Food Service Director Jobs in Ohio
Food Service Director jobs in Ohio are most active in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, where large healthcare systems, university dining operations, and contract food service companies maintain steady hiring across institutional and corporate accounts. Employers like Aramark, Compass Group, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center regularly seek experienced directors to oversee multi-unit operations, budget management, and compliance. Demand is strongest in healthcare foodservice, K-12 and higher education dining, and senior living, with openings at both the single-site director and regional oversight levels. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Food Service Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 18+ Food Service Director jobs
Run your own kitchen. Be home for dinner.
We are hiring a Food Service Director to lead our dining program — about 3 meals a day for 90 residents, with a team of 12.
If you've been running a restaurant kitchen through 60-hour weeks, close shifts, and holidays away from your family — read the next part carefully. Same craft. A schedule you can actually live with.
This isn't restaurant cooking
No late nights. No closing shifts. No doubles on a Saturday because someone called off. You cook on a schedule that's set in advance, for the same people every day — folks who eat here three times a day and will tell you straight out what they thought of it. The rush is real, but it ends. And when it ends, you go home.
What you'd own
- The entire dining operation at the community — menus, service, staff, and standards
- Building menus residents genuinely look forward to, not just menus that meet a spec
- Your food and labor budget, ordering, inventory, and vendor relationships
- Keeping the kitchen inspection-ready every day — sanitation, HACCP, temp logs, Ohio state survey standards
- Hiring, training, scheduling, and developing your own team
- Working directly with residents and families on special diets, allergies, and menu feedback
What we're looking for
- 3+ years running or second-in-command of a commercial kitchen — restaurant, healthcare, hotel, school, or senior living all count
- You've been accountable for a food cost number
- ServSafe Manager certification, or willing to get it — we pay for it
- You can lead a team without raising your voice at it. Our best directors are the calm ones.
What we offer
- $55,000 starting salary.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Paid time off and paid holidays.
- A real schedule — primarily daytime, 7:00 am - 2:00 pm, 11:00 am - 7:00 Pm.
- Free meals on shift.
- We pay for your ServSafe certification.
- The autonomy to actually run your kitchen — not execute someone else's spreadsheet.
About us
Our company manages dining for senior living communities and camp and retreat centers across the Midwest and Texas. We're not a national conglomerate. We're small enough that your director knows your name and takes your call.
Apply in 2 minutes — no cover letter needed. We respond to every applicant, usually the same day. Questions before you apply? Email apply@specialtyfs.com — a real person answers.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Shift availability:
- Day Shift (Preferred)
- Night Shift (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Cincinnati, OH 45246 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Cincinnati, OH 45246: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
Run your own kitchen. Be home for dinner.
We are hiring a Food Service Director to lead our dining program — about 3 meals a day for 90 residents, with a team of 12.
If you've been running a restaurant kitchen through 60-hour weeks, close shifts, and holidays away from your family — read the next part carefully. Same craft. A schedule you can actually live with.
This isn't restaurant cooking
No late nights. No closing shifts. No doubles on a Saturday because someone called off. You cook on a schedule that's set in advance, for the same people every day — folks who eat here three times a day and will tell you straight out what they thought of it. The rush is real, but it ends. And when it ends, you go home.
What you'd own
- The entire dining operation at the community — menus, service, staff, and standards
- Building menus residents genuinely look forward to, not just menus that meet a spec
- Your food and labor budget, ordering, inventory, and vendor relationships
- Keeping the kitchen inspection-ready every day — sanitation, HACCP, temp logs, Ohio state survey standards
- Hiring, training, scheduling, and developing your own team
- Working directly with residents and families on special diets, allergies, and menu feedback
What we're looking for
- 3+ years running or second-in-command of a commercial kitchen — restaurant, healthcare, hotel, school, or senior living all count
- You've been accountable for a food cost number
- ServSafe Manager certification, or willing to get it — we pay for it
- You can lead a team without raising your voice at it. Our best directors are the calm ones.
What we offer
- $55,000 starting salary.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Paid time off and paid holidays.
- A real schedule — primarily daytime, 7:00 am - 2:00 pm, 11:00 am - 7:00 Pm.
- Free meals on shift.
- We pay for your ServSafe certification.
- The autonomy to actually run your kitchen — not execute someone else's spreadsheet.
About us
Our company manages dining for senior living communities and camp and retreat centers across the Midwest and Texas. We're not a national conglomerate. We're small enough that your director knows your name and takes your call.
Apply in 2 minutes — no cover letter needed. We respond to every applicant, usually the same day. Questions before you apply? Email apply@specialtyfs.com — a real person answers.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Shift availability:
- Day Shift (Preferred)
- Night Shift (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Cincinnati, OH 45246 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Cincinnati, OH 45246: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
See All 18 Food Service Director Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Food Service Director JobsFood Service Director Jobs by City in Ohio
Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Food Service Director Job Market in Ohio
A snapshot from current Ohio openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Ohio Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in food service director jobs across Ohio.
- Registered Dietitian credential or ServSafe Manager Certification recognized in Ohio preferred
- Bachelor's degree in dietetics, nutrition, hospitality management, or a related field
- Proven experience managing food service operations in a healthcare or institutional setting
- Strong knowledge of Ohio Department of Health food safety codes and compliance requirements
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, labor costs, and vendor contracts for multi-site operations
- Experience leading and developing large food service teams across multiple shifts or locations
Food Service Director Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a food service director in Ohio?
Most food service directors in Ohio hold a bachelor's degree in dietetics, nutrition, food science, or hospitality management, and many employers prefer candidates who are Registered Dietitians credentialed through the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Ohio does not issue a separate state license for the director title itself, but Ohio Department of Health food safety certification is standard. Large Ohio healthcare and university employers typically promote from clinical dietitian or assistant director roles.
Which companies hire food service directors in Ohio?
Companies currently hiring food service directors in Ohio include Aramark, Trilogy Health Services, and TALNT, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Ohio's concentration of hospital networks, public university systems, and long-term care facilities means contract food service operators and institutional employers account for a significant share of openings.
Which Ohio cities have the most food service director jobs?
Cleveland, Columbus, and Akron lead Ohio for food service director openings. Columbus drives the largest share because of its dense concentration of healthcare systems and Ohio State University's extensive dining and medical operations, while Cleveland and Cincinnati anchor demand through their major hospital campuses and corporate headquarters, and smaller metros like Dayton often see openings tied to regional health systems and assisted living operators.
Are there remote food service director jobs in Ohio?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of food service director openings tied to Ohio are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which reflects how hands-on the role is by nature, since most directors are responsible for daily operations, safety inspections, and on-site staff management. The portions of the role most likely to be done remotely are menu planning, budget reporting, and vendor negotiations.
How can I get hired as a food service director in Ohio with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a food service supervisor or assistant manager role at a large Ohio institutional employer, such as a hospital system, university dining program, or contract food service company operating in Ohio. Organizations like Aramark and Compass Group run structured management development programs that place candidates without director experience into training tracks. Completing a Registered Dietitian credential or a ServSafe Manager Certification gives applicants a clear competitive edge for moving into director-level interviews.
Where can I find and apply to food service director jobs in Ohio?
You can find and apply to food service director jobs in Ohio on Migrate Mate, which lists current Ohio openings across healthcare, education, senior living, and contract food service. Search the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match your experience and location preference.
See All 18 Food Service Director Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Food Service Director Jobs