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What is a director of food and nutrition services and how to become one
A director of food and nutrition services plans and coordinates the food service program of the district. This is to ensure proper nutrition and safeguard the health of students, staff, and visitors. They develop and implement nutrition programs that meet all federal requirements and maintain and evaluate policies and procedures for food and nutrition services. Also, they manage inventory and purchase food and departmental supplies as needed in line with the facility budget and standards.
Employers seek applicants with at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition, dietetics, or a related discipline. Applicants must be able to communicate, analyze problems, and discover practical solutions. You must be computer literate. You must be conversant with dietary services, relevant regulations, and the principles of budgeting. Directors of food and nutrition services earn an average salary of $73,439 annually, equivalent to $35.31 per hour. It varies between $46,000 and $115,000.
Avg. Salary $100,887
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 10%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.69%
Asian 7.69%
Black or African American 11.62%
Hispanic or Latino 15.26%
Unknown 5.38%
White 59.35%
Genderfemale 54.81%
male 45.19%
Age - 38American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 38Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Director of food and nutrition services career paths
Key steps to become a director of food and nutrition services
Explore director of food and nutrition services education requirements
Start to develop specific director of food and nutrition services skills
Skills Percentages Healthcare 16.69% Patients 16.22% Infection Control 8.12% Nutrition Services 7.14% Customer Service 5.87% Complete relevant director of food and nutrition services training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of food and nutrition services learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of food and nutrition services based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of food and nutrition services resumes.Gain additional director of food and nutrition services certifications
More About CertificationsDirector of food and nutrition services certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific director of food and nutrition services certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for directors of food and nutrition services include Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) and Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS).
Research director of food and nutrition services duties and responsibilities
- Manage and monitor daily operational duties of full service dining room for patients including creating and maintaining department budget.
- Implement HACCP guidelines for all locations, ensuring the safety and quality of food deliver to on-site and community-base satellite operations.
- Maintain patient confidentiality under HIPAA.
- Utilize WebDenis to verify Medicaid insurance.
Get director of food and nutrition services experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a director of food and nutrition services. The most common roles before becoming a director of food and nutrition services include food service director, clinical dietitian team lead and executive chef.Prepare your director of food and nutrition services resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of food and nutrition services resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of food and nutrition services resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
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Apply for director of food and nutrition services jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a director of food and nutrition services job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
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Average director of food and nutrition services salary
The average director of food and nutrition services salary in the United States is $100,887 per year or $49 per hour. Director of food and nutrition services salaries range between $56,000 and $178,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
