Interim Food Service Director Staffing in Healthcare

Understand what a food service director does in healthcare and how the right staffing partner can support daily dining operations. Dietary Solutions connects healthcare organizations with vetted food service directors and related nutrition professionals for permanent, interim, and consulting needs. With nationwide coverage, facility-specific onboarding, and ongoing operational support, organizations can strengthen compliance, meal service, and resident and patient outcomes.

Food service director reviewing healthcare dining operations with staff

Our Interim Food Service Director Services

Explore staffing, consulting, menu, and food cost solutions supporting healthcare dietary departments and food service leadership.

Permanent Staffing

Dietary Solutions recruits, screens, verifies credentials, and places food service directors, culinary experts, dietitians, and related professionals into permanent healthcare roles.

Interim Staffing

Interim professionals help maintain food service continuity during vacancies, employee absences, hiring gaps, and transitions while organizations pursue permanent staffing solutions.

Dietary Managers

Fully vetted interim dietary managers can lead food service operations, support regulatory compliance, and manage key initiatives during staffing transitions or vacancies.

Dietary Consulting

Credentialed consultants support healthcare nutrition and food service departments with compliance, operational planning, menu systems, cost management, and facility-specific training.

Menu Systems

Customizable menu and tray card systems support nutritional analysis, dietary orders, production reporting, food cost visibility, and accurate meal service delivery.

Food Cost Management

Consultants review cost management systems, procedures, and compliance considerations, then develop tailored interventions using food service industry best practices.

People-First Staffing

Strengthen Healthcare Interim Food Service Leadership

A capable food service director helps coordinate menus, kitchen operations, dietary procedures, staff performance, compliance, and resident or patient satisfaction. Dietary Solutions matches healthcare organizations with vetted food service professionals based on their operational needs. Assigned staff receive credential verification, background checks, facility-specific onboarding, and ongoing support from regional directors with nutrition and food service expertise.

Healthcare food service director coordinating kitchen and dining staff
Results That Matter

Trusted Healthcare Support

See how people-first staffing and consulting support strengthens nutrition and food service operations.

"For over 15 years, Dietary Solutions has been incredibly accommodating, modifying its training and support plans to meet our specific location’s needs. On many occasions when we were in a pinch for dietitian coverage and/or in a survey crisis, Dietary Solutions has always found a way to help us through..."

Catherine C.
The Dietary Solutions Difference

Why Choose Dietary Solutions?

Get a people-first partner equipped to support healthcare food service operations and staffing needs.

Vetted Professionals

Credential verification, background checks, and competency evaluations support confident healthcare staffing decisions.

Operational Support

Regional directors provide leadership, mentorship, and facility support beyond the assigned professional’s onsite responsibilities.

Flexible Coverage

Permanent, interim, consultant, and long-term arrangements help address vacancies, absences, and evolving operational needs.

Industry Expertise

More than 30 years of nutrition, dietary consulting, staffing, compliance, and food service experience inform every engagement.

Meet The Dietary Solutions Team

Experienced leaders support healthcare nutrition and food service organizations nationwide.

Portrait of Kay Lakhi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Kay Lakhi

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Kay Lakhi is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dietary Solutions, bringing 25 years of dedicated experience as a community leader and wellness advocate. Her career has centered on advancing health and wellness services aimed at the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases, giving her deep insight into the challenges facing healthcare and long-term care organizations nationwide. As the visionary behind Dietary Solutions, Kay has built a people-first organization that connects skilled nutrition professionals with facilities across the country. Her leadership reflects a genuine commitment to improving patient and resident outcomes through personalized, compassionate care solutions. Kay's passion for wellness and her decades of community engagement continue to shape the company's mission of delivering real solutions and results that matter to every client and partner organization she serves.

Portrait of Ashwin Lakhi, Vice President of Security and Infrastructure

Ashwin Lakhi

Vice President of Security & Infrastructure

Ashwin Lakhi serves as Vice President of Security & Infrastructure at Dietary Solutions, where he oversees critical projects that support the organization's continued growth and operational stability. He applies innovative project management techniques and cross-collaboration strategies to enhance business efficiency across the company's nationwide network. His work ensures that Dietary Solutions maintains the infrastructure and security necessary to reliably serve healthcare, senior-care, and community nutrition clients across the United States. Ashwin's strategic approach to organizational development helps the company scale its services while maintaining high standards of operational integrity. His contributions are integral to the company's ability to deliver consistent, dependable support to the facilities and professionals it partners with every day.

Portrait of Melissa Baumbach, Vice President of Operations

Melissa Baumbach

Vice President of Operations

Melissa Baumbach is the Vice President of Operations at Dietary Solutions, leading customer service initiatives and personalized nutrition strategies for organizations nationwide. She brings specialized expertise in regulatory compliance, nutritional excellence, dining program development, and food cost management. Melissa is also well-versed in QAPI (Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement) and PDPM (Patient-Driven Payment Model), making her an invaluable resource for healthcare and long-term care facilities navigating complex regulatory environments. Her operational leadership ensures that clients receive tailored, effective nutrition and food service solutions that align with both compliance requirements and resident satisfaction goals. Melissa's commitment to operational excellence and her deep understanding of the industry's regulatory landscape make her a trusted partner for organizations seeking to improve their nutrition and dining programs.

