Description
DATA CENTER FOOD PROGRAM INNOVATION LEAD
Food Innovation • Strategy • Technology • Sustainability
Reimagine What Food Can Do in the World's Most Advanced Workplaces
What happens when culinary innovation, data intelligence, sustainability, and human experience come together inside some of the world's most technologically advanced environments?
That's where you come in.
Guckenheimer is seeking a visionary Data Center Food Program Innovation Lead to help redefine the future of food service across a complex, high-performing Data Center portfolio.
This is not a traditional food service leadership role.
It is an opportunity to challenge convention, build what comes next, and transform ideas into scalable solutions that improve operational performance, elevate the user experience, advance sustainability, and strengthen human connection within highly technical environments.
If you are energized by asking “What if?”, backed by the strategic ability to turn that question into measurable business results, we want to hear from you.
Your Mission
As the Data Center Food Program Innovation Lead, you will serve as a strategic force behind the evolution of our food programs.
You will develop and influence the innovation roadmap for Data Center food operations, connecting consumer insights, culinary strategy, operational intelligence, technology, sustainability, financial performance, and hospitality to create programs that are as forward-thinking and reliable as the infrastructure they support.
Your work will help unlock new levels of:
Innovation | Efficiency | Sustainability | Scalability | Experience | Performance
You won't simply improve existing programs. You'll help design what's next.
What You'll Lead
Global Strategy & Innovation
Partner with industry leaders, client stakeholders, operators, culinary teams, and subject-matter experts to identify opportunities that challenge traditional food service models.
You will:
- Develop a strategic innovation roadmap for the Data Center food service journey.
- Identify, design, pilot, and scale transformative service models.
- Lead research, design-thinking exercises, and future-state planning.
- Translate emerging consumer and industry trends into actionable strategies.
- Ensure North American innovation aligns with the broader global food strategy, client identity, and organizational priorities.
- Build compelling, data-backed proposals and present recommendations to senior and C-suite stakeholders.
Operational Intelligence
Great innovation must deliver measurable results.
You will use operational data and business intelligence to design smarter, more efficient food systems across a decentralized portfolio.
This includes:
- Developing business-efficiency models.
- Using data to improve demand forecasting and resource allocation.
- Identifying opportunities for labor optimization and operational scalability.
- Connecting innovation initiatives to measurable financial and operational outcomes.
- Developing scalable solutions that can move successfully from concept to implementation.
Sustainability by Design
Sustainability won't be an afterthought—it will be embedded into how programs are designed.
You will develop strategies connecting:
Food Loss & Waste → Menu Development → Procurement → Operations → Measurable Impact
Your work will support responsible sourcing, environmental objectives, allergen management, operational efficiency, and the client's broader ESG ambitions.
Prototype. Test. Learn. Scale.
Bring bold ideas into the real world.
You will lead the development and initial deployment of innovative food solutions within secure Data Center environments, testing concepts, analyzing performance, gathering feedback, and identifying opportunities for portfolio-wide scalability.
Design Exceptional User Experiences
Technology may power the environment, but people remain at the center of the experience.
Using consumer insights, sentiment analysis, design thinking, and hospitality expertise, you will create programs that enhance convenience, satisfaction, engagement, and human connection.
Who We're Looking For
We are searching for an accomplished strategist, innovator, and change leader who brings together big-picture thinking and operational credibility.
The ideal candidate offers:
- Approximately 10–15 years of progressive experience in food service strategy, corporate hospitality, innovation, business transformation, or a related field.
- At least 5 years of senior leadership experience.
- Master's degree in Strategy, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or a related discipline preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading innovation across large-scale, complex, or decentralized operations.
- Strong business strategy and design-thinking expertise.
- Experience developing executive-level business cases and presenting to senior stakeholders.
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, project planning, and oversight of significant innovation workstreams.
- Advanced analytical capabilities with the ability to translate operational data into actionable insights.
- Familiarity with ESG principles and sustainability frameworks.
- Advanced proficiency with Google Workspace and collaborative reporting tools.
Data Center Experience
Previous Data Center experience is not required.
However, Data Centers represent highly complex, secure, mission-critical environments. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to understand sophisticated operational ecosystems and successfully navigate environments where reliability, security, scalability, speed, and precision matter.
Experience within similarly complex or critical industries is highly valued.
The Mindset That Will Make You Successful
We are looking for someone with radical curiosity.
Someone who challenges assumptions.
Someone who can see possibilities others haven't yet imagined—and then develop the strategy, business case, partnerships, and execution plan required to make those possibilities real.
You bring:
- Adaptive thinking
- Intellectual curiosity
- Strategic courage
- Sophisticated business acumen
- Data-driven decision making
- Executive presence
- Collaborative leadership
- A passion for hospitality
- A desire to create meaningful, sustainable change
Most importantly, you understand that innovation isn't about innovation for its own sake.
It's about making things better—for people, for business, and for the world around us.
The Opportunity
Imagine helping design food experiences for some of the most advanced workplaces in the world.
Imagine combining food + technology + sustainability + data + hospitality to create entirely new possibilities.
Imagine seeing an idea move from a whiteboard to a pilot program—and ultimately across an entire portfolio.
In this role, you won't just participate in the future of workplace food service.
You'll help create it.
Ready to challenge what's possible?
Bring your curiosity.
Bring your expertise.
Bring your ideas.
Join us and help make the world work better—one innovative experience at a time.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
- Sitting at a computer for 50% of the time
- Walking/inspecting the site 50% of the time
- Must be able to lift a minimum of 10 pounds
- Must be able to work under pressure and time deadlines during peak periods
- Work in-person, in-office, or at our clients' locations
- Collaborate across time zones
- Be able to adapt to meet our dynamic business needs that may change or evolve over time
HSEQ Compliance: All employees must adhere to Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ) policies and procedures to ensure a safe and compliant work environment. This includes following safety protocols, maintaining environmental responsibility, and upholding quality standards in all tasks. Employees are expected to actively participate in HSEQ training and report any potential hazards or compliance concerns.
ISS offers full-time employees a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program based on employment status. The annual salary range for this position is $160000.00 per year - $180000.00 per year. Final compensation will be determined based on experience and skills and may vary from the above range.
To Executive Search Firms and Staffing Agencies: ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer property, and ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer will not be obligated to pay a referral fee. This includes resumes submitted directly to Hiring Managers without contacting the ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer Human Resources Talent Acquisition Department.
As a global organization, ISS Group is committed to making the international community more resilient and just for all people. We encourage diversity and inclusion in their broadest terms, including ethnicity, race, age, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, culture, and educational background. We look to lead our industry by example and to positively influence the market wherever we operate.
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