Explore Director, Food Services opportunities for experienced leaders who oversee food operations across healthcare, education, hospitality, corporate dining, and other organizations. These roles combine strategic planning with hands-on operational leadership, with responsibility for service quality, budgets, food safety, and team performance. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, helping qualified candidates find senior food services leadership opportunities.
A Director of Food Services leads the planning and delivery of dining and food operations. Depending on the organization, responsibilities may include managing multiple sites, setting service standards, overseeing menus and purchasing, controlling costs, ensuring regulatory compliance, and partnering with executives or clinical and facilities teams. Directors also develop managers, build effective teams, and use customer or patient feedback to improve the dining experience.
Employers often seek candidates with substantial food service or hospitality management experience and a record of leading teams, budgets, and complex operations. A degree in hospitality management, food service management, nutrition, or a related field may be preferred; requirements vary by employer. Useful strengths include financial planning, vendor and contract management, food safety knowledge, workforce development, communication, and the ability to improve service through operational data.
Director-level food services roles are found in hospitals and senior living communities, universities and school systems, hotels and resorts, corporate campuses, and food service management companies. The scope can range from a single large operation to a regional or enterprise-wide portfolio. Each setting brings distinct priorities, such as nutrition and patient experience in healthcare or scale, convenience, and guest satisfaction in hospitality.
Find senior food services leadership roles that match your experience and career goals. Browse vetted opportunities paying $100,000 or more, review employer requirements, and discover positions where you can lead teams, strengthen operations, and shape high-quality dining programs.
District Executive Chef - Northeast
$95K - $115K *
Drive culinary excellence by leading strategy and operations across multiple venues, ensuring innovation, quality, and financial performance while developing talent and enhancing guest experiences in...
3 weeks ago
$80K - $85K *
Elevate kitchen operations by leading a dynamic team to ensure culinary excellence, safety, and innovative menu planning. Foster an environment that prioritizes quality, training, and adherence to hea...
Reposted yesterday
$91K *
Shape the culinary experience by leading dining services, managing staff, and ensuring exceptional food quality. Drive menu development, budget management, and compliance while fostering a positive en...
3 weeks ago
VP of Business Development & Retention Higher Education Dining Services East
$150K - $175K *
Explore strategic business development opportunities to foster client retention and new client acquisition. Utilize your sales expertise to create innovative strategies and deliver impactful presentat...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION SERVICES
$107K - $130K *
Champion the management and direction of Nutrition Services operations, ensuring compliance with regulations while enhancing program effectiveness and staff development. Collaborate with various stake...
2 weeks ago
$130K - $150K *
Shape the future of menu innovation by leading culinary strategy, fostering team development, and aligning brand priorities with market trends to drive sustainable growth and enhance guest experiences...
2 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Transform operations by leading clinical programs and enhancing quality assurance. Drive collaboration across teams to optimize patient outcomes and ensure compliance while managing practice operation...
1 week ago
$77K - $100K *
Elevate patient experiences by leading dining and mailroom services in a healthcare setting. Drive operational excellence, ensure compliance, and foster a compassionate culture while managing frontlin...
1 week ago
Senior Director, Food & Beverage
$110K - $130K *
Lead and elevate the Food & Beverage department by driving strategic initiatives, optimizing operations, and ensuring exceptional guest experiences while achieving revenue goals and maintaining qualit...
Reposted yesterday
$170K - $180K *
Shape culinary excellence by leading a dynamic team, enhancing guest experiences, and driving operational performance through innovative menu design and strategic coaching...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Champion operational excellence by leading our manufacturing facility, overseeing production, maintenance, and quality initiatives, while driving continuous improvement and fostering teamwork within a...
Reposted 2 days ago
$150K - $180K *
Join a team that's driving operational excellence at our manufacturing facility, leading production and maintenance initiatives. Oversee quality, distribution, and continuous improvement efforts to en...
Reposted 2 days ago
$110K - $120K *
Transform culinary experiences by leading innovative dining operations across multiple venues, ensuring exceptional quality and service while managing budgets and fostering community connections among...
2 weeks ago
Senior Culinary Development Manager
$120K - $155K *
Lead the charge in culinary excellence by driving menu innovation, enhancing dining experiences, and overseeing daily operations in a premier corporate dining environment. Collaborate with teams to en...
1 week ago
$156K - $166K *
Lead a dedicated Culinary team to deliver exceptional dining experiences, ensuring high-quality, scratch-made meals while fostering genuine connections with residents in a vibrant senior living commun...
2 weeks ago
$130K - $150K *
Create an exceptional hospitality experience by leading service initiatives, managing operations, and fostering tenant engagement at a premier office asset. Collaborate with teams to enhance brand ali...
1 week ago
$80K - $85K *
Join a team that's dedicated to delivering exceptional catering experiences. Lead operations for high-profile events, guiding cross-functional teams and ensuring seamless execution for gatherings of v...
Reposted yesterday
Director of Operations - Loyola University Chicago
$90K - $110K *
Drive operational excellence by managing multi-site services, ensuring client satisfaction and financial performance while leading a dedicated team to achieve organizational goals and enhance service...
1 week ago
$85K - $90K *
Drive patient outcomes as a Clinical Dietitian, utilizing evidence-based nutrition care in acute settings while collaborating with a dynamic team to promote optimal health and wellness in patients and...
Reposted yesterday
$85K - $97K *
Champion exceptional dining experiences by leading food service operations, managing budgets, and developing staff. Ensure compliance with safety standards while creating menus that delight residents...
5 days ago
$95K - $109K *
Oversee the dining experience by managing staff, budgets, and food safety. Collaborate with teams to create menus and ensure compliance with regulations while delivering exceptional service and planni...
2 weeks ago
Assistant Director of Operations
$119K - $129K *
Lead operational excellence across multiple restaurant locations, driving financial performance and team development. Collaborate with management to ensure high standards and accountability while fost...
2 weeks ago
$100K - $119K *
Lead a dynamic culinary team to enhance guest experiences through exceptional food quality and service. Drive operational efficiency and cost control while collaborating with various departments to cr...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Assistant Director Food & Beverage
$85K - $90K *
Lead daily operations in food and beverage, ensuring exceptional service and profitability. Collaborate with management to enhance member experiences, develop staff, and maintain high standards across...
1 week ago
$85K - $90K *
Analyze financial data and trends to drive strategic planning and improve business outcomes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to provide insightful reports and enhance performance metrics for o...
Reposted yesterday
What does a Director of Food Services do?
A Director of Food Services oversees food and dining operations, including service quality, budgets, staffing, purchasing, food safety, and operational performance. The exact scope depends on the employer and may cover one location or multiple sites.
What qualifications are typically required for Director of Food Services jobs?
Employers commonly look for significant food service, hospitality, or institutional dining leadership experience. A degree in hospitality, food service management, nutrition, or a related field may be preferred, while specific certifications and education requirements vary by role.
Where do Directors of Food Services work?
They work in settings such as hospitals, senior living communities, schools, universities, hotels, corporate dining programs, and food service management companies.
What skills are important for a Director of Food Services?
Key skills often include team leadership, budgeting, vendor management, food safety and regulatory compliance, customer service, operational planning, and the ability to improve performance using data and feedback.
What salary range can I expect for Director of Food Services jobs on Ladders?
Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more. Compensation for Director of Food Services positions varies by employer, location, industry, and the scope of the role; review each listing for its specific salary details.