the families we serve, and the work
• Unquestioned belief that all children will learn and that education is for all 
• Must be a team player, working both collaboratively and independently
• Must be highly organized and resourceful 
• Must be able to drive results with a sense of urgency 
• Must be solutions oriented with a growth mindset
• Must be able to make decisions with imperfect information
• Must be a strong planner with the ability to be flexible when plans need to pivot and change

Compensation and Benefits

This is a twelve-month, full-time, exempt position. KIPP Texas Public Schools offers a competitive salary based on experience and qualifications, provides a full benefits package, and participates in the Teacher Retirement System program (TRS)..

KIPP provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.