Director Food Nutrition Services

About the Role

As our Director of Food-Nutrition Services for St. Joseph's Medical Center, you will lead our patient interactive positions (dietitians, diet clerks, etc.), culinary and operations teams, retail sales, purchasing, and kitchen operations. You will provide for the operational needs of the staff, including menu development for patients, cafeteria, and catering services, and manage the facility diet manual and patient diet and nutritional analysis compliance.

You will recruit, hire, and manage staff performance, ensuring adequate staffing for daily needs while reflecting cost efficiency. You will conduct frequent patient rounding and visitations, job shadowing audits, and maintain open communication with patients, staff, and customers to elevate the dining experience and promote patient satisfaction.

Your leadership will foster an environment of teamwork and high standards, ensuring compliance with infection control and regulatory bodies such as TJC, CMS, and CDPH.

Responsibilities

• Lead patient interactive positions, culinary and operations teams, retail sales, purchasing, and kitchen operations.
• Develop menus for patients, cafeteria, and catering services.
• Manage the facility diet manual and ensure compliance with patient diet and nutritional analysis.
• Recruit, hire, and manage staff performance, ensuring adequate and cost-efficient staffing.
• Conduct frequent patient rounding, visitations, and job shadowing audits to assess training program efficacy.
• Maintain open communication with patients, staff, and customers regarding service levels.
• Promote teamwork, high standards, and compliance with regulatory bodies (TJC, CMS, CDPH).

Requirements

• Minimum two (2) years of hospital nutrition management experience or three (3) years of high-volume food service management experience, or a combination of both totaling three (3) years of management experience.
• ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification required.
• Registered Dietitian (RD) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) with the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals (ANFP) required within 24 months of start date.
• ServSafe Food Allergen certification required within 60 days of start date.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, or related field preferred, or three (3) years of equivalent combination of education and experience in lieu of Bachelor’s degree.
• Extensive knowledge of nutrition and food service operations.
• Strong communication, organization, and time management skills.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance for eligible hires.
• Annual performance-based bonus program.
• Annual employer-funded retirement contribution (no employee contribution required).
• No-cost medical coverage for the employee.
• Flexible Time Away program.

Pay

$52.15 - $77.58 per hour.

About the Workplace

Founded in 1899, Dignity Health - St. Joseph’s Medical Center is a 355-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Stockton, California. Serving over 125,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services, including a Level III NICU, cancer care, heart care, and a family birth center.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center and was named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades in 2026.