Food Operations Manager 3

Sodexo is a global leader in quality of life services, dedicated to improving the daily experiences of individuals in various environments around the world. Specializing in food service, catering, facilities management, and integrated solutions, Sodexo partners with clients across multiple sectors to enhance customer and employee satisfaction. At the heart of Sodexo's mission is a commitment to creating better everyday experiences while promoting economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities it serves. Recognized for its values of diversity and inclusion, Sodexo fosters a respectful and equitable work environment where all employees are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work and have their ideas and opinions heard.

Sodexo is currently seeking a Food Operations Manager 3 to join the healthcare team at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, an 800-bed facility known for delivering a comprehensive continuum of care, including acute and ambulatory services, behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, and long-term care. This is a highly visible leadership role perfect for a hands-on professional passionate about enhancing patient dining experiences, developing employees, and driving operational excellence. The Food Operations Manager 3 will oversee patient dining services, collaborating closely with hospital leadership, clinical teams, and behavioral health programs to support patient well-being across multiple care settings.

This position entails managing a unionized workforce of about 150 frontline employees and supervising patient dining operations that primarily serve long-term care residents, alongside a smaller acute care population and additional behavioral health programs. The manager will also be responsible for the "Zime" branded retail concept and the hospital cafe9, which operates on weekdays for breakfast and lunch. The role demands a leader who values every meal as an important element of patient care and is driven to make a meaningful impact on patient satisfaction and employee engagement.

The Food Operations Manager 3 will lead daily operations ensuring exceptional service and operational excellence. They will engage in patient rounding and service recovery initiatives, maintain compliance with food safety and sanitation standards, and oversee scheduling, payroll, and labor management for a unionized team. Key responsibilities include monitoring meal quality and tray line accuracy, partnering with interdisciplinary hospital departments, supporting ancillary food services for behavioral health programs, and fostering a culture rooted in safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Compensation for this role is fair and equitable, reflecting the candidate's education, experience, skills, and training. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision care, wellness programs, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, paid time off, company holidays, career growth opportunities, and tuition reimbursement. Sodexo supports new employees with detailed information about benefits upon hire.

Ideal candidates will have healthcare food service leadership experience, preferably within patient dining, long-term care, behavioral health, or acute care environments. Experience managing unionized teams, strong knowledge of food safety regulations including HACCP, and proven success with customer satisfaction and service recovery are essential. Familiarity with patient satisfaction platforms such as Experiencia and SMS rounding is a plus. Above all, the manager should be passionate about developing their teams and creating exceptional patient experiences in a mission-driven healthcare setting.