Food Service Director

Aramark; Pierre (SD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Aramark is seeking a Food Service Director for the South Dakota Woman's Prison. The role oversees large-scale kitchen operations within a secure facility and supervises staff and incarcerated workers to meet nutritional and safety standards.

The director develops menus, controls costs and ensures compliance with state and federal regulations while maintaining client relationships and service quality.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in food service management or related leadership role.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for client relations.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective rapport with clients and staff.
• Experience supervising diverse teams and overseeing budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop teams to maximize contributions and performance.
• Oversee daily food production in a secure correctional facility and ensure safety.
• Build revenue, manage budget costs for food, beverage and labor.
• Ensure compliance with safety, wage, hour and regulatory standards.
• Coordinate production, distribution and front-of-house operations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Budgeting

Safety and sanitation

Staff development

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

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
• Ability to develop and maintain effective client and customer rapport for mutually beneficial business relationships
• Ability to demonstrate excellent customer service using Aramark's standard model
• Ability to maintain an effective working relationship with other departments to a unified food service experience for all customers
• Requires occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 50 lb.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.

About Aramark

Our Mission

Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.

At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

About Aramark

The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing -a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work -our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter .