Nutrition Operational Lead

Advocate Health•Park Ridge, IL

6d•$21 - $31

About The Position

The Nutrition Operational Lead oversees daily Food Service Team operations, including cooks, the diet office, production, and food service workers. The role coordinates staffing and assignments, supports hiring and training, and models teamwork, quality, safety, and positive service. The lead ensures food production, storage, sanitation, safety, and documentation follow applicable standards and procedures. The position also supports quality improvement and communicates with and guides team members throughout the day. The role oversees production and service of food appropriate to the patient population, including allergies, specialized diets, developmental feeding needs, and IDDSI texture-modified foods. It includes conducting bedside patient rounds and service recovery as needed. This is a full-time position scheduled for 40 hours per week. Shifts are available from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The schedule includes every other weekend and rotating holidays. The stated pay range is $20.80–$31.20.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
3–4 years of experience in a lead or supervisory role in a healthcare environment.
POS and cash handling experience.
Current Illinois or Wisconsin Department of Public Health Food Service Manager Sanitation License, or ability to obtain it within six months.
ServSafe Certification and CPDH Certification if working within Chicago city limits.
ServSafe Allergen License.
Knowledge of effective team supervision, including development, team building, leadership, motivation, and communication.
Knowledge of ServSafe, HACCP, food safety, food handling, and sanitation procedures.
Knowledge of allergies, specialized diets, developmental feeding needs, and IDDSI texture-modified foods.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for interacting with hospital staff, patients, and families.
Ability to work flexible hours and days, including evenings, nights, holidays, and weekends.
Ability to work under stressful or difficult situations, handle simultaneous projects within time constraints, respond quickly to peak service demands, motivate and lead others, analyze situations, develop workable plans, and manage operations effectively.
Excellent attendance and punctuality; strong operational and personnel management problem-solving skills.
Ability to stand, bend, and lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For lifts over 35 pounds, use lifting equipment or lift with at least one other associate when available.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee daily operations of the Food Service Team, including cooks, the diet office, production, and food service workers.
Assign and monitor staff assignments, ensuring schedules meet departmental workload demands and adjusting as needed.
Model enthusiasm, teamwork, quality work, safety, and positive service-minded behavior.
Participate in peer interviews for new team members and make hiring recommendations.
Assist with training team members in food production, sanitation standards, and safety procedures.
Ensure production team members follow recipes, complete production sheets, and maintain cooling and temperature logs.
Ensure food is received and stored according to Board of Health standards.
Conduct daily safety and sanitation inspections and take corrective action as needed.
Communicate with team members about job performance and provide guidance while working alongside them.
Participate in the QMS/PI program by recording daily temperatures, monitoring quality improvement indicators, and maintaining documentation.
Oversee production and service of food suited to the patient population, including allergies, specialized diets, and developmental feeding needs.
Train department team members to distinguish and work with IDDSI texture levels and modified foods.
Conduct bedside patient rounds to assess food and nutrition service and provide service recovery as needed.

Benefits

Paid Time Off programs
Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Adoption assistance and paid parental leave
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
Educational Assistance Program
Shift and on-call premium pay, where applicable
Incentive pay for select positions
Opportunity for annual performance-based increases
Career development programs