Area Food Operations Manager

Role Overview

A valid driver’s license and acceptable driver’s license record check is required. 

Travel Requirement:

This position involves regular regional travel to multiple sites and locations across Ohio. Candidates should be prepared to spend time on the road visiting different facilities, ensuring consistent support and collaboration across the region. Reliable transportation and flexibility to accommodate varying schedules are essential. 

Sodexo offers a range of services to healthcare facilities, including food, nutrition, environmental, facilities management, healthcare technology management, retail, and patient experience services. Employees at our healthcare sites play a crucial role in enhancing patient experience and well-being

What You'll Do

• Culinary leadership & standardization

  • Partner with the System Culinary Director to develop, implement, and standardize menus, culinary systems, and new program concepts across community hospitals.
  • Ensure culinary consistency, system compliance, and adherence to established standards.
  • Organize Holiday & Heritage Month features plus seasonal rotations and order guides.
  • Support VIP catering events.

  Operational oversight

  • Conduct routine site visits to evaluate kitchen operations across all locations.
  • Perform food safety audits, tray assessments, and quality reviews for patient and retail services.
  • Monitor and standardize SodynamiX implementation and compliance.

  Project & program management

  • Lead retail and culinary project rollouts across the system.
  • Support new business initiatives, facility openings, equipment planning, and staffing assessments.
  • Attend and contribute to Management Operations Reviews (MORs) for community hospitals.

  Procurement

  • Collaborate with vendors and supply chain partners to achieve annual performance goals.
  • Ensure procurement compliance and consistency across all facilities.

  Training & development

  • Build and execute an annual culinary training calendar for system-wide staff.
  • Train and mentor cooks and chefs in Culinary Foundations (CF) and program implementation.
  • Support chef career pathways and professional development.
  • Educate culinary leaders on marketing strategies and program rollouts.

  Community & client engagement

  • Actively participate in community events to support market growth and brand visibility.
  • Lead chef demos, farmers markets, and educational seminars with Registered Dietitians.
  • Build and maintain strong client relationships across community hospitals.
  • Serve as an active member and coordinator of the system-wide chef networking group.

  Other

  • Use a personal vehicle for site travel; mileage reimbursed per company policy.

What We Offer

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

What You Bring

• Strategic multi-site leadership: Proven ability to lead culinary strategy and standardization across multiple healthcare (or similarly complex) locations.
• Culinary systems expertise: Experience designing and implementing standardized menus, culinary programs, and quality frameworks.
• Regulatory & safety rigor: Deep knowledge of food safety, patient nutrition standards, and audit practices; track record of elevating compliance and consistency.
• Operational excellence: Hands-on experience assessing kitchen operations, retail/patient services, and driving continuous improvement.
• Project management acumen: Demonstrated success leading cross-functional rollouts, new openings, equipment planning, and staffing assessments.
• Procurement savvy: Skill in vendor collaboration, supply chain alignment, and achieving cost/quality performance goals.
• People development: Passion for training and mentoring chefs; ability to create annual training plans and support career progression (e.g., Culinary Foundations).
• Client & community orientation: Strong relationship-building skills with hospital clients and community partners; comfortable leading demos and public-facing events.
• Communication & influence: Clear, concise communicator who can align stakeholders and drive adoption of programs and standards.
• Valid driver’s license & reliable transportation for routine site travel. 

Who We Are

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Qualifications & Requirements

Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experienceMinimum Management Experience - 5 yearsMinimum Functional Experience - 3 years