Food Services Manager

Mercy Ships is an international charity that brings hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor through state-of-the-art hospital ships. Since 1978, our volunteer crew—made up of medical professionals and skilled workers from over 60 nations—has delivered free surgeries and medical care to over 2.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming lives one patient and one port at a time. Join our global team of over 3,000 volunteers and help us change lives daily.

About this role

The Food Services Manager has oversight of the Food Services department, including the Dining Room, Galley, and Bakery. This is mostly a “hands-off” job; supervise and maintain the department, ensuring that each sub-department has everything that it needs to run smoothly.

The Food Services Manager works closely with our Supply department in planning the menu months in advance, making sure the Food Services department has everything it needs to supply the crew with well-balanced, nutritious, and enjoyable meals.

What you will contribute

• Clearly communicate goals, objectives, and decision-making boundaries to Senior Chef and Dining Room Team Leaders.
• Assess, modify, and communicate standards, procedures, and policies to ensure consistency with industry standards in safety, hygiene, and sanitation.
• Supervise personnel and operations in the Food Services department, especially in maintaining accountability to standards, procedures, and policies.
• Oversee the bakery team.
• Responsible for orientation for all arriving Food Services crew.
• Train and oversee local day crew.
• Lead departmental devotions.
• Accomplish daily, weekly, monthly, and special administrative tasks associated with the department, including ordering supplies, maintaining inventory, scheduling, completing payroll for day crew, and other administrative tasks.
• Carry out final walk-through of the Galley in the evening to ensure high standard of cleanliness and all equipment is switched off and stowed appropriately.
• Attend all department meetings, as well as any relevant managers’ meetings.

For This Role, You Will Need

• Successful completion of Mercy Ships On Boarding program
• Supportive of Mercy Ships mission and vision and committed to its core values.
• Understand and apply servant leadership, work collaboratively with integrity and demonstrate accountability.
• Able to live in and contribute to community life, requiring stable and healthy interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership skills required, and an ability to supervise and guide a diverse team.
• International Driver’s Permit is required; will be expected to drive as part of departmental responsibilities.
• Relevant catering qualification (e.g., diploma in Hotel Management, Catering & Institutional Operations, etc.) is required.
• Relevant supervisory experience is required.

The experience of a lifetime is calling.

More than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations serve with Mercy Ships each year.

At Mercy Ships, we are proud to be recognized around the world for the life-changing surgeries and training we deliver. We could not achieve this without our dedicated community of talented volunteers.

Imagine finishing your shift and stepping onto deck as the sun sets—knowing that today you’ve helped transform the lives of those who need it most. Apply now to start a journey that will reshape the lives of those you serve — and your own.