Jonathan Saunders
Archdale
Summary
Dynamic Animal Commissary Manager at NC Zoo with a proven track record in cost control and employee training. Successfully launched quality assurance practices, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Skilled in relationship building and waste reduction, I effectively managed resources to align departmental goals with organizational profitability.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Animal Commissary Manager
NC Zoo
04.2020 - Current
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Identified and communicated customer needs to supply chain capacity and quality teams.
- Launched quality assurance practices for each phase of development
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
Commissary Food Service Assistant
NC Zoo
05.2016 - 04.2020
- Adhered to safe work practices, food safety regulations, and corporate guidelines.
- Maintained effective supply levels by monitoring and reordering food stock and dry goods.
- Prepared animal diets via diet sheets in appropriate containers.
- Scheduled and received food and beverage deliveries from diverse suppliers, maintaining lists to minimize errors.
- Monitored food preparation and offered feedback on portion size and presentation.
- Initiated, planned and executed process improvements to optimize food inventory levels.
- Maintained clean, trash-free workspaces to maximize productivity and safety.
- Restocked supplies and prepared additional ingredients during downtime for expected busy periods.
- Strictly followed sanitation and food safety guidelines as required by regulatory agencies and company.
- Made food according to standard recipes with requested changes from supervisor.
- Prevented food spoilage by monitoring dates, rotating stock, and following proper storage procedures.
- Developed and maintained positive relationships with customers (keepers) to enhance service.
Kitchen Manager and General Manager
Truly Exquisite Catering
07.2013 - 09.2016
- Created and deployed successful strategies to boost restaurant performance, streamline food prep processes and reduce waste.
- Scheduled and received food and beverage deliveries, adhering to food cost and budget.
- Developed kitchen staff through training, disciplinary action, and performance reviews.
- Delivered in-depth training to workers in food preparation and customer-facing roles to promote strong team performance.
- Conducted daily checks of refrigerators and freezers to verify proper food storage, container labeling, and surface cleaning.
- Delegated food preparation duties down to cooks and followed up with cooks to verify proper preparation and production of meals.
- Checked and tested foods to verify quality and temperature.
- Developed and maintained professional relationships with suppliers to acquire high-quality ingredients and products with reasonable prices.
- Calculated prices of ingredients to monitor food costs and control expenses.
- Designed and maintained menus to offer variety of high quality and consistency of dishes.
- Reviewed and analyzed kitchen performance to verify gaps and observe continuous improvement.
- Implemented and maintained food safety and sanitation standards to establish safe handling and preparation of food.
- Developed and implemented kitchen policies and procedures to establish clear guidelines for kitchen operations and comply with regulations.
- Monitored and adjusted pricing, discounts and promotions to maximize profitability.
- Reduced health risks and safety hazards by preparing beverage products consistently while creating cleaning schedules, restocking items and sanitizing equipment to adhere to health department standards.
- Implemented effective inventory control systems to reduce food spoilage and waste.
- Verified prepared food met standards for quality and quantity before serving to customers.
- Handled escalated customer concerns with speed and knowledgeable support to achieve optimal satisfaction and maintain long-term loyalty.
- Developed unique events and special promotions to drive sales.
- Trained staff on proper cooking procedures as well as safety regulations and productivity strategies.
- Coordinated with catering staff to deliver food services for special events and functions.
- Kept facility compliant with health codes, sanitation requirements and license regulations, alleviating potentially heavy fines.
- Managed staff schedules and maintained adequate coverage for all shifts.
- Purchased food and cultivated strong vendor relationships.
- Oversaw food preparation and monitored safety protocols.
- Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
- Provided thoughtful guidance to personnel in navigating and resolving snags in productivity.
Front Office Manager
AAA On Site Furniture Repair
02.2012 - 02.2013
- Coached employees through day-to-day work and complex problems.
- Supervised and guided new employees and responded quickly to questions to improve understanding of job responsibilities.
- Managed files and records for clients and adhered to safety procedures to prevent breaches and data misuse.
- Reconciled end-of-day reports to determine accurate billing and payment processing.
- Created, prepared, and delivered reports to various departments.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Improved staffing during busy periods by creating employee schedules and monitoring call-outs.
Food Service Assistant
High Point Regional Hospital
Education
Associate of Arts - Theatre, Lighting, Sound
GTCC
Jamestown, NCSkills
- Delivery management
- Cost control
- Purchasing and procurement
- Waste reduction
- Employee training
- Recruitment and hiring
- Professional and courteous
- Relationship building
- Schedule management
- Multitasking Abilities
- Time management abilities
- Teamwork
Timeline
Animal Commissary Manager
NC Zoo
04.2020 - Current
Commissary Food Service Assistant
NC Zoo
05.2016 - 04.2020
Kitchen Manager and General Manager
Truly Exquisite Catering
07.2013 - 09.2016
Front Office Manager
AAA On Site Furniture Repair
02.2012 - 02.2013
Food Service Assistant
High Point Regional Hospital
Associate of Arts - Theatre, Lighting, Sound
GTCC
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