• Associate Director, Food and Nutrition Services

    UCLA Health (Los Angeles, CA)


    Description

    The Associate Director of Food and Nutrition Services provides strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of the hospital's food operations. This includes patient meal services, retail food outlets, catering, and coordination with clinical nutrition.

     

    In this fast-paced, high-volume environment, the Associate Director leads a multidisciplinary team focused on delivering high-quality, patient-centered meals while meeting regulatory standards and supporting clinical goals. The role emphasizes process improvement, sustainability, and innovation, and may extend across multiple sites to standardize systems and policies.

     

    This position plays a key role in aligning food and nutrition services with hospital-wide priorities, improving patient satisfaction, and ensuring compliance with CMS, Joint Commission, and local health codes. Success in this role requires strong leadership, a strategic mindset, and a focus on results, accountability, and service excellence.

    Qualifications

    + Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required

    + Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) or Registered Dietitian (RD)

    + ServSafe Certification

    + At least 10 years of relevant experience in food and nutrition services, ideally in a healthcare or high-volume setting

    + Able to lead and motivate diverse teams while managing day-to-day operations across multiple locations

    + Experienced in using foodservice software, maintaining compliance with safety standards, and overseeing kitchen equipment operations

    + Communicates clearly and effectively with staff, executives, and external partners; comfortable leading presentations and negotiations

    + Uses operational data and feedback to improve performance, streamline processes, and elevate service quality

    + Focused on delivering excellent, patient-centered service and continuously adapting to meet customer needs

    + Brings cultural awareness and inclusivity into team management and menu planning

    + Self-driven, dependable, and consistently meets deadlines without requiring close supervision

    + Performs well under pressure, juggling multiple tasks while maintaining quality and composure

    + Maintains high ethical standards, transparency, and accountability in all interactions

    + Open to new ideas and approaches, with a strong track record of leading change and implementing improvements

     

    UCLA Health welcomes all individuals, without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin or disabilities, and we proudly look to each person’s unique achievements and experiences to further set us apart.