Regional Director, Culinary Operations

What do we do

Red Rabbit is one of the largest Black-owned School Food Management Company in the U.S. We work with hundreds of schools, districts, and food banks to uplift communities throughout the North East and Mid-Atlantic Regions.

Our professionally trained chefs create menus, source fresh ingredients, and cook delicious, thoughtful, and familiar food. School food matters not only because it's integral to good health, but because what children eat is an essential part of their cultural identity and sense of self.

About the Role

We are looking for a Regional Director to lead regional operations within the D.C. metropolitan area. The role provides a unique opportunity to work within the educational and culinary fields in a senior leadership capacity.

As the Regional Director, you will be responsible for effectively managing a cluster of 4-8 school cafeterias, leading a dynamic team of 15-30 employees. This pivotal role involves overseeing team coordination, fostering strong school relationships, and providing administrative oversight. As a senior leadership position, exceptional communication and organizational skills are essential requirements for success in this role.

The ideal candidate is an experienced people manager with the ability to collaborate effectively with staff at all levels. You should possess enthusiasm for working in an urban school environment and embody our commitment to uplifting and honoring the cultural heritage of the children we serve.

Critical Functions

Team Leadership: Lead, motivate, and coach District Managers and Head Chefs to create a cohesive team environment that embodies our kitchen culture centered around affirming children, delivering exceptional service, and fostering culinary excellence. Ensure the team is streamlined and effective while simultaneously creating a space where employees and the community we serve can thrive. Success means your teams feel valued, supported, and fully engaged in their work.
Partner Relationship Management: Cultivate and nurture relationships with school leaders at various levels. Foster positive partnerships between Red Rabbit team members and school stakeholders, including students, staff, and administrators. Actively engage the school community and families by promoting Red Rabbit's distinctive value-added services in the cafeteria and beyond when possible. Actively communicate with Red Rabbit senior leadership to ensure seamless service at all touch points. Success means school leaders feel supported and believe you help them achieve their goals.
Hospitality & Uplift: Ensure our cafeterias reflect Red Rabbit's mission: scratch-cooked meals that are nutritious, delicious and culturally relevant, served in spaces that feel like neighborhood restaurants. Through intentional communication and cultural pride, you'll help communities feel deeply connected to Red Rabbit an themselves. Success means cafeterias are "fancy" and children experience dining with joy.
Administrative Duties: Maintain communication with District Managers and Head Chefs on a daily basis to promptly address any immediate issues, share best practices, preview upcoming menu changes, and gather feedback. Ensure that recipe development aligns with food cost analysis to adhere to budgetary constraints. Uphold accurate and up-to-date information in Red Rabbit's data information systems across all kitchens. Ensure compliance with relevant health department regulations (DOH), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) guidelines.

Skills & Requirements

BA/BS degree in operations, management or a related field.
7+ years of people management experience in a fast paced environment.
3+ years must be in a senior management role with P&L or full budget responsibility.
2+ years of food related/hospitality experience.
Demonstrated understanding of food service financials, managing cost, defining budgets.
Experience managing and training exempt and non-exempt workforce.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Must be able to manage multiple competing priorities; highly organized, detail oriented and analytical.
Must be reliable, function well within a team and work calmly and efficiently in a fast moving environment.
Must uphold and believe in uplifting children for who they are.

Job Type: Full Time
Typical Hours: Monday-Friday
Location: Washington, D.C.
Salary: $95K - $115K
Benefits:
- Generous PTO- Up to 6 weeks
- Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
- 401k Option - provided by Guideline
- Class Pass - worldwide access to thousands of top-rated gyms, fitness studios, salons and spas
- Professional Development
- Education Reimbursement Opportunities
- Travel Reimbursements
- Working in an uplifting and woman- forward company

About The Company
Founded in 2005, Red Rabbit is a black-owned, MWBE Certified, K-12 school food management company that believes choosing to feed children diverse and nutritious food is an act of social justice. Red Rabbit celebrates all cultures in the urban school cafeteria by preparing meals that reflect the heritage of the kids they serve. The company places professionally trained chefs in the school cafeteria to create culturally relevant meals that become part of the school community. Red Rabbit currently operates in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

Pro tip: When applying to this job, note we value creativity in thinking and real problem-solving skills. Tell us how you've added value to a team in the past and why you want to join Red Rabbit.

Red Rabbit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, or sexual orientation.

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Regional Director, Culinary Operations, D.C.