Culinary Operations Manager

The Opportunity: This position exists to direct enterprises that allow Culinary students hands-on practice and experience with key skills that they are learning in the program: a bakery a cafe a food truck a coffee shop and catering operations. The position works with faculty to not only manage the day-to-day operations of the programs but to chart the programs long-term future by planning the move into a new building researching and prioritizing major equipment purchases and responding to input from the advisory committee. Community and vendor relations are key components of the role: this position coordinates program participation in community and campus events that build visibility supports marketing efforts and is responsible for building and maintaining relations with producers and vendors especially those with local sustainable options.

This position is full-time working 40 hours a week 11 months per year working September through June and half-time in July and August. This position is located at the SVC Mount Vernon Campus and reports to the Executive Dean of Workforce.

• Equitable student outcomes in access achievement and community;
• Our Guiding Principles;
• Decisions based on strategy and evidence;
• The development of our employees;
• A diverse and inclusive college community where everyone belongs.

• An unrelenting focus on our mission to improve the lives of our students and to strengthen our diverse community.
• Support for innovative teaching learning and scholarship.
• Exciting opportunities for personal and career growth.
• Diverse cultural and environmental benefits of rural suburban and urban lifestyles.
• Friendly supportive and diverse work environments.
• Excellent benefits including competitive leave packages and an array of health dental vision and retirement plans to meet your current and future needs.

Directing Kitchen Lab and Associated Operations

• Provide leadership to the Kitchen Lab and five auxiliary operations: the Backdoor Bakery Cardinal Cafe Student Grounds Coffeeshop Mobile Food Lab and catering operations;
• Hire train schedule manage and evaluate performance for the Coffee Shop Manager and 6-8 part-time employees;
• Adjust schedules quarterly;
• Track and approve payroll;
• Assure that all operations have sufficient product and that they run efficiently;
• Create and manage opening and closing procedures. Oversee usage and maintenance of all facilities ensuring compliance with safety and sanitation guidelines and with best practices in customer service;
• Coordinating permitting inspections and general relations with the Skagit County Health Department;
• Spearheading the work to gather feedback from faculty and staff and coordinate with architects and vendors to plan the new Library/Culinary building and prepare the program for the move;
• Coordinating with other SVC units: Facilities HR Marketing Food Pantry Business Office etc.;
• Assist with data collection needed for American Culinary Foundation accreditation. Serve as a lab aide: cook bake and prep when needed.

• Work with vendors and place orders based on cost availability and sustainability;
• Work directly with producers to source local and sustainable products;
• Review and modify menus and case options based on available options;
• Review inventory and product usage;
• Work with faculty and staff to determine program needs and plan upcoming purchases of product supplies and equipment;
• When needed shop for and transport hard-to-source products to SVC.

• Work with a wide variety of community-based organizations employers and other stakeholders;
• Identifying and recruiting new members to the Culinary Advisory Committee;
• Coordinate and support campus and community events that improve program visibility. This work often requires working in the early mornings evenings or weekends.;
• Recruit guest speakers for classes and events;
• Support efforts to build and sustain employer partnerships to open internship and cooperative education opportunities.

• Oversee daily cash and credit card reconciliation for all 5 auxiliary enterprises;
• Invoice for receivables issue purchase orders and vouchers for payables;
• Track expenditures and revenue;
• Create short-term and long-term fiscal plans;
• Oversee multiple revenue budgets and state budgets as well as a Foundation account;
• Help faculty apply for equipment funds and grants.

• Culinary operations;
• Purchasing and inventory management;
• Budgeting and financial management;
• Event coordination and community engagement strategies.

• Organizational and operational planning;
• Culinary and food preparation;
• Communication and interpersonal skills.

• Develop and implement operational procedures;
• Support program development initiatives;
• Build and maintain relationships with community partners vendors and industry professionals;
• Maintain compliance with health safety and sanitation regulations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate Degree in Culinary Arts Baking & Pastry Business/Management or a related field and three years of leadership in the food service and hospitality industry; OR high school diploma or GED with six years of leadership in the food service and hospitality industry;
• Experience hiring training coaching and scheduling employees;
• Experience baking and/or cooking professionally;
• Documented history of building relationships with vendors suppliers and/or community partners;
• Budget management experience.

