Food Service Director

Aramark; Pierre (SD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Aramark is seeking a Food Service Director for the South Dakota Woman's Prison. This leadership role oversees daily food production in a secure facility, ensuring safe, compliant meal service and efficient operations for incarcerated residents.

The position manages large-scale kitchen activities, supervises staff and incarcerated workers, maintains strict safety standards, and optimizes inventory and costs while meeting nutritional requirements and all applicable regulations.

Qualifications

• Requires at least 4 years of experience.
• Requires at least 1-3 years of experience in a management role.
• Requires previous experience in food service.
• Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop teams, including recruiting, training and coaching front line staff.
• Ensure food service operations meet safety, sanitation and regulatory standards.
• Manage budget and labor costs; monitor P&L statements and cost controls.
• Coordinate production, distribution and service of meals in a secure facility.
• Ensure menus meet nutritional requirements and client expectations.
• Maintain client relations and communicate operational progress.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Compliance

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Description

The Food Service Director at South Dakota Woman's Prison oversees daily food production in a secure correctional facility, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant meal service for the incarcerated population. This role manages large‑scale kitchen operations, supervises staff and incarcerated workers, maintains strict food safety and security standards, and controls inventory and costs. The manager ensures menus meet nutritional requirements and that all food service activities follow facility, state, and federal regulations.

Job Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead, mentor, engage and develop teams to maximize their contributions, including recruiting, assessing, training, coaching and managing performance
• Ensure food services appropriately connects to the Executional Framework
• Coach employees by creating a shared understanding about what needs to be achieved and how to execute
• Reward and recognize employees
• Ensure safety and sanitation standards in all operations

Client Relationship

• Identify client needs and effectively communicate operational progress

Financial Performance

• Adopt Aramark process and systems
• Build revenue and manage budget, including cost controls regarding food, beverage and labor
• Ensure the completion and maintenance of P&L statements
• Achieve food and labor targets
• Manage resources to ensure quality and cost control within budgetary guidelines

Productivity

• Implement and maintain Aramark agenda for both labor and food initiatives
• Create value through efficient operations, appropriate cost controls and profit management
• Full compliance with Operational Excellence fundamentals, including food and labor
• Direct and oversee operations related to production, distribution and food service

Compliance

• Maintain a safe and healthy environment for clients, customers and employees
• Comply with all applicable policies, rules and regulations, including but not limited to those relating to safety, health, wage and hour

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain systems and procedures for the ordering, receiving, storing, preparing and serving of food related products, as well as menu planning and development
• Develops operational component forecasts and can explain variances. Responsible for components accounting functions.
• Ensures that requirements for appropriate sanitation and safety levels in respective areas are met
• Coordinates and supervises unit personnel regarding production, merchandising, quality and cost control, labor management and employee training
• Recruits, hires, develops and retains front line team.
• Conducts period inventory
• Maintains records to comply with ARAMARK, government and accrediting agency standards
• Interacts with Client Management and maintains effective client and customer relations at all levels with client organization
• May participate in sales process and negotiation of contracts
• Looks for opportunities to implement new products and services which support sales growth and client retention

Additional Responsibilities

• Manage the front of the house of the dining operation (Cafeteria/ Residential Dining Facility)
• Develop and implement food service plans aligned with the client's mission and vision, to include sustainable practices

At Aramark, developing new skills and doing what it takes to get the job done make a positive impact for our employees and for our customers. In order to meet our commitments, job duties may change or new ones may be assigned without formal notice.

Qualifications

• Requires at least 4 years of experience
• Requires at least 1-3 years of experience in a management role
• Requires previous experience in food service
• Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• Strong communication skills