Job Overview
Employment Type
Full-time
Compensation
Hourly
Range $22.67 - $23.77
Work Schedule
Standard Hours
Day Shifts
Benefits
Retirement Plan
Health Insurance
Paid Time Off
Professional development opportunities
Employee assistance program
Work environment accommodations
Job Description
The Anchorage School District (ASD) is a comprehensive public educational organization that caters to a diverse and vibrant community in Alaska's largest city. As one of the state's leading school districts, ASD is dedicated to providing high-quality education and support services that foster student achievement, health, and well-being. The district is composed of numerous schools and central offices that collaborate to ensure a safe, inclusive, and productive learning environment. Among its many departments, the Student Nutrition program plays a crucial role in nourishing students and supporting their academic success by providing nutritious meals across the district. It is within this program that the Central Kitchen Lead position is situated, carrying significant responsibility for the daily operations of food production for a large student population.
The Central Kitchen Lead works directly under the Central Kitchen Manager in overseeing the preparation, cooking, baking, and packaging of meals in a high-volume institutional kitchen setting. This role is full-time, classified as 1.0 FTE, and spans 9 months per year aligning with the academic calendar. The typical workday entails 8 hours, and the salary ranges from $22.67 to $23.77 per hour, depending on experience. This position belongs to the Food Service bargaining unit and offers retirement benefits through the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).
In this role, the Central Kitchen Lead functions as the frontline supervisor responsible for managing daily kitchen operations and food production schedules. They lead a team of food service staff in an assembly line environment that requires efficiency, strict adherence to food safety regulations, and quality control. Key duties include training and evaluating staff, scheduling shifts, maintaining inventory control, and ensuring that all standardized recipes are followed precisely. The role demands the ability to adjust recipes for varying batch sizes and oversee the packaging process for timely delivery to school sites.
The Central Kitchen Lead must have a solid background in institutional cooking, including at least five years of experience in a high-production, large-volume kitchen setting. Supervisory experience is also important, having managed sizable teams to meet demanding production schedules. This position requires proficiency in basic math skills for inventory and reporting tasks as well as the ability to prepare and interpret simple reports. Employees must also complete the ASD Serving It Safe food safety training within 21 days of hire to ensure compliance with sanitation and food handling standards.
The position is physically and mentally demanding, requiring frequent standing, walking, and the ability to lift up to 40 pounds. It also demands mental acuity to handle complex instructions, manage workplace stress, and effectively communicate within a dynamic, diverse workplace comprising other staff members, students, and the public.
The work environment is dynamic and professional, featuring exposure to institutional kitchen equipment, video display terminals, and sometimes outdoor weather while managing logistics related to food production. The Central Kitchen Lead plays a critical role in ensuring the quality and safety of meals served to thousands of students each day, contributing directly to their health and academic success. This role is ideal for individuals passionate about food service management within an educational setting and committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and efficient work environment.
The Central Kitchen Lead works directly under the Central Kitchen Manager in overseeing the preparation, cooking, baking, and packaging of meals in a high-volume institutional kitchen setting. This role is full-time, classified as 1.0 FTE, and spans 9 months per year aligning with the academic calendar. The typical workday entails 8 hours, and the salary ranges from $22.67 to $23.77 per hour, depending on experience. This position belongs to the Food Service bargaining unit and offers retirement benefits through the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).
In this role, the Central Kitchen Lead functions as the frontline supervisor responsible for managing daily kitchen operations and food production schedules. They lead a team of food service staff in an assembly line environment that requires efficiency, strict adherence to food safety regulations, and quality control. Key duties include training and evaluating staff, scheduling shifts, maintaining inventory control, and ensuring that all standardized recipes are followed precisely. The role demands the ability to adjust recipes for varying batch sizes and oversee the packaging process for timely delivery to school sites.
The Central Kitchen Lead must have a solid background in institutional cooking, including at least five years of experience in a high-production, large-volume kitchen setting. Supervisory experience is also important, having managed sizable teams to meet demanding production schedules. This position requires proficiency in basic math skills for inventory and reporting tasks as well as the ability to prepare and interpret simple reports. Employees must also complete the ASD Serving It Safe food safety training within 21 days of hire to ensure compliance with sanitation and food handling standards.
The position is physically and mentally demanding, requiring frequent standing, walking, and the ability to lift up to 40 pounds. It also demands mental acuity to handle complex instructions, manage workplace stress, and effectively communicate within a dynamic, diverse workplace comprising other staff members, students, and the public.
The work environment is dynamic and professional, featuring exposure to institutional kitchen equipment, video display terminals, and sometimes outdoor weather while managing logistics related to food production. The Central Kitchen Lead plays a critical role in ensuring the quality and safety of meals served to thousands of students each day, contributing directly to their health and academic success. This role is ideal for individuals passionate about food service management within an educational setting and committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and efficient work environment.
Job Requirements
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- two years of related work experience may be considered in lieu of the education requirement
- five years of experience in institutional type, high production, large volume, assembly line work environment
- two years of previous experience supervising or directing large work groups in a kitchen environment
- must be able to work effectively with and interpret standardized recipes
- must be able to prepare and interpret simple reports
- must be proficient in basic math such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication
- must attend the eight-hour ASD Serving It Safe food safety course and pass the associated examination within 21 calendar days from date of hire
Job Qualifications
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- two years of related work experience may be considered in lieu of the education requirement
- five years of experience in institutional type, high production, large volume, assembly line work environment
- two years of previous experience supervising or directing large work groups in a kitchen environment
- able to work effectively with and interpret standardized recipes
- proficient in basic math such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication
- able to prepare and interpret simple reports
- attendance of the ASD Serving It Safe food safety course and passing the associated examination within 21 calendar days from date of hire
- experience working in the Anchorage School District Student Nutrition Central Kitchen is preferred
Job Duties
- Functions as the front line supervisor for all employees as designated by the Student Nutrition Central Kitchen Manager
- provides input for employee evaluations
- reports to the manager for daily operations and tasks
- trains and orients new staff
- assigns and works with mentors for new employees
- works with staff to improve and develop their skills
- responsible for scheduling breaks, lunch periods, production time, and packaging allocations for Central Kitchen food service staff
- requests additional work hours for employees as necessary
- participates in operational meetings with the Student Nutrition Central Kitchen Manager
- works closely with the Student Nutrition Center manager to establish and maintain a strict quality assurance program
- leads in baking and cooking activities in a high-volume, repetitive, assembly line, institutional-type work environment
- responsible for the timely, accurate, safe, and cost effective production and packaging of all food in the central kitchen
- evaluates and makes recommendations regarding production packaging and scheduling
- assists in organizing and assigning work in all kitchen areas to ensure readiness for product packaging and delivery to school sites
- conducts daily inventory of finished products, ensuring maintenance of quality and production controls
- maintains current and accurate records of supplies used and products packaged
- adjusts approved recipes to accommodate larger or smaller batches as necessary
- assists on an assembly line where standing in place and filling pre-plate packages, scooping, dipping, lifting, and catching is routine work
- ensures regulations pertaining to sanitation and proper food safety practices are observed and maintained
- safely operates various types of institutional kitchen equipment
- responsible for cleanliness and sanitation all kitchen equipment
- establishes and maintains positive and effective working relationships with students, staff, supervisors, other Anchorage School District personnel, and the public
Job Criteria
Experience
Mid Level (3-7 years)
Job Location
Your Profile Is Visible To Hiring Managers Across OysterLink.
We'll match you with best jobs
Get job offers faster
Search For More Opportunities:
How Candidates Get Hired Faster
Apply to 2–3 similar roles
Complete profile & get best matches
Check new opportunities daily
