J-1 Visa Food Service Director Jobs

Food Service Director roles in the United States are available to international professionals through the J-1 Trainee or Specialist program category, administered by a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization. Finding a host employer willing to coordinate J-1 sponsorship is the first step toward securing your placement.

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Overview

Open Jobs115+
Top Visa TypeJ-1
Work Type99% On-site
Top LocationAtlanta, GA
Most JobsCaesars Entertainment

Showing 5 of 115+ Food Service Director jobs

Management & Training Corporation
Student Intern, Food Services
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Management & Training Corporation
Added 1mo ago
Student Intern, Food Services
Management & Training Corporation
Waimānalo, Hawaii
Food Service
Customer Service & Support
$17.38/hr
On-Site
None
5,001-10,000

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Marmon Foodservice Technologies
Industrial Design Co-op
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Marmon Foodservice Technologies
Added 1mo ago
Industrial Design Co-op
Marmon Foodservice Technologies
Carol Stream, Illinois
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
$19/hr - $24/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Boyne Mountain Resort
Food and Beverage Internship
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Boyne Mountain Resort
Added 4d ago
Food and Beverage Internship
Boyne Mountain Resort
Boyne Falls, Michigan
Food Service
Hospitality & Guest Services
Hospitality Management
On-Site
None

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Bass Pro Shops
Intern - Resort
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Bass Pro Shops
Added 5d ago
Intern - Resort
Bass Pro Shops
Ridgedale, Missouri
Food Service
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Hornblower Group
Hospitality Internship
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Hornblower Group
Added 6d ago
Hospitality Internship
Hornblower Group
Chicago, Illinois
Food Service
Hospitality & Guest Services
Events & Tourism
Customer Service & Support
Hospitality Management
Event Planning
Customer Service
On-Site
Associate's
1,001-5,000

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Tips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Food Service Director

Match your credentials to program eligibility

J-1 Trainee eligibility requires a degree or professional certificate in hospitality, food service management, or a related field, plus at least one year of experience outside the U.S. Gather transcripts, credential evaluations, and letters confirming your work history before approaching host employers.

Target employers with institutional dining operations

Hospitals, university dining services, and large corporate campuses hire Food Service Directors and are more familiar with J-1 host agreements than independent restaurants. These institutions have legal and HR teams that can coordinate the required training plan documentation.

Search J-1-compatible roles on Migrate Mate

Use Migrate Mate to filter Food Service Director postings by employers with a history of international hiring. This narrows your search to organizations already equipped to engage a designated sponsor and host a J-1 exchange visitor.

Negotiate a structured training plan before accepting offers

Your designated sponsor requires a detailed training plan outlining your program objectives, supervision structure, and rotation schedule. Confirm your prospective host employer will complete this document before you sign anything, since the DS-2019 cannot be issued without it.

Verify the two-year home residency requirement applies to you

Some J-1 Trainee and Specialist participants are subject to a two-year home residency requirement before changing to certain U.S. visa categories. Check whether your country of citizenship or your funding source triggers this requirement, as it affects long-term career planning in the U.S.

Confirm the host employer's wage meets DOL prevailing rates

Your designated sponsor will verify that your compensation aligns with U.S. wage standards for Food Service Directors in your region. Cross-reference your offer against Bureau of Labor Statistics data for your metro area so you can flag discrepancies before your training plan is finalized.

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Food Service Director J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions

Which J-1 program category covers Food Service Director roles?

Food Service Director positions typically fall under the J-1 Trainee or Specialist category. Trainee applies if you hold a relevant degree and have at least one year of post-degree professional experience. Specialist applies to experienced practitioners with substantial expertise in hospitality or institutional food service management who do not fit the Trainee educational profile. The host employer works with a designated sponsor to determine the correct category before issuing the DS-2019.

Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a Food Service Director?

The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your employer. Organizations like Cultural Vistas or AIPT administer the program by issuing the DS-2019, reviewing the training plan, and monitoring compliance throughout your stay. Your employer is the host, responsible for the day-to-day placement, but the designated sponsor holds the legal responsibility for your exchange visitor status.

How do I find U.S. employers willing to host a J-1 Food Service Director?

Migrate Mate lets you search Food Service Director roles posted by employers with international hiring backgrounds, making it easier to identify hosts already open to coordinating with a designated sponsor. Large institutional employers, contract food service companies, and university dining operations are among the most common host types for this role category.

What documents does my host employer need to provide for my J-1 application?

Your host employer must complete a structured training plan, often called a Training or Internship Placement Plan, that outlines your program goals, daily activities, supervision details, and evaluation schedule. They also need to confirm the compensation offered meets applicable wage standards and sign a host organization agreement with your designated sponsor. Without these documents, the sponsor cannot issue your DS-2019.

Does the two-year home residency requirement affect Food Service Directors on J-1?

It can. The two-year home residency requirement applies when your J-1 funding comes from a U.S. or home-country government program, or when your home country has designated your field as a skill that nationals should return to develop. Food service management is not universally on those lists, but you should verify your specific situation with your designated sponsor before accepting a placement, especially if you plan to pursue a different U.S. visa afterward.

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