Senior Director of Service Development

The Culinary Solutions team supports the development and profitability of the business in North America. The scope of the department is to develop and manage our existing internal brands and to develop retail and non-retail services as identified by Marketing and our Segment business partners.

Our overall approach to service development is to deliver innovation and to differentiate Sodexo in the marketplace.

Sodexo North America is hiring a Senior Director of Service Development. This position is responsible for leading the strategic vision, innovation, and execution of brand and service development within the food service sector. This role requires a dynamic leader with deep expertise in food services/concept innovation, market trends, and brand strategy to drive growth and differentiation in a competitive landscape. The position will provide leadership and mentorship to a high-performing team.

This is a remote opportunity. Candidate must reside on the east coast with a preference for the New York metro area or Bethesda, MD area. 

• Brand & Service Development: Oversee the end-to-end service development process, from ideation to commercialization, ensuring alignment with market demands and business objectives.
• Brand Positioning & Growth: Develop and/or refresh brands that enhance market presence, customer engagement, profitability, differentiation, and competitive advantage.
• Market Research & Consumer Insights: Analyze industry trends, customer preferences, and competitive landscapes to inform brand and service development.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate with culinary, design, marketing, sales, supply chain, and operations teams to ensure seamless execution of the service development process.
• Team Leadership & Development: Manage and mentor a team of three direct reports, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.
• Relationship Management: Build and nurture key internal executive stakeholder relationships
• Vendor Partner Management: Manage vendor partner relationships to support brand and service development, including but not limited to, creative agencies, uniforms providers, signage vendors, etc.
• Innovation Across Sectors: Manage the development of branded services that align to the go-to-market strategies of multiple business sectors (ex. Higher Education, Healthcare, K-12, Seniors, B&I, etc.) across varying categories, including (coffee, convenience, retail, non-retail, catering, etc.)
• Financial & Performance Metrics: Align service development to business segment financial and performance targets.
• Dashboards & Reporting: Manage a variety of dashboards and reporting tools to effectively communicate status of projects.

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

• 10+ years in brand/concept development, marketing, or brand management within the food service industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field (MBA preferred).
• Strong leadership, problem solving, collaboration, strategic thinking, analytical abilities, and excellent communication skills.

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor's degree or related equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience -10 years managerial experience
Minimum Functional Experience - 10 years relevant functional experience