Director of Food & Nutrition Services Location:

Northern Arkansas Job Type:

Full-Time, Salaried/Exempt Industry:

Healthcare / Hospital Food & Nutrition Services  Position Summary A regional healthcare organization is seeking an experienced Director of Food & Nutrition Services to lead all aspects of hospital food and nutrition operations. This position is responsible for departmental leadership, staffing, patient food service, regulatory compliance, budgeting, quality improvement, sanitation, menu management, employee development, and overall patient and customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate will bring strong healthcare or institutional food-service leadership experience with the ability to manage both people and operations in a fast-paced hospital environment. Key Responsibilities Provide leadership and supervision for all Food & Nutrition Services employees. Oversee hiring, scheduling, onboarding, training, coaching, performance management, and employee development. Ensure appropriate Certified Dietary Manager coverage and compliance with state requirements. Manage departmental operating budgets, including payroll, food, supplies, and equipment. Identify opportunities for cost containment without compromising quality or patient care. Review and update patient menus based on nutritional needs, patient satisfaction, and product availability. Monitor patient satisfaction and resolve food-service complaints or service concerns. Maintain compliance with state and federal food-service regulations. Conduct routine kitchen inspections and monthly safety and sanitation audits. Oversee food safety education and ServSafe compliance. Ensure Registered Dietitian licenses and Certified Dietary Manager certifications remain current. Manage food, beverage, supplies, chemicals, equipment, and vendor relationships. Oversee diet-office operations and associated software. Partner closely with nursing leadership, physicians, ancillary services, administration, and other hospital departments. Lead quality-improvement initiatives and departmental performance reporting. Promote a strong culture of safety, teamwork, accountability, and customer service.

Qualifications Required:

Associate degree in Business, Management, Nutrition, or a related field. Minimum of 4 years of food and nutrition services experience in a hospital or institutional setting. Previous supervisory or leadership experience strongly preferred. Must hold one of the following: Active Arkansas Registered Dietitian license in good standing, or Active Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM, CFPP) credential. Active ServSafe Manager Certification. Experience managing operating budgets and controlling departmental costs. Strong leadership, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. Strong patient/customer-service orientation.

Preferred:

Bachelor's degree. Hospital food-service leadership experience. Experience with Cerner EMR. Experience with GemServ or comparable diet-office software. Contract negotiation and vendor-management experience. Experience managing regulatory compliance, sanitation programs, and quality-improvement initiatives. Schedule Full-time Flexible Schedule Monday through Friday, 8 hour shifts (8-9a to 5p) Ideal Candidate The strongest candidate will be an experienced food and nutrition services leader who can effectively balance: Employee leadership and development Patient experience Regulatory compliance Food quality and safety Financial performance Operational efficiency Cross-functional hospital relationships This is an opportunity to lead a highly visible department and directly impact patient care, employee engagement, and the overall hospital experience. Compensation and Benefits Compensation based on experience and internal equity Annual market-based compensation increase Health, dental, and vision insurance Pension plan 401(k) retirement plan Short- and long-term disability coverage Life and AD&D insurance Licensure and professional subscription coverage Complimentary meals during scheduled shifts Ref#: Dietician, Dietitian, Director of Food Services 26862