Menu & Dining Operations Consultant
$85,000–$105,000 year
On-siteSanta Ana, California, United States
Job Summary
Develop standardized cycle menus and production documentation for skilled nursing and behavioral health facilities while ensuring compliance with federal regulations, physician orders, and therapeutic diet standards. Conduct routine facility visits to evaluate menu execution, kitchen workflows, sanitation practices, and portion control, providing coaching to Dietary Managers and Food Service staff on operational best practices. Monitor food costs, purchasing trends, and vendor utilization to optimize financial stewardship and identify rebate opportunities, then collaborate with regional dietitians and vendors to implement continuous menu improvements and new food service technologies. Travel up to 75% of the time to support annual budget planning, Quality Assurance initiatives, and multi-site operational assessments across assigned facilities.
Required Qualifications
- Valid driver's license
- Access to a reliable vehicle
- Must be able to travel as needed for business purposes
- Successful completion of a background check
- Pre-employment physical
- Drug screening completion
- Bachelor's degree in nutrition, Food Service Management, Hospitality Management, or a related field
- Registered Dietitian (RD)
- Certified Dietary Manager (CDM)
- Equivalent healthcare food service leadership experience
- Minimum of three years in healthcare food service operations
- Experience in menu planning
- Experience in purchasing
- Experience in budgeting
- Experience in vendor management
- Experience in food cost analysis
- Experience in operational consulting
- Experience with long-term care food service operations
- Experience with skilled nursing food service operations
- Experience with behavioral health food service operations
- Comprehensive knowledge of healthcare food service operations
- Strong knowledge of menu planning
- Strong knowledge of nutritional analysis
- Strong knowledge of recipe development
- Strong knowledge of production systems
- Experience with purchasing optimization
- Experience with food cost management
- Experience with vendor relations
- Knowledge of healthcare purchasing contracts
- Knowledge of rebate programs
- Strong understanding of food safety
- Strong understanding of sanitation
- Strong understanding of CMS
- Strong understanding of Title 22
- Strong understanding of CDPH
- Strong understanding of local health department regulations
- Knowledge of IDDSI standards
- Knowledge of therapeutic diets
- Familiarity with menu software platforms
- Familiarity with nutritional analysis software
- Familiarity with food service technology
- Strong financial and analytical skills
- Excellent organizational and project management abilities
- Ability to manage multiple facilities simultaneously
- Strong communication skills
- Strong coaching skills
- Strong leadership skills
- Ability to develop standardized operational processes
- Ability to analyze operational data
- Ability to implement sustainable improvements
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Applications
- Proficiency with food service management software
Desired Qualifications
- Multi-site healthcare experience
- Experience in menu planning, purchasing, budgeting, vendor management, food cost analysis, and operational consulting
- Experience with long-term care, skilled nursing, or behavioral health food service operations
- Bachelor's degree in nutrition, Food Service Management, Hospitality Management, or a related field preferred
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