Senior Director of Clinical Nutrition Services

Stanford Health Care (SHC) is a renowned academic medical center located in Palo Alto, California, dedicated to providing exceptional patient care, groundbreaking research, and comprehensive medical education. SHC is known for its commitment to innovation, excellence, and compassionate care, serving a diverse patient population across multiple sites. The medical center is recognized nationally and internationally for its high standards in clinical practice and its continuous efforts to improve health outcomes through advanced treatment protocols and interdisciplinary collaboration. With a strong emphasis on integrating patient-centered care and cutting-edge research, Stanford Health Care has built a distinguished legacy that continues to inspire healthcare professionals and positively impact the community it serves.

The Senior Director of Clinical Nutrition Services at Stanford Health Care plays a critical leadership role overseeing clinical nutrition strategies and programs across inpatient, outpatient, and specialty nutrition services at multiple SHC sites. This full-time, onsite leadership position provides a strategic vision for advancing clinical excellence and integrating nutrition science into multidisciplinary care practices. The Senior Director is responsible for establishing systemwide nutrition standards, spearheading innovation in care delivery models, and leading large-scale initiatives designed to enhance patient outcomes and operational performance. This role collaborates closely with senior clinical, physician, and population health leaders to align nutrition services with SHC's mission of exceptional patient care, education, and research.

Key responsibilities include developing and executing multi-year strategic plans for clinical nutrition, expanding inpatient, outpatient, and virtual nutrition programs, and driving innovation in digital health and specialty nutrition areas such as oncology, transplant, and metabolic health. The Senior Director ensures delivery of evidence-based medical nutrition therapy, standardizes clinical pathways and documentation, and promotes systemwide quality improvements related to nutrition care. Additionally, the role leads collaborative research and academic initiatives in partnership with Stanford School of Medicine, manages multi-site operational and financial aspects, and fosters partnerships that enhance program performance and growth opportunities. A strategic advisor to senior leadership, the Senior Director also champions workforce development, leadership, certification, and succession planning to sustain a high-performing clinical nutrition team.

This leadership position requires a master's degree in nutrition or dietetics and extensive experience—typically over 10 years—in progressive clinical nutrition leadership roles within academic medical centers or complex healthcare systems. Candidates must demonstrate a strong background in both inpatient and outpatient program management, deep knowledge of clinical nutrition science, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning expertise. Effective communication, executive presence, and a history of successful organizational change initiatives are essential. The position requires a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential, with preferred advanced specialty certifications such as CNSC, RDN-AP, CDCES, or BC-ADM.

Stanford Health Care offers a competitive salary range starting approximately at $94.35 to $125.03 per hour, with final compensation based on experience, education, specialty, and equity factors. The institution emphasizes diversity, equal opportunity employment, and an inclusive work environment where all employees execute the C-I-CARE standards to deliver an exceptional patient and family experience. The Senior Director of Clinical Nutrition Services role is an outstanding opportunity to lead innovative nutrition programs within one of the top healthcare organizations in the world, contributing meaningfully to improved patient outcomes, academic advancements, and operational excellence.