Lead Culinary Services Director

The Waterford on Cooper
Arlington, TX 76011, USA

About Sonida Senior Living

Sonida Senior Living is one of the nation’s leading operators of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities for senior adults. The Company operates 165 communities that are home to nearly 12,000 residents across 35 states, providing comfortable, safe, affordable communities where residents can form friendships, enjoy new experiences and receive personalized care from dedicated team members who treat them like family.

Job Responsibilities

The Lead Culinary Service Director will provide leadership to the communities within their territory, supporting key culinary initiatives. This position serves to ensure the community dining operations remain stable and is expected to have an immediate positive impact on the community. Responsible for day-to-day operations of the Community, and the protection of Community assets. Demonstrates knowledge of and assures compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Oversight of the Community dining services team. Promotes the Company’s mission statement. Supports other community dining programs with training, coaching, quality assurance visits and ongoing mentoring. In addition to the job description for the Dining Service Director, also plans, organizes, develops, and directs the onboarding and support of the other Dining Service Directors in their respective region.

Lead Culinary Service Director Responsibilities:

• Provide support for the systems and processes required by Sonida Senior Living, including Grove Menus, DSSI, and any approved training platforms
• Ensures standards and quality are met in relation to food and service across the region
• Supports the preparation and implementation of action plans as needed based on state survey, resident survey or other identified opportunities.
• Maintains a high level of compliance, quality, and expertise in home community as to ensure “showcase” or model program
• Leads innovation for community and region
• Must be able to operate remotely from home community by building a strong, independent team able to maintain standards in your absence
• Assist with interviewing candidates and onboarding of new Dining Directors
• Provides direct and indirect supervision of the community dining operations along with training, coaching, counseling, and performance evaluations of all staff members.
• Ensures that the dining services provided meet the needs of the residents in accordance with the developed service plans and that the service plans meet the required state codes and company policies.
• Ensures that menu planning, inventory, equipment management, cleaning procedures and food preparation expectations are met in accordance with established policy and procedure.
• Oversees the recruitment and retention of qualified staff in the dining department, making sure background checks, reference checks and licenses are cleared before the employee is released to work.
• Ensures that dining and support staff has opportunities for ongoing training by way of in‑service programs and specific educational workshops to meet the needs of the licensure and the needs of our current and future residents
• Participates in the weekly management meetings, morning stand‑up meetings and monthly all staff meetings as applicable.
• Motivates employees through staff appreciation, recognition, and incentive programs. Promotes positive employee relations, addresses concern timely and resolves grievances as quickly as reasonably possible.
• Oversees the community dining budget, providing guidance and training to applicable staff on the maintenance of the overall community budget.
• Monitors dining operations of all communities in territory on a regular basis and…