Regional Director of Food Services

Position Summary

The Regional Director of Food Services provides strategic and operational leadership for food and nutrition services across an assigned portfolio of healthcare facilities. This role partners closely with facility leadership and Food Services/Dietary leaders to ensure high-quality dining experiences, regulatory compliance, operational consistency, and effective financial management.

The Regional Director serves as a subject matter expert and resource to facility teams, helping develop strong leaders, improve food service operations, implement best practices, and ensure dining programs support resident satisfaction, clinical needs, and overall quality of care.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Regional Leadership & Operational Support

• Provide leadership, guidance, and operational support to Food Services/Dietary teams across assigned facilities.
• Partner with facility Administrators and department leaders to evaluate food service operations and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Establish and promote consistent standards, processes, and best practices while supporting facility-level accountability and execution.
• Conduct regular facility visits to assess operations, provide coaching, and support implementation of improvement initiatives.
• Assist facilities experiencing operational, staffing, compliance, quality, or financial challenges.
• Support new facility transitions, acquisitions, leadership changes, and other organizational initiatives as needed.

Quality & Resident Experience

• Champion a resident-centered dining experience focused on food quality, choice, presentation, service, and satisfaction.
• Monitor resident feedback, satisfaction results, complaints, and other quality indicators and partner with facility teams to develop appropriate action plans.
• Promote dining programs that accommodate resident preferences, cultural considerations, special diets, and clinical needs.
• Identify and implement opportunities to enhance the overall dining experience across facilities.

Regulatory Compliance & Food Safety

• Ensure food service operations align with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including CMS requirements and food safety standards.
• Provide guidance to facilities regarding survey readiness and regulatory compliance.
• Review survey findings, audits, and identified deficiencies and support facilities in developing and executing corrective action plans.
• Promote consistent standards for sanitation, food handling, storage, preparation, infection prevention, and kitchen safety.
• Maintain awareness of regulatory changes and communicate requirements and recommended practices to facility leadership.

Financial & Operational Performance

• Partner with facility leadership to manage food costs, labor, supplies, purchasing, and other key operating expenses.
• Monitor regional and facility-level performance metrics to identify trends, opportunities, and areas requiring additional support.
• Assist facilities with budgeting, forecasting, inventory management, purchasing practices, and cost-control initiatives.
• Balance financial stewardship with resident satisfaction, food quality, clinical requirements, and regulatory expectations.
• Identify opportunities to standardize purchasing, products, processes, and vendor relationships where appropriate.

Leadership Development & Staffing

• Coach and develop Food Services/Dietary leaders to strengthen leadership capability and operational performance.
• Partner with facility leadership and Talent Acquisition to support recruiting and retention strategies for critical food service positions.
• Assist with onboarding and development of new Food Services/Dietary leaders.
• Identify training needs and develop or coordinate educational resources for food service teams.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and resident-centered service.

Clinical & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Registered Dietitians, Nursing, Clinical Operations, Procurement, Human Resources, and other partners to support effective food and nutrition programs.
• Help ensure therapeutic diets, texture-modified diets, allergies, and other dietary requirements are appropriately incorporated into facility operations.
• Support interdisciplinary initiatives designed to improve nutrition, hydration, resident outcomes, and quality of care.
• Serve as a liaison between facility teams and organizational leadership on food service initiatives, challenges, and opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Service Management, Hospitality Management, Nutrition, Dietetics, Business, Healthcare Administration, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive food service leadership experience, including multi-site or regional leadership experience preferred.
• Experience within skilled nursing, long-term care, senior living, healthcare, or another highly regulated food service environment strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food service operations, sanitation, food safety, budgeting, purchasing, inventory management, and labor management.
• Working knowledge of CMS requirements and state and federal regulations applicable to food and nutrition services in long-term care preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and influence leaders across multiple locations.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a decentralized environment and balance organizational standards with facility-level needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and food service, purchasing, or operational reporting systems.
• Ability to travel regularly throughout the assigned region.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) and Certified Food Protection Professional (CFPP) credentials preferred.
• ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent food safety certification preferred.
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential is beneficial but not required.

Key Competencies

• Multi-site operational leadership
• Food service and dining operations expertise
• Regulatory and survey readiness
• Financial and cost management
• Resident experience
• Leadership development and coaching
• Continuous improvement
• Data-driven decision making
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Change management
• Relationship building and influence

Travel

Regular travel to facilities throughout the assigned region is required. Travel frequency will vary based on operational needs and may include occasional overnight travel.

Physical Requirements

The position requires the ability to regularly visit and evaluate food service operations within healthcare facilities, including kitchens, dining areas, storage areas, and other operational environments. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Join PACS: Elevate Healthcare with Us!

PACS is elevating healthcare by revolutionizing our approach to leadership and quality care. Guided by our core values oflove, excellence, trust, accountability, mutual respect, and commitment, we strive to foster a culture of compassionate care within our teams and the communities we serve. As we grow rapidly, exciting opportunities await you to engage in impactful projects and contribute valuable insights to stakeholders nationwide.

If you're ready to make a difference and embrace our mission of creating real change, we invite you to join us at PACS. Together, let’s shape the future of healthcare!

Join Our Team and Thrive!

At PACS, we believe our employees are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer an exceptional benefits package designed to enhance your well-being and support your lifestyle.

Our Comprehensive Benefits Include

• Health Coverage: Enjoy medical, dental, and vision plans to keep you and your family healthy.

• PTO and Vacation: Benefit from generous paid time off and holidays to relax and recharge.

• Financial Wellness: Take advantage of Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to manage your healthcare expenses effectively.

• Retirement Planning: Secure your future with our 401(k) plan, complete with company contributions to help you build your retirement savings.

• Support When You Need It: Our Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) provides confidential support for personal and professional challenges.

Join us atPACSand take advantage of a workplace that truly values you!

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applicants of every race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and any other protected characteristic. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.