The Food Program & Innovation Director shapes the future of food and workplace experience for one of Sodexo’s most strategic global clients. This role sits at the intersection of program design, innovation, sustainability, storytelling, and user engagement, ensuring great ideas are clearly designed, well understood, and adopted at scale. You’ll play a key role in shaping how thousands of people experience food every day. That means exploring emerging trends, translating insights into scalable programs, and partnering closely with chefs, operators, and client teams to bring bold ideas to life. You’ll look at the full ecosystem — cafés, micro‑kitchens, specialty concepts, sustainability initiatives, and guest experience touchpoints — and identify opportunities to elevate, streamline, and innovate.
As part of our team, you’ll champion new ideas, elevate the guest experience, and introduce fresh thinking that reimagines how people connect with food at work. Your work will influence everything from menu strategy to service models to the way our culinary identity shows up across the client’s operations. It’s a chance to make a meaningful impact in an environment that values creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
This is a strategic, creative leadership role — not an operational one. You’ll bring design thinking, visual storytelling, and program clarity to a complex, multi‑region environment.
What You'll Do Lead global program design and evolution aligned to client prioritiesDevelop user‑led innovation pilots that are practical and scalableShape sustainability initiatives into clear, experience‑led programsStoryboard strategies and programs to communicate intent and impactTranslate complex ideas into compelling narratives that drive adoptionPartner with marketing and UX teams to enhance engagement and user experienceCreate toolkits and playbooks that help teams bring programs to lifeEnable regional teams with clear frameworks that support consistent rolloutBuild strong relationships with senior stakeholders across Sodexo and with the client What We Offer
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 Programs401(k) Plan with Matching ContributionsPaid Time Off and Company HolidaysCareer Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement
More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.
What You Bring A design‑minded creative leader who can visualize strategy, storyboard ideas, and turn concepts into clear, compelling programsProven experience shaping innovation or experience‑led programs across complex, multi‑site or multi‑country environmentsExceptional storytelling ability — visual, written, and conceptual — with a talent for making the complex simple and the strategic tangibleA global mindset that connects high‑level vision to regional realities with clarity and empathyConfidence and presence in senior‑level conversations, with the ability to influence, align, and inspire high‑expectation stakeholdersA user‑centric approach that ensures programs resonate with the people who experience them every dayA practical, delivery‑oriented perspective that ensures ideas are not only imaginative but adoptable, scalable, and grounded in operational realityA collaborative spirit that thrives in cross‑functional environments — culinary, operations, sustainability, marketing, and clients Who We AreAt 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.
Qualifications & RequirementsMinimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 5 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 3 years of experience in program management or a related field