Data Center Food Program Innovation Lead

The Data Center Food Program Innovation Lead will be a linchpin within the AHEAD, powered by ISS team, driving the high-level strategic integration of culinary innovation and operational intelligence to radically redefine our food service offerings within Data Centers. This role requires an accomplished professional with a deep-rooted understanding of food service systems and the strategic expertise to design curated, sustainable, and high-efficiency dining experiences for a global tech leader. The ideal candidate possesses an unsatisfiable need to challenge the status quo, wielding a sophisticated understanding of consumer trends and business strategy to make the world a better place through food.

Key Purpose

This role is a necessity to unlock new levels of business performance, user experience, and portfolio-wide scalability. The Strategic Innovation Lead will emerge as a strategic force, overseeing the roadmap specifically for Data Center operations and channeling their expertise to seamlessly align business efficiency, sustainability, and hospitality excellence. By steering us toward a future marked by streamlined operations and strategic acumen, the Innovation Lead ensures that our food programs are as innovative and reliable as the infrastructure they support.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

1. Global Strategy & Stakeholder Influence

Disruption & Co-Creation: Partner and co-create with industry leaders and client stakeholders to identify and pilot service models that offer transformative workplace experiences within the data center environment.

Strategic Roadmap: Develop, strategize, and plan new interventions by identifying key areas for innovative transformation across the food service journey—prior to, during, and after visiting sites.

Portfolio Governance: Maintain strategic oversight of the North American portfolio, ensuring that localized innovation aligns with the overarching global food strategy and the client's identity and values.

Senior Influence: Communicate and present complex proposals and data-driven approaches to high-level stakeholders, translating sophisticated operational concepts into pragmatic, actionable recommendations.

Future Ready: Conduct research and design thinking exercises to inform the future needs of the business and maintain ahead of the curve readiness.

2. Operational Architecture & Execution

Efficiency Modeling: Craft intricate business efficiency models and leverage advanced data analysis to enhance and improve food systems, contributing to long-term competitiveness and labor optimization.

Sustainability & ESG Strategy: Develop frameworks that connect Food Loss and Waste (FLW) to menu development and procurement, ensuring our supply chain reflects the client’s aggressive environmental and allergen management goals.

Technical Prototyping: Lead the rapid development and initial deployment of innovative food solutions for specific data center assignments, ensuring responsible practices align with market trends and stakeholder expectations, serving secure environments.

User Experience Design: Ideate, prototype, and develop tools and programs that drive user experience, using a combination of sentiment analysis and hospitality intuition to enable best-in-class programs.

Ideal Candidate Experience & Technical Skills

The ideal candidate will hold a Master’s degree in Strategy, Business Administration, or Hospitality Management and should possess 10–15 years of experience in food service strategy, corporate hospitality, or business transformation, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership position.

Strategic Expertise

A solid foundation in business strategy and design thinking is essential. The candidate must possess the ability to navigate complex, high-security corporate environments and demonstrate a strong understanding of how to apply innovation to large-scale, decentralized portfolios.

Industry Experience

Data Center ecosystems are extraordinarily complex - while Data Center specific experience is not required, candidates must be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of the ecosystem and its unique challenges - experience from similarly critical industries is welcome.

Technical & Professional Skills

Communication Mastery: Excellent presentation skills and the ability to build high-stakes business cases for C-suite level stakeholders.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Proficiency in utilizing statistics and operational data to develop predictive models for demand forecasting and resource allocation.

ESG Literacy: Familiarity with ESG principles and frameworks

Google Workspace Mastery: Expert proficiency in Google Workspace tools for data management, complex reporting, and high-level collaboration.

Financial Acumen: Highly proficient in project planning, budgeting, and financial oversight for multi-million-dollar innovation workstreams.

Core Competencies

The candidate will exhibit radical curiosity and a strong desire to make the world a better place. They must possess adaptive thinking and a strong, critical mindset, along with sophisticated business acumen. A deep understanding of innovation—and how it should be applied to enhance human connection within a high-tech environment—is paramount.

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.