Portrait of Denise Fedorek, Regional Director of Operations

Denise Fedorek

Regional Director of Operations

Denise Fedorek serves as a Regional Director of Operations for Dietary Solutions, bringing extensive experience as a nutrition and dietetics professional. Her background spans clinical nutrition, food service management, cost control, training, education, menu development, and gerontological nutrition. Denise plays a key role in providing regional leadership, mentorship, and facility-level support to organizations across the country, helping them maintain compliance while optimizing their nutrition and food service operations. Her comprehensive expertise allows her to address the diverse needs of skilled nursing centers, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare settings that rely on Dietary Solutions for consulting and staffing support. Denise's dedication to gerontological nutrition and resident-centered care reflects the company's core mission of delivering real solutions and meaningful results for every client she supports.

Portrait of Chauntel Horaney, Director of Human Resources

Chauntel Horaney

Director of Human Resources

Chauntel Horaney is the Director of Human Resources at Dietary Solutions, where she leads talent acquisition, onboarding, training, and professional development initiatives for the company's nationwide team. As a Certified Human Resources professional, she brings specialized expertise in organizational processes and employee experience, ensuring that Dietary Solutions attracts and retains top nutrition and dietary professionals. Chauntel's focus on building strong organizational foundations supports the company's ability to deliver consistent, high-quality staffing and consulting services to healthcare and community organizations across the United States. Her commitment to fostering a positive employee experience helps maintain the people-first culture that defines Dietary Solutions, ensuring that every team member is well-equipped to serve clients with professionalism and care.

Portrait of Marcy Cook, Regional Director of Operations

Marcy Cook

Regional Director of Operations

Marcy Cook serves as a Regional Director of Operations at Dietary Solutions, bringing extensive experience as a dietetics and post-acute care leader. She specializes in supporting regulatory compliance, client service, and professional education, all while prioritizing the health and well-being of residents and patients. Marcy's regional leadership provides essential mentorship and facility-level support to organizations across her service area, helping them navigate the complexities of nutrition and food service management in post-acute care settings. Her dedication to combining clinical expertise with operational excellence ensures that client facilities receive comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs. Marcy's contributions align closely with Dietary Solutions' mission of delivering real, people-first solutions that produce meaningful results for the communities and organizations she serves.

Portrait of Dawn Howard, Regional Director of Operations

Dawn Howard

Regional Director of Operations

Dawn Howard is a Regional Director of Operations at Dietary Solutions, bringing valuable experience as a nutrition and dietetics professional with a strong background in clinical nutrition and food service management. Her work is centered on gerontological nutrition and resident care, making her particularly well-suited to support skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care facilities across her region. Dawn provides critical regional leadership, mentorship, and operational support to help client organizations maintain compliance and deliver optimal nutrition outcomes for the residents and patients they serve. Her focus on resident-centered care reflects Dietary Solutions' broader commitment to empathy, collaboration, and authenticity in every service engagement, ensuring that facilities receive knowledgeable, compassionate support tailored to their specific operational and clinical needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a food service director do?

A food service director oversees the operation of a healthcare facility’s dining and dietary department. Responsibilities may include menu coordination, food production, staffing, purchasing and cost controls, sanitation procedures, meal service, regulatory compliance, and collaboration with clinical teams. The role also supports resident or patient satisfaction and helps ensure meals align with individual dietary requirements and facility protocols.

What qualifications should a healthcare food service director have?

Can Dietary Solutions provide an interim food service director?

What healthcare settings can receive food service staffing support?

How does Dietary Solutions screen food service professionals?

What staffing arrangements are available?

Can a food service director receive ongoing operational support?

Does Dietary Solutions serve healthcare facilities nationwide?

Need Help With Interim Food Service Staffing?

Talk with Dietary Solutions about your healthcare facility’s operational needs.

Nationwide Service Coverage

Dietary Solutions supports healthcare nutrition and food service departments across the Nationwide United States.

Nationwide United States

Service Area

24/7 Available

Support

Healthcare Professionals

Network

Need Nationwide Staffing Support?

Connect with a team experienced in healthcare dietary operations and staffing.

Credentials & Trust

Awards and Recognition

Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition credential

Gerontological Nutrition

Certified Specialist credential from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Certified registered dietitian support credential

Registered Dietitian Support

Certified support from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

ServSafe certified food service credential

ServSafe Food Experts

ServSafe certified food service professionals supporting safe operations

Find Your Healthcare Interim Food Service Leader

Share your staffing goals and facility needs so Dietary Solutions can discuss a suitable support approach.

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