Senior Food Service Manager

UCLA Health; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA Health is seeking an experienced Senior Manager, Culinary Services to oversee kitchen operations across patient dining, retail food services, and catering. Lead a high-performing team, ensure top-quality food production, and maintain compliance with safety standards in a premier academic health system.

The role reports to the Executive Director and emphasizes staff development, cost control, and menu consistency across diverse service areas.

Qualifications

• Five years of food preparation experience in a large kitchen, including at least one year in supervision.
• ServSafe Certification required.
• Proficient in English for clear communication and documentation.
• Strong leadership skills to supervise a diverse team, delegate tasks, and evaluate performance.
• Expertise in upscale and ethnic cuisine with foundational culinary techniques.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development and execution of diverse, high-quality menus for patient care, retail operations, and catering services.
• Lead, coach, and develop culinary staff, including Senior Cooks, Cooks, and Diet Assistants.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, workflow, and daily kitchen operations.
• Ensure consistent food quality, presentation, and service standards across all areas.
• Monitor food and labor costs, inventory, purchasing, and waste to support operational and financial goals.
• Maintain compliance with Joint Commission, University of California, and UCLA Health food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with clinical and operational leadership to drive improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Food preparation

Cost analysis

Supervisory experience

Food safety compliance

English communication

Education

ServSafe Certification

Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) preferred

Tools

Food management systems

Job description

Work Location: West Hills, CA, USA

Work Schedule

Posted Date

07/21/2026

Salary Range: $67700.00 - 134700.00 Annually

Employment Type

4 - Staff: Limited

Duration

6 months

Job #

31963

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

UCLA Health is seeking an experienced culinary leader to oversee kitchen operations across patient dining, retail food services, and catering. This is an opportunity to lead a high-performing team, drive operational excellence, and help shape the dining experience at one of the nation's leading academic health systems.

What You'll Do

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Manager, Culinary Services is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of culinary operations, ensuring high-quality food production, efficient operations, and compliance with all food safety and regulatory requirements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Oversee the development and execution of diverse, high-quality menus for patient care, retail operations, and catering services.
• Lead, coach, and develop culinary staff, including Senior Cooks, Cooks, and Diet Assistants.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, workflow, and daily kitchen operations.
• Ensure consistent food quality, presentation, and service standards across all areas.
• Monitor food and labor costs, inventory, purchasing, and waste to support operational and financial goals.
• Maintain compliance with Joint Commission, University of California, and UCLA Health food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with clinical and operational lead

Salary Range: $67,700-134,700/year

Please note, this is a limited position expected for 6 months.

Job Qualifications

Five years of food preparation experience in a large kitchen, including at least one year in a supervisory role (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

ServSafe Certification required

Proficient in English (reading, writing, and speaking) for clear communication and documentation

Strong leadership skills with the ability to supervise a diverse team, delegate tasks, and evaluate performance

Expertise in upscale and ethnic cuisine, along with foundational culinary techniques (cutting, presentation, sauces)

Ability to develop, standardize, and oversee recipe preparation in a large institutional kitchen

Knowledge of JCAHO, HACCP, University, and Hospital standards, as well as departmental policies

Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and maintain accountability

Experience leading performance improvement initiatives with measurable outcomes

Solid mathematical skills for cost analysis and recipe standardization

Proficiency in food management systems and basic computer operations

• Certified Dietary Manager preferred

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. Current/former UC employees are subject to a personnel file review.