Vice President, Food Operations - DECA & MEDCOM

Sodexo Careers•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

Sodexo Government is seeking an accomplished operations leader to serve as Vice President, Food Operations supporting our DECA & MEDCOM portfolio. This executive role offers the opportunity to lead large‑scale, mission‑critical food service operations while partnering with one of the most respected organizations in the world. As Vice President, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for a $65M managed portfolio . You will lead a high‑performing, geographically dispersed team, including four direct reports , and play a key role in driving operational excellence, financial performance, and innovation. This role will have six direct reports with travel estimated at 50%. An East Coast location is strongly preferred based on the region’s concentration of business operations. This role is ideal for a proven leader who thrives in complex, highly regulated environments and is passionate about quality, consistency, and people leadership.

Requirements

10+ years of senior leadership experience in food service or operations
Background in Grocery business and contracts experience
Strong background in contract food service environments
Demonstrated success managing large, complex operations and teams
Proven financial and P&L management expertise
Experience working within regulated or compliance‑driven environments
Exceptional communication, leadership, and relationship‑building skills
A solutions‑oriented mindset with energy, resilience, and agility
Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 10 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 10 years of multi-unit, support, or strategic leadership experience

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee nationwide food operations for the U.S. Air Force
Drive strong financial performance, including food and labor cost control within a P&L environment
Ensure compliance with contractual requirements and quality standards
Inspire, develop, and lead a geographically dispersed leadership team
Build and maintain strong relationships with military and client stakeholders
Champion innovation, continuous improvement, and operational best practices