Food Service Director Jobs in California
Food Service Director jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand concentrated in K-12 school districts, University of California and California State University campuses, large hospital systems, and corporate dining. The biggest hiring activity runs through Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego, where employers such as Sodexo, Aramark, and Kaiser Permanente maintain large, established operations. The most in-demand specialties include institutional and healthcare nutrition management, contract food service operations, and school nutrition program compliance. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 17+ Food Service Director jobs
COMPENSATION
The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $95,000. If both numbers are the same, that is the amount that Aramark expects to offer. This is Aramark's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for this position as of the time of posting.
BENEFITS
Aramark offers comprehensive benefit programs and services for eligible employees including medical, dental, vision, and work/life resources. Additional benefits may include retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid days off such as parental leave and disability coverage. Benefits vary by location and are subject to any legal requirements or limitations, employee eligibility status, and where the employee lives and/or works. For more information about Aramark benefits, click here Aramark Careers - Benefits & Compensation.
There is no predetermined application window for this position; the position will close once a qualified candidate is selected. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including, but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance to the extent that those laws apply to the opportunity.
Job Description
The Food Service Director is a management position at our LMU campus responsible for developing and executing dining solutions to meet customer needs and tastes. Oversees and manages dining operations where customers order prepared foods from a menu.
Job Responsibilities
Leadership:
- Lead, mentor, engage and develop teams to maximize their contributions, including recruiting, assessing, training, coaching and managing performance
- Ensure food services appropriately connects to the Executional Framework
- Coach employees by creating a shared understanding about what needs to be achieved and how to execute
- Reward and recognize employees
- Ensure safety and sanitation standards in all operations
Client Relationship:
- Identify client needs and effectively communicate operational progress
Financial Performance:
- Adopt Aramark process and systems
- Build revenue and manage budget, including cost controls regarding food, beverage and labor
- Ensure the completion and maintenance of P&L statements
- Achieve food and labor targets
- Manage resources to ensure quality and cost control within budgetary guidelines
Productivity:
- Implement and maintain Aramark agenda for both labor and food initiatives
- Create value through efficient operations, appropriate cost controls and profit management
- Full compliance with Operational Excellence fundamentals, including food and labor
- Direct and oversee operations related to production, distribution and food service
Compliance:
- Maintain a safe and healthy environment for clients, customers and employees
- Comply with all applicable policies, rules and regulations, including but not limited to those relating to safety, health, wage and hour
Key Responsibilities:
- Establish and maintain systems and procedures for the ordering, receiving, storing, preparing and serving of food related products, as well as menu planning and development
- Develop operational component forecasts and can explain variances. Responsible for components accounting functions.
- Ensure that requirements for appropriate sanitation and safety levels in respective areas are met
- Coordinate and supervise unit personnel regarding production, merchandising, quality and cost control, labor management and employee training
- Recruit, hire, develop and retain front line team.
- Conduct period inventory
- Maintain records to comply with ARAMARK, government and accrediting agency standards
- Interact with Client Management and maintain effective client and customer relations at all levels with client organization
- May participate in sales process and negotiation of contracts
- Look for opportunities to implement new products and services which support sales growth and client retention
Additional Responsibilities:
- Manage the front of the house of the dining operation (Cafeteria/ Residential Dining Facility)
- Develop and implement food service plans aligned with the client's mission and vision, to include sustainable practices
At Aramark, developing new skills and doing what it takes to get the job done make a positive impact for our employees and for our customers. In order to meet our commitments, job duties may change or new ones may be assigned without formal notice.
Qualifications
- Requires at least 4 years of experience
- Requires at least 1-3 years of experience in a management role
- Requires previous experience in food service
- Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to develop and maintain effective client and customer rapport for mutually beneficial business relationships
- Ability to demonstrate excellent customer service using Aramark's standard model
- Ability to maintain an effective working relationship with other departments to a unified food service experience for all customers
- Requires occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 50 lb.
- Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
Education
About Aramark
Our Mission
Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.
At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential.
COMPENSATION
The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $95,000. If both numbers are the same, that is the amount that Aramark expects to offer. This is Aramark's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for this position as of the time of posting.
BENEFITS
Aramark offers comprehensive benefit programs and services for eligible employees including medical, dental, vision, and work/life resources. Additional benefits may include retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid days off such as parental leave and disability coverage. Benefits vary by location and are subject to any legal requirements or limitations, employee eligibility status, and where the employee lives and/or works. For more information about Aramark benefits, click here Aramark Careers - Benefits & Compensation.
There is no predetermined application window for this position; the position will close once a qualified candidate is selected. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including, but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance to the extent that those laws apply to the opportunity.
Job Description
The Food Service Director is a management position at our LMU campus responsible for developing and executing dining solutions to meet customer needs and tastes. Oversees and manages dining operations where customers order prepared foods from a menu.
