2026-27 - Nutrition Services – Production Lead

This position supports the salad department. 

POSITION SUMMARY: Production Lead position is responsible for positive, efficient, safe and sanitary operation of the main assembly and loading operations of the Central Kitchen. This position is responsible to lead staff and play a key working role in the assembly of meal components into meals according to National School Lunch program guidelines for serving standards, Health Department rules and Nutrition Services Department protocol.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Supervise and assist with all phases of food staging, assembly, loading and clean-up of the production and loading areas of the department. Direct, move, dismiss and organize staff to efficiently operate assembly lines.
• Assemble all types of meals according to serving sizes dictated by menus, production sheets, or verbal instructions.
• Authority to stop production if food appearance, safety or sanitation standards concerns are raised about food product and call in supervisor.
• Operate assembly equipment and cleaning equipment. Make mechanical adjustments to production equipment according to menu requirements.
• Report and obtain, in advance of need, all necessary supplies and food for the line, working with other departments.
• Delegate, instruct, and inspect others' work, as well as assuming an actual portion of the work.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Attend and participate in regular meetings to discuss menus and align for updates and training.
• Work with other department heads, custodians, truck drivers and other personnel as needed.
• Schedule staff according to management practices and bargaining unit agreements, as required.
• Schedule breaks to not interfere with production to maintain production efficiency and safety.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience
High school diploma or equivalent
3 years of increasingly responsible experience in a production kitchen

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Have a history of consistent attendance and positive evaluations
Demonstrate the ability to interact positively with a wide-range of temperaments and personalities
National School Lunch Program experience
Compliance with the State of Washington and King County Department of Health food code

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience working in a leadership role in the foodservice industry
National School Lunch Program experience
SNA Member and Level 1 Certification
Experience with Health-E Meal Planner Pro
 
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:
Criminal background check
Valid Washington state driver's license
Possess and maintain a valid and current Food Handler's Permit
Work scheduled hours on a consistent basis
 
KNOWLEDGE OF:
Basic mathematics and reading
Best practices in food production assembly lines
Production line equipment maintenance and repairs
Food safety handling requirement
 
ABILITY TO:
Direct staff, monitor time efficiency of department employees and perform job responsibilities with minimal supervision
Demonstrate basic knowledge of modern technology and willingness and ability to increase knowledge to proficiency
Communicate effectively verbally and in writing
Demonstrate exemplary customer service and have the ability to effectively interact with administrators, office, support and teaching staff, applicants and other community members
Remain flexible, attend to detail and follow tasks through to completion
Cope with frequent interruptions and shift priorities to meet required deadlines
Exercise initiative, make independent decisions, multi-task and follow through on assignments
Demonstrate work as a team member and resolve routine problems and make decisions within established parameters
Maintain effective working relationships with individuals and groups in a multicultural and diverse community
Practice ethical and professional standards of conduct including the requirements of confidentiality
Abide by Federal Way Public Schools' policies and procedures
Practice effective safety and security within individual work routines
Perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations
 
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY:
Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District.
Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools' commitment to "Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A Bright Future." 
Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly sit, stand and walk, bend neck and back, use hands for repetitive grasping and pushing/pulling. The employee must be able to see, hear, and speak English. The employee is occasionally required to squat, kneel, and use hands for fine manipulation. The employee will occasionally be required to climb stairs/ladder, lift and reach overhead, and lift/carry. The employee must constantly lift/carry up to 10 lbs and must occasionally lift/carry up to 35 lbs. Any lifting over 50 lbs should be done with two people or a mechanical device. The employee is occasionally required to push/pull a maximum force of 400 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor conditions. This position intermittently works near a video display. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Position requires ability to work in low temperature environments such as walk in refrigerators or freezers, or work with food that is in a frozen or very hot state. Must have ability to maneuver self, carts and food/supplies within constrained kitchen environment with heavy equipment, tables and carts. The position will interact with adult who are place in the work setting from an outside agency.
 
WORK SCHEDULE 
Work schedules typically involve early morning hour production, Monday through Friday, hours vary. In situations where position is 8 hours, 5 days a week, overtime may be needed.
 
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
Position reports to and is evaluated by Supervisors and Executive Director for Nutrition Services.

REPRESENTATION
Public School Employees of Washington (PSE)

LEVEL OF COMPENSATION
Lead Cook/Lead HACCP/Catering on the PSE Salary Schedule. This position includes the following benefits prorated based on FTE � Medical, dental vision, sick and vacation leave, life insurance, retirement.

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY
Updated 5/2023
Update 9/1/01
PSE review 7/2015
Update with physical demand/working conditions 5/2015
 
Disclaimer
The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. 
 
All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status.
 
Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.