Area General Manager - Schools (Enrollment 10,000 +)

Sodexo is hiring a strategic Area General Manager to lead food service operations across two school districts and provide support for two additional districts in Chicago’s southwest suburbs. This role oversees a variety of nutritional programs and is responsible for driving operational excellence, financial performance, and client satisfaction. As Area General Manager, you’ll lead on-site teams, ensure consistency in service and regulatory compliance, and implement strategic initiatives that promote efficiency, growth, and long-term success throughout the region. This is an exciting opportunity to expand your leadership capabilities and grow your career with a global organization!

At Sodexo, we deliver food, nutrition, environmental and facilities management solutions to partnered K-12 schools. Joining us at one of our school sites means fostering healthy learning environments and positively influencing the students’ well-being and performance.   

• Manage daily operations of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program, along with a big focus on off-program
• Oversee purchasing, receiving, inventory control, and financial system data entry
• Ensure compliance with USDA regulations, health and safety, and Sodexo standards
• Drive student engagement through innovative menus, marketing, and service excellence
• Build strong client relationships and integrate into the school community as a trusted partner
• Support and develop site-level managers to ensure consistency and team retention

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

• Prior experience as a General Manager in contract food services
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing food and labor costs
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams
• Excellent communication and client relations skills
• Experience driving revenue and strategic growth
• Off-program experience is helpful

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s degree

Minimum Management Experience - 5 years

Minimum Functional Experience - 4 years’ experience in management of school nutrition programs