Assistant Director

Position Summary

The Assistant Director partners with the Director of Operations to lead all aspects of the Food and Nutrition Services Department within a healthcare facility. This role is accountable for strong day-to-day operations and for helping create and sustain a culture of hospitality and patient-centered care across the healthcare campus. The Assistant Director leads by example, keeps the department organized and running smoothly, and drives initiatives that improve patient, employee and client satisfaction. In the Director’s absence, the Assistant Director assumes departmental leadership.

This position is ideal for a proven people leader with exceptional organizational skills who has managed teams that include multiple managers.

Key Responsibilities

Patient-Centered Care (Patient Services Manager and Clinical Team)

• Support patient safety by ensuring HACCP plans and QA checks are completed as directed.
• Conduct daily patient rounding with patients and nursing staff; document findings, communicate them and follow issues through to resolution.
• Ensure core competency of teams by coordinating educational sessions and annual reviews, holding the Daily Spark huddle and completing the monthly in-service.

Culinary Experience (Executive Chef and Culinary Team)

• Ensure great food is prepared and served daily on all shifts, in line with the Culinour food philosophy.
• Keep production systems engaged to deliver outstanding food quality and presentation.
• Partner with the Executive Chef on menu execution, production planning and cost control.

Retail and Catering (Retail Manager and Hospitality Team)

• Ensure food is packaged with care and carries accurate labeling and information.
• Verify that POS systems are programmed accurately and appropriately.
• Ensure every guest is greeted with a smile and recognition.
• Ensure locations are set up for guest ease and convey a sense of wellbeing.

Staff Education and Leadership (Leadership Team)

• Ensure the team is trained in hospitality and job-specific competencies.
• Hold the team accountable for job flows and accurate time punches.
• Ensure all training is documented and development plans are in place.
• Build a culture of hospitality and teamwork in which no job is harder or better than any other.
• Coach, mentor and evaluate managers and supervisors, and support recruitment, onboarding and retention.

Quality Compliance and Complaint Resolution (Leadership Team)

• Report on facility QA projects and results.
• Help ensure the department meets requirements set by CMS, The Joint Commission or similar accrediting body, the local health department and the State Department of Health.
• Resolve patient, employee and client complaints promptly and document outcomes.

Operations and Administration

• Assist the Director in all aspects of departmental management, including scheduling, labor and budget oversight, purchasing and inventory.
• Use data and reporting to track performance, identify trends and drive improvement.
• Manage projects and follow-up on cross-functional initiatives to completion.

Community Engagement

• Participate in healthcare facility community outreach programs, including Teaching Kitchens and other educational and promotional activities.

Qualifications

Education

• Required: Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) credential or an Associate degree in Nutrition, Culinary or a health-related field. ServSafe certification or equivalent.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in nutrition or food science, Registered Dietitian (RD), or Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR).

Experience

• Healthcare food service leadership experience in acute care, senior living or behavioral health.
• Must have led a team of two or more managers.
• Demonstrated success in a leadership role with strong organizational and follow-through skills.
• Relevant experience may be substituted for educational background where appropriate.

Skills

• Exceptional organizational skills, including prioritization, time management and attention to detail.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, with a focus on internal team development.
• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking and conflict resolution, and the ability to communicate up and down the organization.
• Project management and follow-up.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and drive cultural change.
• Computer competency, with data analysis and reporting proficiency.

Core Competencies

• Empathy, compassion and hospitality
• Strategic thinking and adaptability
• Ability to hold productive conversations with team members
• Commitment to patient-centered care