Senior Food Service Manager
Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.
Don't just apply. Show up ready.
Olive works from this exact posting — no sign-up to start.
At a glance
Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
UCLA Health is hiring a Senior Food Service Manager. UCLA Health is seeking an experienced culinary leader to oversee kitchen operations across patient dining, retail food services, and catering. This role involves leading a high-performing team, driving operational excellence, and shaping the dining experience at a leading academic health system. The Senior Manager, Culinary Services will report to the Executive Director and be responsible for day-to-day leadership, ensuring high-quality food production, efficient operations, and compliance with food safety and regulatory requirements.
Key focus areas include Oversee 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, and Manage staffing, scheduling, workflow, and daily kitchen operations.
Successful candidates bring Five Years Food Preparation Experience, One Year Supervisory Experience, and ServSafe Certification. Important skills include English Reading, English Writing, English Speaking, Leadership, Supervising Diverse Teams, and Delegating Tasks.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Description
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: $68,400-136,000/year
Please note, this is a limited position expected for 6 months. 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
- If you have a ServSafe certification, please include it on your application for review.
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.
You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.