• Experience working in several different types of establishmentsrestaurants bakeries cafes coffee shops fine dining etc.;
• History of leading or co-leading a business venture enterprise franchise or department etc. including planning for growth and helping create budget plans;
• Experience working in an educational institution especially a community college;
• Familiarity with leading event planning and event management or the catering of events;
• Connections with local farmers and restaurants in the region and/or a strong track record of building and sustaining relationships with producers professional associations etc.;
• Bachelors degree in Business Hospitality Management Culinary Arts or a related fieldor equivalent industry experience.

Salary and Benefits:

• Annual salary rate for this eleven-month 100% full-time position is $71500 - $75166 annually ($6500 - $6833 monthly) depending on experience.
• Contracts are written annually for the period of July 1 to June 30. This position will be filled as soon as practical after a candidate is identified and the salary will be pro-rated for the remaining contract period.
• This position is exempt from civil service. This position is eligible for overtime.
• Salary retirement medical and insurance benefits are provided in accordance with state regulations and may be subject to change in accordance with legislative mandates. Additional information on benefits can be found at Deadline:Priority screening will begin afterApril 26 2026. Applications received on or before this date will receive first consideration. Applications received after the screening date maybe considered until the position is filled.
  
  Please be aware that the College hiring authorities reserve the right to hire one or more candidates and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process. Only candidates selected to interview will be contacted.
  
  Priority Screening Date: April 26 2026
  Interviews with Committee: Week of May 11 2026
  Finalist Interviews: Week of May 18 2026
  Anticipated Start Date: June 2026
  
  Application Procedure:
  To be considered for this position applicants must:
  1. Meet the minimum qualifications and;
  2. Submit a complete application to the online recruitment system at includes the following:
     • The online application which includes answers to all supplemental questions and contact information for at least three (3) professional references;
     • A current resume; (Attachment: Resume);
     • A letter of interest addressing the minimum desired qualifications and your education and experience as it supports the responsibilities of this position; (Attachment: Cover Letter).
  In order to be considered for the position you must complete the online application in full and attach the required supplemental documents. Failure to provide this information may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
  
  Conditions of Employment:
  • Prior to employment a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicants suitability and competence to perform in the position.
    
    Additionally pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080 applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or are currently being investigated for or have left a position during an investigation into a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicants current or past employer. By law post-secondary education institutions cannot hire an applicant who refuses to declare the existence or non-existence of an investigation or findings subject to this statute.
  
  
  • In the interest of providing a healthy safe and secure educational and work environment and in order to meet the requirements of federal legislation it is the policy of Skagit Valley College to maintain an alcohol and drug-free workplace for our employees and students.
  • If hired you will be required to provide proof of identity and documentation of U.S. Citizenship or appropriate authorization to work in this position as required by the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986.
  • Completion of academic degree(s) will be verified through receipt of official transcripts at the time of hire.
  
  Application Assistance:If you have questions about the position or require special accommodation you may contact Human Resources at Monday through Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time. SVC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the recruitment process may leave a TDD/TTY message at by the application closing date. Information on SVCsReasonable Accommodation policy can be found atOPPM 3040.
  
  For questions regarding the online application system you may call NEOGOV Applicant Tech Support at from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time. For best results apply using one of the following browsers supported by NEOGOV: Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Safari Microsoft Edge and later versions of Internet Explorer.
  
  SVC Annual Security Report:The U.S. Department of Education and the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act require all colleges to provide information to current and prospective students and employees about campus safety policies procedures and statistics on certain crimes including hate crimes domestic violence dating violence stalking and sexual assault. We are required to report our campus security information and statistics in an Annual Security Report which is updated annually each October. All prospective employees may obtain a copy of the Annual Security Report from the Human Resources Office by calling or by accessing the Report at:
  
  Skagit Valley College is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all groups in terms and conditions of employment and personnel practices.
  
  Skagit Valley College provides a drug-free environment and does not discriminate on the basis of race color creed religion national origin sex sexual orientation and/or gender identity pregnancy genetic information age marital status disability honorably discharged veteran or military status in its programs and employment. For inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies contact Carolyn Tucker Vice President of Human Resources/EEO 360.416.7794 or . For inquiries regarding sexual misconduct compliance contact Title IX Coordinator Sandy Jordan 360.416.7923 or . Mailing address: 2405 E. College Way Mount Vernon WA 98273. All faculty and staff hired at Skagit Valley College are encouraged to embrace continually support and enhance diversity and equity on our campus and in our community. Annual Notice of Non-Discrimination.