Director Food Nutrition Services

CommonSpirit Health; Stockton (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Annual performance-based bonus

Employer-funded retirement contributed

No-cost medical coverage

Flexible Time Away program

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 oversee menu development for patients, cafeteria, and catering.

You will recruit, hire, and manage staff and ensure staffing matches daily needs and cost efficiency. The role requires extensive nutrition knowledge, strong communication and organizational skills, and compliance with infection control and regulatory bodies such as TJC, CMS,

Qualifications

• Minimum two years hospital nutrition management experience or three years high-volume food service management.
• ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification required.
• Registered Dietitian (RD) or Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) required within 24 months of start date.
• ServSafe Food Allergen certification required within 60 days of start date.
• Bachelor's degree in Nutrition or Dietetics preferred or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead dietitians, diet clerks, culinary and operations staff.
• Oversee menu development for patients, cafeteria, and catering.
• Recruit, hire, and manage staff; ensure staffing aligns with daily needs and budget.
• Ensure compliance with infection control and regulatory bodies (TJC, CMS, CDPH).
• Drive patient satisfaction and dining quality through strong leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Operations management

Nutrition knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nutrition or Dietetics

Tools

ServSafe Knowledge

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.

*relocation assistance*

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