Job Responsibilities
Leadership:
- Lead, mentor, engage and develop teams to maximize their contributions, including recruiting, assessing, training, coaching and managing performance
- Ensure food services appropriately connects to the Executional Framework
- Coach employees by creating a shared understanding about what needs to be achieved and how to execute
- Reward and recognize employees
- Ensure safety and sanitation standards in all operations
Client Relationship:
- Identify client needs and effectively communicate operational progress
Financial Performance:
- Adopt Aramark process and systems
- Build revenue and manage budget, including cost controls regarding food, beverage and labor
- Ensure the completion and maintenance of P&L statements
- Achieve food and labor targets
- Manage resources to ensure quality and cost control within budgetary guidelines
Productivity:
- Implement and maintain Aramark agenda for both labor and food initiatives
- Create value through efficient operations, appropriate cost controls and profit management
- Full compliance with Operational Excellence fundamentals, including food and labor
- Direct and oversee operations related to production, distribution and food service
Compliance:
- Maintain a safe and healthy environment for clients, customers and employees
- Comply with all applicable policies, rules and regulations, including but not limited to those relating to safety, health, wage and hour
Key Responsibilities:
- Establish and maintain systems and procedures for the ordering, receiving, storing, preparing and serving of food related products, as well as menu planning and development
- Develop operational component forecasts and can explain variances. Responsible for components accounting functions.
- Ensure that requirements for appropriate sanitation and safety levels in respective areas are met
- Coordinate and supervise unit personnel regarding production, merchandising, quality and cost control, labor management and employee training
- Recruit, hire, develop and retain front line team.
- Conduct period inventory
- Maintain records to comply with ARAMARK, government and accrediting agency standards
- Interact with Client Management and maintain effective client and customer relations at all levels with client organization
- May participate in sales process and negotiation of contracts
- Look for opportunities to implement new products and services which support sales growth and client retention
Additional Responsibilities:
- Manage the front of the house of the dining operation (Cafeteria/ Residential Dining Facility)
- Develop and implement food service plans aligned with the client's mission and vision, to include sustainable practices
At Aramark, developing new skills and doing what it takes to get the job done make a positive impact for our employees and for our customers. In order to meet our commitments, job duties may change or new ones may be assigned without formal notice.
Qualifications
- Requires at least 4 years of experience
- Requires at least 1-3 years of experience in a management role
- Requires previous experience in food service
- Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to develop and maintain effective client and customer rapport for mutually beneficial business relationships
- Ability to demonstrate excellent customer service using Aramark's standard model
- Ability to maintain an effective working relationship with other departments to a unified food service experience for all customers
- Requires occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 50 lb.
- Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
Education
About Aramark
Our Mission
Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.
At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential.
See All 17 Food Service Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Food Service Director JobsFood Service Director Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Food Service Director Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Compass Healthcare11
- Hyatt2
- Aramark1
- Delaware North1
- Sugar Bowl Ski Resort1
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services11
- Hospitality & Tourism4
- Education1
- Food & Beverage1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in food service director jobs across California.
- Registered Dietitian credential or California-recognized ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification required
- Bachelor's degree in nutrition, food science, hospitality management, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated experience managing large-scale food service operations, including staff supervision and budget oversight
- Familiarity with California Department of Education nutrition guidelines for school or child nutrition programs
- Proficiency with food service management software and inventory control systems used in institutional settings
- Strong knowledge of California food safety regulations and Department of Public Health compliance requirements
Food Service Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a food service director in California?
Most California employers require a bachelor's degree in nutrition, dietetics, food science, or hospitality management, and many prefer candidates who hold a Registered Dietitian credential issued through the Commission on Dietetic Registration. For roles in California school districts, familiarity with the California Department of Education's nutrition program requirements is expected. Candidates without a dietetics background typically enter through institutional food service management and build toward director roles over several years of progressive supervisory experience.
How much do food service directors make in California?
Food service directors in California earn a median of about $78,260 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $47,690 for the lowest 10% to over $127,340 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire food service directors in California?
Employers hiring food service directors in California right now include Compass Healthcare, Hyatt, and Aramark, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's scale of institutional and contract food service, from large UC and CSU campuses to major hospital networks and corporate campuses in the Bay Area, means consistent openings across a wide range of employer types throughout the year.
Which California cities have the most food service director jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Culver City have the most food service director openings in California. Los Angeles dominates due to its density of hospital systems, school districts, and large corporate campuses, while the Bay Area's concentration of technology company dining programs and healthcare institutions drives demand there, and San Diego's military installations, universities, and healthcare networks support steady hiring in the south.
Are there remote food service director jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Food service director roles are fundamentally hands-on, requiring on-site oversight of kitchen operations, staff, and compliance, so most positions are fully in-person. About 0% of food service director openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those exceptions tend to involve regional or multi-site oversight roles where administrative and planning responsibilities can be handled off-site.
How can I get hired as a food service director in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an assistant food service manager or lead cook supervisor role within a large California institution such as a UC or CSU campus dining program, a Kaiser Permanente or Dignity Health facility, or a Sodexo or Aramark contract site. These employers regularly hire candidates into training and associate management tracks. Completing a California-based dietetic internship or earning a ServSafe Manager certification strengthens early applications, and lateral experience managing a kitchen team or overseeing a single-site operation translates well when moving into director-level consideration.
Where can I find and apply to food service director jobs in California?
You can find and apply to food service director jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find roles that match your experience and apply directly to the employers posting them. No signup is required to search current openings.
See All 17 Food Service Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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