Food Services Assistant Manager

Job Description:

Better and fairer care. Always.

We are St Vincent’s Health Australia, Australia’s largest not-for-profit provider of health and aged care services.

Founded by The Sisters of Charity in 1857, our +30,000 healthcare superheroes operate public and private hospitals, residential aged care, community and virtual care, and outreach programs.

About the role

We’re looking for a motivated and adaptable Assistant Manager to join our dynamic Food Services team and lead our Patient Food Services (PFS) workforce of 90 dedicated staff.

Based on-site at our Darlinghurst Private Hospital, this full-time role supports patients across the entire St Vincent’s campus — Private, Public and Sacred Heart — giving you the opportunity to collaborate with leaders across multiple services and make a meaningful difference every day.

You’ll bring proven leadership experience and a passion for delivering exceptional customer service, while helping us maintain efficient, LEAN-focused operations. Working closely with the Food Services Manager, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the department meets budget expectations and consistently delivers high-quality patient service.

Our team is supported by strong, well-established systems, and we’re ready to take them to the next level. You’ll help drive improvements in staff engagement, auditing processes, and training programs, contributing to a culture of continuous growth and excellence.

You’ll also work closely with PFS supervisors to ensure they feel supported and empowered. Creating a collaborative, positive team environment will be central to your success, along with strong time-management skills and the ability to confidently self-manage in a fast-paced setting.

If you’re energised by leading people, improving systems, and delivering meaningful service in a healthcare environment, this is a fantastic opportunity to step into a role with real impact.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for coordinating a high-quality meal and beverage delivery service for the patients across the St Vincent’s Campus, comprising St Vincent’s Private Hospital, St Vincent’s Public Hospital and Sacred Heart
• Provide a service focused leadership style, whilst maintaining good management of the direct reports and the Patient Food Services team.
• Good understanding of budgets, and lever and drivers that can affect KPI results
• Ensure the departments “Lean Management ” principles are maintained and work hours and budget targets are met, while ensuring staff are given the time needed to perform tasks
• Responsible for maintaining relationships and service levels with campus departments or staff e.g. doctor and nurse lounges.
• Develop and deliver continuing “customer service” training to engage and upskill staff
• Ensure that a “Food Safety Culture” is imbedded with department
• A demonstrated knowledge of risk assessment and root cause analysis process, and ability to implement Corrective Actions when needed
• Maintain quality improvement initiatives to ensure provision of patient meals and menu service, meeting patient’s expectations and KPIs or implementing Corrective Actions in response when required.
• Ability to liaise directly with patients in response to feedback and implement Corrective Actions plan if required.
• Oversee the recruitment, training and performance management of the Patient Food Services team.
• Development and review of departmental Safe work practices, procedures and manuals in consultation with relevant stakeholders
• Ability to analysis data and provide a detailed action plan, in conjunction with the Food Services Manager
• Ensure compliance with Hand Hygiene and Food Safety programs for Patient Food Service team
• Contribute to and represent Food Services at relevant St Vincents Private Hospital Sydney and St Vincents Health Australia planning and service committees
• Hours to be flexible to manage all meal services.

About you

• Effective communication, leadership and management skills
• Proven ability to work within in a high-pressure work environment, utilising time management skills
• Strong customer service background
• Demonstrated experience in developing a cohesive team and positive teamwork environment
• Ability to build workplace relationships that promote positive outcomes
• A sound understanding of Work Health and Safety Compliance, and management
• A strong understanding of HACCP and Food Safety Guidelines
• Demonstrated knowledge of Therapeutic Diets
• Experience in department management - recruitment, training and performance management

Why work at St Vincent’s?

• Join us on our mission to provide care to all, including the most at-risk people in our community
• Discounted access to many gyms for you and your family with Fitness Passport
• Access to discounted private health insurance with Medibank
• Access to a government salary sacrifice program. Make a proportion of your salary tax-free
• Committed to financial support for educational development, scholarship programs, paid study leave

About the hospital

In this role you will be based at St Vincent’s private hospital, Darlinghurst.

• A state-of-the art hospital in a beautiful inner-city location
• Surrounded by great cafes, galleries and theatres, parks, nightlife, and nearby glorious beaches
• Closely partnered with universities & affiliated research institutes, many of which are located on-campus
• Groundbreaking technologies, including world-first robotic-assisted surgeries
• Highly specialized services in orthopaedics, heart and lung, head and neck, neurosurgery, urology, vascular surgery, upper GI/hepatobiliary surgery, ENT, colorectal surgery, gynaecology, neurology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, cancer services, and mental health

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

Please note, visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For this role you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or have an Australia visa that grants you the work rights necessary for the role.

Pre-employment checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role-required pre-employment checks, including relevant immunisations.

Equal opportunity

We celebrate diversity & inclusion and are committed to equal employment opportunity for everyone.

Any questions please contact [email protected]

Closing Date:

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at [email protected]

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct