Food Service Lead

St. Charles Health System is a prominent healthcare provider dedicated to creating America’s healthiest community through compassionate and comprehensive health services. The organization is committed to delivering better health, better care, and better value, underpinned by core values such as accountability, caring, and teamwork. With a focus on patient-centered care, St. Charles Health System integrates advanced medical practices and community support to foster well-being and improve health outcomes. As a respected institution in the healthcare industry, it boasts a range of specialized departments and services, including its vital Food Services Department. This department plays a critical role in supporting patient recovery and satisfaction by offering high-quality food and beverage services tailored to meet diverse dietary needs and preferences.

The Food Services Department is a high-volume service unit responsible for delivering food and beverage services which include patient room service and retail cafe management. The department operates with an emphasis on quality, safety, and efficiency to ensure positive experiences for patients, caregivers, and guests alike. By maintaining stringent food safety standards and providing excellent customer service, the Food Services team contributes significantly to the overall healthcare environment and patient comfort.

The Food Service Lead is a key role within this department, functioning as a resource and liaison between frontline caregivers and managerial staff. This full-time, variable shift position offers a pay range from $22.30 to $30.11 per hour and requires a proactive, organized, and communicative leader to oversee daily operations and ensure the smooth delivery of food services. Unlike supervisory roles that manage teams, the Food Service Lead supports frontline caregivers through direct involvement in daily tasks while facilitating communication and coordination with management.

In this role, the Food Service Lead provides essential oversight, ensuring task completion with quality documentation and adherence to established standards. Acting as the person in charge when supervisors or managers are unavailable, they are cross-trained across various service stations to offer flexible support. Responsibilities extend to special assignments involving food production, customer service, room service, catering, cafe operations, and event management. Effective communication skills are paramount, as the Food Service Lead must convey instructions, organize supplies and equipment, and collaborate closely with Facilities Services to address any issues related to equipment safety or maintenance.

Furthermore, the Food Service Lead partners with supervisors in staffing duties, including scheduling daily assignments, extra duties, and special projects. The role demands an individual capable of working independently in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions, while also fostering teamwork and collaboration. Additional responsibilities include assisting with training and orientation of new caregivers, mentoring staff to maintain competence, handling office procedures such as data management and correspondence, and resolving scheduling conflicts when necessary.

Dedicated to upholding the organization’s vision, mission, and values, the Food Service Lead champions continuous improvement through Lean principles. This position plays an instrumental role in promoting a safe working environment for caregivers, patients, and guests, strictly adhering to professional standards, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance. Through excellence in customer service and patient care delivery, the Food Service Lead directly impacts the satisfaction and well-being of those served by St. Charles Health System.

Overall, this position offers a dynamic and rewarding career opportunity for candidates experienced in food service and nutrition, especially those with a passion for leadership and operational excellence within a healthcare setting. The Food Service Lead at St. Charles Health System is a vital contributor to the hospital’s mission of providing better health and care, making a meaningful difference daily, and supporting a healthier community.