Director of Food Service Operations

Our client is seeking a hands-on, high-accountability leader to serve as the Director of Food Service Operations or Commisary Operations at their central food production facility. This person will be ultimately responsible for the day-to-day execution and operational performance of the facility, ensuring food is produced, packaged, and delivered with excellence, consistency, and efficiency. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on building systems, leading teams, managing complexity, and turning strategy into reality — while working alongside a passionate team to create a better regional food system.    

• Ensure smooth, efficient, and consistent execution across all departments — including Bakery, Pantry, Smokehouse, and Sourcing & Fulfillment.

• Directly manage the Production Manager and Department Leads (3–5 direct reports).

• Establish a robust, redundant management structure to ensure 7-day operational continuity.

• Oversee production scheduling, staffing, and facility-wide priorities to meet delivery deadlines and inventory targets.

• Design and enforce systems for process control, staff training, quality assurance, and inventory management.

• Maintain thorough documentation across all departments.

• Leverage software systems (Odoo) to manage operations, inventory, purchasing, scheduling, and traceability.

• Ensure strict adherence to food safety protocols (HACCP, FDA, local health regulations) across departments.

• Work closely with other departments to ensure seamless coordination.

• Translate strategic goals into effective operational systems.

• Ensure that equipment is adequately maintained, facility issues are promptly addressed, and uptime is maximized.

• Support a strong team culture rooted in ownership, communication, and continuous improvement.

• Track and report on P&L, production yields, waste, labor efficiency, and delivery performance.

• Forecast needs, scale capacity with company growth, and coordinate closely with retail and leadership.  

• 5+ years of experience managing a food production operation (commissary, multi-unit prep kitchen, food manufacturing, etc.)

• Proven experience with perishable food systems 

• Strong knowledge of production scheduling, food safety, inventory systems, and team leadership

• Experience working with or implementing ERP systems (Odoo strongly preferred)

• Ability to lead through systems and documentation, not just personal presence

• Excellent communicator, clear thinker, strong follow-through

• Self-manager and self-learner who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment  

• Relocation Assistance

• Full Benefits

• Equity Participation    

With over 175 offices and 350 recruiters in the US and Canada, we have connections that build rewarding careers and grow great brands. Our franchisees and recruiters are here for you without boundary restrictions! Want to move to another state? Want to hire managers throughout North America? We are unique in that our franchisees can work the entire country while offering you one point of contact for all your needs whether you want to hire managers or look for a job in multiple states.

Our clients include nationwide and local restaurants, hotels, retail and grocery chains, assisted living facilities, hospitals, airport concourse outlets, spas, catering and wedding venues, casinos, companies that hire sales and customer service representatives and much more.

Patrice & Associates is the largest and most successful hospitality and retail Executive Search firm in North America and has been in business for more than 25 years. Over these years, we have honed our methods that make us stand apart from our competition.

To help hospitality industry leaders hire the best talent and help great talent find the best opportunities

EOE- Equal Opportunity Employer