Food Services Manager

Meals on Wheels SA (Inc); Adelaide; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Meals on Wheels SA is seeking an experienced Food Services Manager to lead our Cook Chill production and distribution facility in Hilton. You will oversee food safety, quality, production, and distribution while building a high‑performing, safety‑focused culture that delivers safe, nutritious meals to older South Australians.

Reporting to the General Manager Service Operations, you will manage budgets, supplier relationships and strategic planning, lead a multidisciplinary team, drive continuous

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in large-scale catering or food production.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety for vulnerable populations.
• Experience in budget, forecasting and business case development.
• Experience in cook-chill, fresh or frozen meal production.
• Current First Aid Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Lead HACCP-based food safety and quality systems across the operation.
• Oversee end-to-end food production, warehousing and distribution.
• Drive productivity, waste reduction and service reliability.
• Lead and develop a team including Cook Chill Production Manager and Cook Chill Logistics Manager.
• Strategic planning, budgeting and supplier management.

Job description

Lead a Purpose-Driven Food Service Operation That Makes a Difference

At Meals on Wheels SA, every meal matters.

We're seeking an experienced and strategic Food Services Manager to lead our high-volume Cook Chill facility in Hilton. This is a unique opportunity to combine your expertise in food production, operational leadership, food safety and commercial management with meaningful community impact.

Each day, you'll help ensure older South Australians receive safe, nutritious and appealing meals that support their health, wellbeing and independence. Reporting directly to the General Manager Service Operations and leading a team of managers and specialists, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of our food service operations.

About the Role

As Food Services Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the leadership, performance and continuous improvement of our Cook Chill production and distribution facility.

You will oversee food safety, quality, production, distribution, workforce capability, supplier relationships, financial performance and strategic planning while ensuring Meals on Wheels SA continues to deliver exceptional outcomes for customers.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to organisational strategy and help shape the future food service model through innovation, operational excellence and strategic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Food Safety, Quality & Customer Outcomes

Lead HACCP-based food safety and quality systems across the operation.

Ensure meals consistently meet nutritional, dietary, quality and customer expectations.

Drive continuous improvement through customer feedback, testing and operational data.

Maintain compliance with food safety, aged care and regulatory requirements.

Lead audit readiness, incident investigations and corrective action processes.

Operational Leadership

Manage end-to-end food production, warehousing and distribution operations.

Ensure efficient planning, scheduling, procurement, production and delivery activities.

Drive productivity, waste reduction, service reliability and operational resilience.

Oversee business continuity and contingency planning.

Lead and develop a team including:

Cook Chill Production Manager

Cook Chill Logistics Manager

Food Safety & Quality Coordinator

Build a high-performing, accountable and safety-focused culture.

Support workforce planning, recruitment, development and succession planning.

Lead teams effectively through change and growth.

Strategic & Commercial Leadership

Develop operational plans, budgets and performance measures aligned to organisational strategy.

Evaluate future operating models, partnerships and investment opportunities.

Lead supplier and contract management activities.

Manage budgets, forecasting, cost control and business case development.

Provide expert advice to senior leaders on food service operations and future capability.

About You

You are a highly capable operational leader with experience managing large-scale catering, food manufacturing or other complex, regulated environments.

You bring a strong balance of strategic thinking, commercial acumen and hands-on leadership, along with a genuine commitment to quality, safety and customer outcomes.

Significant leadership experience in a large-scale catering, food production, or similarly regulated environment.

Proven track record leading managers and multidisciplinary teams.

Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety systems for vulnerable populations, quality assurance and compliance frameworks.

Experience managing complex production, warehousing and distribution operations.

Strong contract, supplier and stakeholder management experience.

Demonstrated financial management capability including budgeting, forecasting and business case development.

Excellent communication, reporting and influencing skills.

Relevant qualification in Commercial Cookery, Food Science, Hospitality, Operations Management, Food Technology or related discipline.

Experience in cook-chill, fresh or frozen meal production.

Strong digital literacy and experience using operational and reporting systems.

Experience in aged care, healthcare, community services and an understanding of the regulations within the Aged Care Act.

Knowledge of nutrition, allergens, special diets and IDDSI requirements.

Continuous improvement, Lean, project management or change leadership experience.

Current First Aid Certificate.

Why Join Meals on Wheels SA?

At Meals on Wheels SA, our work extends beyond food production. Every meal delivered contributes to improved health, independence and wellbeing for thousands of South Australians.

We offer:

A genuine opportunity to make a positive community impact.

Senior leadership position with strategic influence.

Supportive and values-driven culture.

Opportunity to shape the future of food services within a respected not-for-profit organisation.

Professional growth and leadership development opportunities.

Our Values

Everything we do is guided by our values:

Caring | Respectful | Reliable | United | Impactful

Pre-Employment Requirements

Successful applicants will be required to:

Hold and maintain a current National Police Clearance.

Participate in some flexible and occasional after-hours work as required.