Director of Food and Nutrition
About The Position
We are seeking a strategic and operationally strong Director of Food & Nutrition Services to lead all aspects of dietary operations at our 100-bed regional medical center. This executive leader will be responsible for clinical nutrition services, patient meal delivery, retail/cafeteria operations, regulatory compliance, financial performance, and team leadership. The ideal candidate brings deep hospital experience, strong regulatory expertise (including Joint Commission standards), and a proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across food production, patient services, and clinical nutrition. This role reports directly to senior hospital leadership and plays a key role in patient satisfaction, quality outcomes, and operational excellence.
Requirements
- Registered Dietitian (RD or RDN) credential
- Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Food Service Management, or related field
- Minimum 5–7 years progressive leadership experience in a hospital food & nutrition department
- Demonstrated expertise with Joint Commission standards and CMS regulations
- Strong financial and operational management skills
- Proven ability to lead both clinical and non-clinical teams
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in Nutrition, Healthcare Administration, or Business
- Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) or ServSafe Certification
- Experience in a regional or community hospital setting
Responsibilities
- Ensure full compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, state, and local regulatory standards
- Oversee clinical nutrition program, including medical nutrition therapy and documentation
- Serve as department leader during surveys and audits
- Maintain policies, HACCP plans, infection control compliance, and food safety standards
- Collaborate with nursing, medical staff, and quality teams to improve patient outcomes
- Direct daily operations of patient meal services, tray line, production, and retail/cafeteria
- Oversee menu development, therapeutic diets, and nutrition standards
- Implement efficient production systems and service workflows
- Ensure high patient satisfaction and Press Ganey performance
- Manage equipment, purchasing, and vendor relationships
- Develop and manage departmental operating budget
- Control food, labor, and supply costs
- Analyze productivity metrics (meals per labor hour, cost per patient day, etc.)
- Drive retail revenue performance
- Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team including: Registered Dietitians Clinical Nutrition Staff Food Production Supervisors Patient Services Managers Retail/Cafeteria Team
- Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, and service excellence
- Conduct hiring, performance management, and workforce planning
Benefits
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
- Leadership opportunity in a mission-driven healthcare environment
- Collaborative executive team culture
- Opportunity to impact patient care and community health
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
