Food Service Worker - Lead

Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) is a leading pediatric healthcare provider dedicated to delivering exceptional health services for children. Located in Norfolk, CHKD is renowned for its comprehensive child-focused care that integrates cutting-edge medical technology with compassionate patient and family-centered treatment. The hospital is committed to maintaining a high standard of safety, cleanliness, and quality in all facets of its operations, including its food and nutrition services to ensure the wellbeing of patients and staff alike.

The Food Service Worker - Lead role at CHKD is a vital position within the PAV Food & Nutrition Services department that supports the daily food service operations across the health system. This full-time day/evening schedule role centers on overseeing food preparation, serving, ordering, and kitchen maintenance activities while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations along with CHKD’s policies. Reporting to department leadership, the Food Service Worker - Lead plays a pivotal part in coordinating the activities of the food service team, optimizing labor utilization, and helping to maintain a safe, sanitary, and efficient food service environment.

In this role, the Food Service Worker - Lead develops and implements plans aligned with corporate and client goals, monitors staff performance, guides team members through training in food safety and sanitation, and addresses customer feedback promptly and professionally. The leader also participates in cafeteria surveys to gauge food program reception and fosters positive relationships with internal colleagues and external customers.

The position requires an individual with prior food service experience, strong organizational, supervisory, communication, and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and demanding food service environment. The candidate must be knowledgeable about public health standards and commercial food service operations, ranging from cash handling and inventory management to menu planning and equipment handling. High motivation, attention to detail, and a collaborative attitude are essential to support optimal performance and productivity within the team.

The role demands physical endurance given frequent exposure to noisy, hot, and cold environments, as well as potentially hazardous situations in the kitchen such as handling hot ovens and sharp tools. To work in sensitive areas such as the Children’s Pavilion, an increased security clearance including FBI fingerprinting and background checks is required. Successful candidates will also possess the City of Norfolk food handling training certification at the time of hire and maintain continuous re-certification compliances throughout their employment. Preferred qualifications include a high school diploma or GED and prior experience in a lead role within food services, reinforcing the leadership expectations this job entails.

Ultimately, this position offers a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the important mission of CHKD by delivering safe, nutritious, and high-quality food services to children and families in a supportive and professional environment. The Food Service Worker - Lead serves as a key liaison between food service staff, management, and customers, driving excellence in operations and enhancing the overall patient and staff experience through effective food service administration and teamwork.