Associate Director- Culinary Programs-Food & Nutrition Services

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is seeking an Assoc Dir, Culinary Programs to support Food & Nutrition Services Administration. The Assoc Dir, Culinary Programs is responsible for advancing culinary strategy, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and team leadership across patient and retail dining services. This role ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality, and innovative food programs aligned with clinical nutrition standards and organizational priorities.

The Assoc Dir, Culinary Programs collaborates across clinical nutrition, wellness, supply chain, and operations to drive consistency, efficiency, and an exceptional dining experience.

UT MD Anderson is a leading institution focused on cancer care, research, education, and prevention. The Assoc Dir, Culinary Programs plays a critical role in supporting this mission by optimizing culinary systems, ensuring compliance with food safety standards, and developing high-performing teams that contribute to patient-centered care and operational success.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Hotel or Restaurant Management, Institutional Management, Culinary Management, Food and Nutrition, or a related field (Master's preferred), along with extensive management experience in food service environments such as healthcare, hospitality, or food manufacturing. Preferred credentials include Certified Executive Chef, along with expertise in food safety, culinary innovation, regulatory compliance, and team leadership.

Strong technical proficiency, including word processing and spreadsheet software, is also important.

Minimum $106,500 - Midpoint $133,000 - Maximum $159,500

The typical work schedule is 8am - 5pm, Monday - Friday (must be flexible)

Work Location:

Onsite

• Employer‑paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined‑benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer‑paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

• Define and communicate culinary vision and standards for retail and patient services
• Lead recipe standardization including ingredients, methods, portions, allergens, and nutrient targets
• Drive innovation aligned with healthcare nutrition standards and dining trends
• Partner with clinical nutrition and wellness to validate menu cycles and ensure accurate nutrition labeling
• Oversee enterprise menu and production systems for forecasting and data accuracy
• Oversee procurement, vendor relationships, and product evaluation
• Monitor inventory systems for proper storage, rotation, and utilization

• Develop and review food production, safety, and infection control policies
• Conduct audits and lead corrective action planning for compliance gaps
• Oversee sanitation, allergen controls, and infection prevention protocols
• Monitor safe food handling, labeling, temperature, and documentation standards
• Ensure manufactured items meet regulatory labeling requirements
• Maintain survey readiness through inspections and action plans
• Ensure equipment reliability through maintenance and capital planning
• Direct emergency feeding plans for continuity of service
• Maintain documentation supporting compliance and improvement

• Oversee in‑house manufacturing ensuring standardization, quality control, and safe distribution
• Establish and monitor KPIs for yield, labor efficiency, food safety, and cost control
• Build production plans with quality checkpoints for patient and retail operations
• Lead purchasing, receiving, rotation, and waste reduction practices
• Align labor and schedules with demand and menu complexity
• Evaluate and implement technologies to improve efficiency
• Maintain documentation…