A Restaurant or Food Service Supervisor supervises food preparation and staff for a restaurant or dining hall. Manages budget for food supplies, equipment and staff; hires and trains staff; monitors food safety procedures. May plan menus or work with chefs or dieticians to plan menus. Works in a school, hospital, nursing home or other institution.
The Potawatomi Zoo is seeking a motivated individual to efficiently operate and develop the Zoos food services to optimize sales, profits, and customer service as well as oversee the operation of a work unit including the supervision of staff, equipment, and supplies. This position will also direct the Zoos increasing volume of special events and catering. With over 400,000 visitors each year, the Zoo opened a state-of-the art café facility in 2024 called The Lodge Café, attached to an Andean bear habitat.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Responsible for the staffing and supervision of personnel in all concession and bar areas throughout the Zoo, including hiring, staffing, scheduling, employee development and performance management. Some items may be delegated to support management. Responsible for catering, along with the catering manager, and other special events under the direction of the Events Manager. This includes setup and presentation depending on the event. Continue to develop the Zoos food service menus as they relate to daily offerings, lunch time catering, or high-end events. Help develop a program for sustainability when it comes to serving wear, non-plastic bottles and packaging, and other items that contradict the Zoos mission of conservation. Develop management policies and guidelines for staff, as well as policy and procedure for the different areas of food services. This includes equipment care and management procedures. Responsible for daily, monthly, and yearly tracking and completion of necessary reports for sales, labor costs, deposits, etc. Make buying commitments which will maximize revenues through established supplier relationships, terms volume discounts, advertising allowance and special promotions. Responsible for inventory control and coordinating purchasing. Plan control merchandise flow by implementing appropriate systems and disciplines necessary to ensure effective inventory management and loss prevention. Continually refine system to provide for the demands of growth. Manage procurement of food and drinks, ensuring that prices are competitive, products are top quality, and deliveries are timely; review all invoice discrepancies, and approve all orders. Coordinate with other departments and provide support and resources for the development of new projects and services while proactively seeking new ideas for food services within the Zoo. This may include kiosks, bars, or other opportunities. Plan, organized and direct activities of all concession and bar operations, including establishing and implementing procedures for the efficient operation of the areas, continually analyzing the operation and implementing changes designed to improve overall set sales goals and provide action plan for meeting goals. Responsible for the development of themes and display construction. Ensure area cleanliness and overall appearance of the facilities. This includes continuous daily checklists and dedicated staff to dining area upkeep. Address and resolve customer services issues including special orders, complaints, etc. Flexibility in covering areas as needed. This may require working busy weekends, holidays, and after hour events. Perform other related duties as assigned to meet the goals and mission of the Zoo.
QUALIFICATIONS
High school diploma required. Bachelor's degree in hospitality or related field preferred but not required. Minimum of 5 years management experience in a fast past, high volume food service facility. Director level preferred but open to significant management experience. Superior planning, systems and communication skills, and working knowledge of computers, POS, and inventory systems. Must have an eye for detail and understand what is needed to produce great food, quickly, for a high volume of visitors each day. Must understand the demands that come with food services when it comes to managing a high-volume food service facility. Must be able to accommodate a flexible schedule. While this is a director level position with support management on the ground, the expectation is that this is a hands-on position, requiring an individual to be present on the front-line when needed. We are looking for an ownership mentality when it comes to managing the Zoos food services. Competitive pay based on experience.
Job Type:
Full-time Benefits:
Dental insurance Employee discount Flexible schedule Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance
Shift:
8 hour shift Application Question(s): Are you able to work evenings and weekends?
