Food Service Director Jobs in Iowa

Food Service Director jobs in Iowa are concentrated in healthcare systems, K-12 and higher education, and contract food management, with demand at both the single-unit director and multi-site regional levels. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City are the busiest hiring markets, anchored by employers like UnityPoint Health, the University of Iowa, and Aramark, which maintains long-standing contracts with Iowa institutions. The most in-demand specialties are clinical nutrition management, large-volume institutional dining, and food safety compliance. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

Find Food Service Director Jobs

Overview

Open roles63
Top employerTarget
Top cityDes Moines, IA
Cities hiring35
Work type100% On-site
Top industryFood

Showing 5 of 63+ Food Service Director jobs

Hy-Vee, Inc.
Food Service Manager
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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Added 1d ago
Food Service Manager
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Red Oak, Iowa
Business Operations
Customer Service
Project & Program Management
Project Management
High school diploma or GED
10,000+

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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Food Service Manager
We won't show you this job again
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Added 5d ago
Food Service Manager
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Des Moines, Iowa
Business Operations
Customer Service
Project & Program Management
Project Management
No high school diploma
10,000+

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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Food Service Manager
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Hy-Vee, Inc.
Added 6d ago
Food Service Manager
Hy-Vee, Inc.
Sioux City, Iowa
Business Operations
Customer Service
Project & Program Management
Project Management
No high school diploma
10,000+

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State of Iowa
Food Production Supervisor - Iowa Veterans Home
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State of Iowa
Added 1w ago
Food Production Supervisor - Iowa Veterans Home
State of Iowa
Marshalltown, Iowa
Business Strategy
Corporate Development & M&A
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
10,000+

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Aramark
Food Service Supervisor - Grand View University
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Aramark
Added 1w ago
Food Service Supervisor - Grand View University
Aramark
Des Moines, Iowa
Business Operations
Customer Service
Project & Program Management
Project Management
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

See All 63 Food Service Director Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Food Service Director Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Des Moines
8 jobs
Cedar Rapids
6 jobs
Cedar Falls
5 jobs
Tama
3 jobs
Council Bluffs
3 jobs
Ames
2 jobs
Le Mars
2 jobs
Spencer
2 jobs
Waterloo
2 jobs

Food Service Director Job Market in Iowa

A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Target
    Target13
  • Kwik Trip
    Kwik Trip12
  • Hy-Vee
    Hy-Vee9
  • Sodexo
    Sodexo3
  • Dennis
    Dennis2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Food & Beverage
  • Retail
  • Education
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals

What Iowa Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in food service director jobs across Iowa.

  • Registered Dietitian credential or Certified Dietary Manager certification recognized in Iowa
  • Bachelor's degree in nutrition, food service management, dietetics, or a related field
  • Five or more years of progressive food service or institutional dining management experience
  • Demonstrated budget management experience including food cost control and labor scheduling
  • Working knowledge of Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing food safety standards
  • Proficiency with food service management software and large-volume menu planning systems

Food Service Director Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a food service director in Iowa?

Most Iowa employers require at minimum a bachelor's degree in food service management, dietetics, or nutrition, combined with several years of supervisory experience in institutional or commercial settings. Healthcare employers frequently require the Certified Dietary Manager credential through the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals or a Registered Dietitian license issued through the Iowa Department of Public Health. Education-sector employers, such as school districts, often follow Iowa Department of Education nutrition director guidelines for their credentialing expectations.

Which companies hire food service directors in Iowa?

Companies currently hiring food service directors in Iowa include Target, Kwik Trip, and Hy-Vee, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Iowa's strong concentration of hospital networks, university dining programs, and contract management companies keeps demand for qualified directors consistently active across the state.

Which Iowa cities have the most food service director jobs?

Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Cedar Falls are the Iowa cities with the most food service director openings. Des Moines leads because of its density of regional hospital campuses, corporate dining accounts, and growing higher education presence, while Cedar Rapids and Iowa City are driven by large healthcare systems and the University of Iowa's substantial dining and clinical nutrition operations.

Are there remote food service director jobs in Iowa?

Yes, but they're rare. Food service directors are primarily on-site roles requiring daily presence in kitchens, dining facilities, and institutional settings, so fully remote work is uncommon. About 0% of food service director openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and those positions tend to be regional or district-level roles where administrative and compliance oversight can be handled off-site.

How can I get hired as a food service director in Iowa with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is moving into a food service supervisor or assistant director role within a hospital system, university dining program, or contract management operation in Iowa, then building toward director-level responsibilities. UnityPoint Health and the University of Iowa Health Care both post supervisory and coordinator-level food service roles that serve as direct pipelines into director positions. Earning the Certified Dietary Manager credential through an accredited program while working in a support role gives candidates a measurable edge over those without formal credentialing.

Where can I find and apply to food service director jobs in Iowa?

You can find and apply to food service director jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings. Search the listings, find the roles that fit your background, and apply directly to the ones that match your experience level and target sector.

See All 63 Food Service Director Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Food Service Director Jobs