Director Food Nutrition Services

Dignity Health; Stockton (CA); On-site; USD 149,431,000 - 222,298,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

relocation assistance

annual performance-based bonus

employer-funded retirement

no-cost medical coverage

Flexible Time Away

Job summary

Dignity Health - St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, CA, seeks a Director of Food-Nutrition Services to lead dietitians, culinary and operations teams, and ensure high standards of patient dining.

You will oversee menu development, staffing, regulatory compliance, and patient satisfaction, with relocation assistance and an annual bonus program. Eligible staff benefits include no-cost medical coverage and retirement contributions.

Qualifications

• Minimum two (2) years 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 required.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead patient interactive positions (i.e. dietitians, diet clerks, etc.), culinary and operations teams, and purchasing.
• Develop menu for patients, cafeteria, and catering; manage the facility diet manual and nutrition compliance.
• Recruit, hire and manage staff, ensure adequate staffing and workload distribution with cost efficiency.

Skills

Hospital nutrition management

High-volume food service management

Staff leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nutrition or related field

Job description

Job Summary And Responsibilities

As our Director Food-Nutrition Services for St. Joseph's Medical Center, you will lead our patient interactive positions (i.e. dietitians, diet clerks, etc.), culinary and operations teams, retail sales, purchasing and kitchen operations, and provide for the operational needs of the staff. You will lead menu development for patients, cafeteria, and catering services, and manage the facility diet manual, as well as patient diet and nutritional analysis compliance with the diet manual. You will also recruit, hire and manage performance of staff, and ensure we maintain adequate staffing for daily needs reflecting cost efficiency, assigning staff and workload, respecting changing priorities in daily operations.

Every day, you will be a visible and engaging leader, conducting frequent patient rounding and visitations, and job shadowing audits to assess efficacy of training programs. It is key to maintain open communication with patients, staff, and customers regarding the level of services they receive from FNS staff, as you work 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.

To be successful in this role, you will need extensive knowledge of nutrition and food service operations, and strong communication, organization, and time management skills.

We are offering relocation assistance to all hires who meet relocation eligibility requirements.

Additional incentives for this position include an annual performance-based bonus program, annual employer-funded retirement contribution (no employee contribution required), no-cost medical coverage for the employee, and a Flexible Time Away program.

Job Requirements

Required Experience

• Minimum two (2) years 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 required.

Required Licensure

• 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.

Preferred 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.

Where You'll Work

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. Additionally, 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.

One Community. One Mission. One California

Pay Range

$52.15 - $77.58 /hour