A person can become a food service director taking one of several routes. Someone can progress from cook to server to beverage preparer to counter attendant, for example. Food service directors are increasingly required to have a two- or four-year degree in a field such as restaurant and hospitality management or food service management, despite their restaurant experience. Internships and other types of specialized training can help a person stand out from other candidates when applying for a position as a food service director. In addition, certain business skills and personality traits that will help him or her succeed in managing food service are usually required.
One way to become a food service director is to complete a practical training program. A program like this could be limited to on-the-job training, or it could include a unique program with two components: classroom work and practical experience. Nutrition, sanitation, and food safety, as well as customer satisfaction and other human resource topics, are examples of typical courses. In addition to learning computer and other technical skills, many aspiring food service directors study personnel management.
A person can also become a food service director earning a bachelor’s degree. In this field, many community colleges, for example, offer an associate’s degree or other form of certification. A bachelor’s degree in institutional food service management or restaurant and hospitality management can be obtained for more advanced training. Several graduate programs in these fields are also available in the United States. A practical internship, in addition to traditional classroom training, can assist someone in becoming a food service director.
A business owner must first obtain a business license, as well as a food and beverage preparation license, in most areas. In order to work as a food service director in the United States, a person may choose to pursue voluntary certification as a Foodservice Management Professional (FMP). The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation awards the FMP certification to a food service worker after they have gained a certain amount of practical experience and passed a written exam.
Leadership ability and good customer relations skills are two personal qualities required for becoming a food service director. In order to market and promote a business, good people skills are usually required. Flexibility is frequently mentioned as a desirable quality, as advancement in the field may necessitate relocating to pursue other opportunities, such as starting a franchise.