Manager of Food Services

Ava Health•Grand Junction, CO

3h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager of Food Services at Ava Health leads the organization’s food and nutrition strategy across all locations, including residential, outpatient, and recovery housing environments. This position is essential to ensuring that food-related services reflect Ava Health’s core values of Agency, Service, and Purpose, and exceed compliance standards for safety, health, and innovation. The role extends beyond traditional food preparation, incorporating training, programming, and workforce development into a broader vision of food as community care.

Requirements

Management ServSafe Certification
3+ years of experience managing food service operations in residential, healthcare, or hospitality environments
Experience supervising teams and maintaining regulatory compliance in food service environments
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between Ava Health sites as needed
Commitment to Ava Health’s core values of Agency, Service, and Purpose
Strong leadership, planning, and team-building capabilities
Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to develop systems that scale with growth
Knowledge of culturally responsive and inclusive food practices
Ability to mentor staff and model professional, ethical, and values-driven behavior
Comfortable working across multiple program types and geographic locations
Skilled in conflict resolution, communication, and collaborative leadership

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and leading vocational or culinary training programs
Familiarity with Joint Commission standards and Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) compliance
Background in recovery-based or trauma-informed environments

Responsibilities

Oversee all food service operations across the Molina Residential Center, Crossroads Outpatient Center, and Three (3) Recovery Housing Sites.
Develop and manage inventory control and ordering systems.
Ensure cleaning and maintenance routines meet compliance standards and internal expectations.
Act as liaison between Ava Health and food/supply vendors, maintaining relationships and ensuring reliable service.
Design and lead food-related programming, including cooking classes, nutrition education, and wellness-focused food initiatives.
Collaborate with COO and CEO to support Ava Health’s participation in community events involving food and hospitality.
Support client vocational growth by providing supervised workforce opportunities within food services, both during treatment and post-discharge.
Assist in facility and operational food service planning as Ava Health expands across the state and nationally.
Ensure all food services meet or exceed standards set by the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), The Joint Commission (TJC), and local health departments.
Contribute to internal staff training efforts on topics related to health, hygiene, and food safety.
Supervise and provide direction to all food service staff and other team members participating in ancillary food-related duties (e.g., receiving, heating, and serving food).
Lead recruitment, onboarding, and performance oversight for direct service food staff.