Education

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many food supervisors do not have a bachelor's degree. Some food supervisors have high school educations with relevant real world experience, while others attain associate degrees at vocational schools and community colleges. A bachelor's degree in hospitality, restaurant or food service management is desirable to many employers. Large food service operations usually provide on-the-job and formal training sessions for food supervisors as well.
  
  There is also a certification for food supervisors. It is called the Foodservice Management Professional certification. This certification is issued by the National Restaurant Association. This certification shows that a food supervisor has worked in the industry at least two years and has her Food Protection Manager Certification.
  
  

Duties

• A food supervisor has a wide range of duties that run the gamut from helping out in the kitchen to setting up the front of the restaurant. A food supervisor's administrative duties include keeping track of all inventory, ordering equipment and food supplies as needed, doing payroll, working on marketing, providing the work schedule, and handling human resources duties such as hiring new employees.
  
  The food supervisor takes customer complaints and investigates the issue. A food supervisor will discuss order issues with the chef or cooks so that the food is prepared in a timely and correct manner. The supervisor usually has the ability to compensate unhappy customers by providing free meals or discount coupons for the next visit.
  
  Health and safety issues are another large responsibility of the food supervisor. Food service businesses adhere to a strict set of sanitary guidelines, and it's up to the supervisor to know all of the regulations and codes to keep the restaurant clean and safe.
  
  

Work Environment

• A food supervisor works in many different locations in the food service business. As he is responsible for the operations of the business, a food supervisor will end up everywhere in the restaurant. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that many food supervisors work 12 to 15 hours a day, and some stop in all week long. Restaurants and fast food service businesses see the longest hours, while work or school cafeterias are closer to a normal nine-to-five job.
  
  

Salary

• The average salary for a food supervisor is $46,320, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2010. The traveler accommodation industry offers the highest average salary for food supervisors, while limited service restaurants are at the bottom. The salary is sometimes supplemented with bonuses for increasing revenue and sales.
  
  

Job Prospects

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that food supervisor job growth is rather slow, projected to change only five percent between 2008 and 2018. The main factor of slow growth is due to the fact that fewer restaurants are expected to open.