Senior Consultant, Hospitality Advisory (Education & Healthcare)

Innovative Hospitality Solutions (IHS) is seeking a Senior Consultant to support and lead advisory engagements across healthcare systems and higher education institutions . This role is designed for a strategic, client-facing professional who can translate complex operational environments into actionable, data-driven recommendations that elevate food, hospitality, and workplace amenity programs.

IHS partners with leading organizations to transform on-site hospitality programs—from operational assessments through implementation—delivering measurable improvements in experience, efficiency, and financial performance .

This is a highly visible role requiring a balance of strategic thinking, operational expertise, and client relationship leadership .

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement & Advisory Leadership

1. Serve as the day-to-day lead for assigned client accounts across healthcare and education
2. Build trusted relationships with executive stakeholders (CFOs, COOs, Campus Dining, Clinical/Nutrition leadership)
3. Lead and facilitate client meetings, presentations, and working sessions
4. Translate client goals into structured advisory workplans and deliverables

Operational & Financial Assessments

1. Conduct current-state assessments across dining, retail, patient services, and hospitality programs
2. Analyze financial performance, contract structures, and operating models
3. Identify gaps versus best practices and develop clear, actionable recommendations
4. Support cost optimization strategies without compromising experience

Strategic Advisory & Implementation Support

1. Support or lead:
2. RFP development and management
3. Contract negotiations with food service providers
4. Operating model design (self-op vs. outsourced optimization)
5. Technology and program optimization initiatives
6. Guide clients through decision-making and transformation roadmaps

Voice of Customer & Experience Design

1. Lead stakeholder interviews, surveys, and feedback analysis
2. Translate insights into experience-forward program enhancements
3. Align hospitality strategy with organizational mission and culture

Cross-Functional Collaboration

1. Partner with internal teams across:
2. CrossCheck Quality Assurance (performance measurement)
3. Procurement (Centicor Procurement Solutions)
4. Culinary & operational SMEs
5. Contribute to development of frameworks, tools, and repeatable methodologies

Qualifications

Required Experience

1. 5–10+ years in food service, hospitality, or dining operations
2. Direct experience in healthcare (hospital systems) and/or higher education dining
3. Experience working with or within outsourced food service models (Compass, Sodexo, Aramark, etc.)
4. Demonstrated ability to lead client-facing engagements or consulting projects

Core Capabilities

1. Strong financial acumen (P&L, cost structures, contract economics)
2. Ability to synthesize data into clear insights and executive-ready recommendations
3. Confident presenter with strong communication and storytelling skills
4. Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple engagements simultaneously

Preferred

1. Experience with:
2. RFP processes and contract negotiations
3. Dining program transformation or turnaround initiatives
4. Patient dining, retail, or campus dining systems
5. Consulting or advisory background (preferred but not required

What Success Looks Like

1. Clients view you as a trusted advisor , not just a consultant
2. Engagements result in measurable improvements in cost, quality, and satisfaction
3. You effectively manage multiple accounts while maintaining high-touch relationships
4. You contribute to scalable frameworks that strengthen the IHS advisory model

Why Join IHS

1. Work with leading organizations across healthcare and higher education
2. Be part of a firm known for delivering measurable results , including improved satisfaction, financial performance, and operational consistency
3. Collaborate within the broader Phoenix3 ecosystem, bringing together advisory, quality assurance, and procurement expertise
4. Opportunity to shape and scale a next-generation advisory model in hospitality

Role Structure

1. Title: Senior Consultant (or Consultant, depending on experience)
2. Reporting to: COO / Advisory Leadership
3. Travel: ~30–50% (client-dependent)
4. Location: Flexible / Remote with travel

Innovative Hospitality Solutions (IHS), is a leading management advisory firm specializing in transforming onsite food and hospitality programs across corporate, healthcare, senior living, and educational sectors. Since 2006, IHS has been dedicated to educating and inspiring organizations to elevate their hospitality services, enhancing experiences that align with their mission and culture. Learn more about us at Innovative Hospitality Solutions – From Insight to Impact .

Don’t meet ALL the requirements but think you have the ability and determination to have an impact in this role? Let us know! Data shows that diverse candidates may be less likely to apply when they do not think they meet all the job requirements, but very few successful candidates possess all the requested skills and experiences. We are a culture of learners, and we want culture accelerators who are willing to learn and grow. If you think that is you and this role fits with your career aspirations, give it a shot!