Food Service Specialist

The Lansing School District serves over 10,000 PreK-12 students across 25 school buildings in the increasingly diverse urban community of Lansing, MI. We are unique compared to other districts because of the wide variety of exciting and innovative educational options from which families and staff members can choose. All of Lansing School District’s team members are dedicated to our mission to provide an excellent education to all students in a safe and nurturing environment.
The Food Service Specialist provides administrative and compliance support for the district’s Food Service Department and serves as a key point of contact between the district, the contracted food service provider, school staff, and families. This position supports daily operations while assisting with oversight of vendor performance, ensuring compliance with state and federal child nutrition program regulations, and maintaining accurate documentation for audits and reporting.
This position is not solely administrative – the successful candidate will be someone who is comfortable working on-site in schools, assisting with preparing and serving meals when needed, and supporting day-to-day food service operations. We’re looking for a team player who can wear multiple hats and doesn’t mind rolling up their sleeves to get the job done

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher required
• Minimum of two years of administrative or clerical experience, preferably in a school district, public agency, or food service/nutrition program.
• Familiarity with USDA Child Nutrition Program requirements preferred (training provided).
• Strong organizational and recordkeeping skills with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and ability to learn district-specific software.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for working with vendors, staff, families, and state agencies.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and support compliance activities.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as the district’s primary administrative contact for the contracted food service provider.
• Provide on-site assistance at school kitchens as needed, including helping with meal preparation, service, or food delivery to ensure smooth operations and continuity of service.
• Assist in monitoring vendor compliance with contract terms, staffing levels, service standards, and USDA Child Nutrition Program requirements.
• Collect and review required documentation from the provider (menus, production records, staff training logs, safety/health inspection reports).
• Support on-site compliance reviews by scheduling visits, gathering records, and assisting with inspections/audits.
• Maintain and organize all district food service records, including meal counts, free/reduced meal applications, verification documents, and related reports.
• Assist with preparing and submitting state and federal reports for child nutrition programs.
• Track invoices, reconcile billing with district accounts, and flag discrepancies in coordination with the business office.
• Respond to inquiries from parents, students, and staff regarding meal programs, account balances, and eligibility.
• Provide clerical support for procurement activities, bid processes, contract renewals, and program audits.
• Assist with communication between district leadership, school sites, and the food service provider to address service concerns or corrective actions.
• Maintain confidentiality of student, family, and vendor information in compliance with FERPA, USDA, and district policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support effective food service operations.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Regular use of computers, phones, and standard office equipment.
• Occasional travel to schools across the district to assist with site monitoring, audits, and provider meetings.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
• Primarily sedentary work involving extended periods of sitting and computer use.
• Occasional walking or standing within an office or school building to retrieve files, assist visitors, or attend meetings.
• Frequent verbal and written communication using phone, email, and in-person interactions.
• Daily use of office technology including computers, printers, and phones.
• May occasionally lift or move materials or packages weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Food delivery, food service as needed

At Lansing School District, we champion diversity