Dietary​/Hospitality Director

Dietary Director Job Description

TITLE: Dietary Director

DEPARTMENT: Dietary Services

REPORTS TO
:
Owners / Executive Director

The Dietary Director is responsible for the overall leadership and day-to-day operation of Dietary Services at South Prairie Memory Care. This position oversees the kitchen, dining service, food quality, sanitation, staffing, purchasing, inventory, and dietary budget to ensure residents receive safe, nutritious, appealing, and thoughtfully prepared meals. The Dietary Director is expected to maintain a high standard of hospitality and food service, with an emphasis on fresh, homemade-style foods, consistent quality, attractive plate presentation, and a clean, welcoming dining environment.

In addition to resident meal service, this is a hospitality-focused leadership role that supports the broader daily food service needs of the community and its leadership. The Dietary Director works closely with kitchen staff, the contracted licensed dietitian, the owners, Executive Director, administration, and Activities Director to support resident needs, leadership needs, special events, and the overall dining experience while maintaining compliance with resident service plans, physician orders, Illinois assisted living requirements, and applicable public health regulations.

• Provides hands-on leadership and oversight of all aspects of kitchen and dining operations and takes ownership of the quality, cleanliness, organization, and service provided by the Dietary Department.
• Works closely with a contracted licensed dietitian to develop and implement menus that meet residents' nutritional needs while remaining appealing, varied, practical, and appropriate for the population served.
• Plans, prepares, cooks, and oversees the preparation and service of three (3) meals daily for residents, staff, and resident guests, as well as other food service and hospitality needs assigned by the owners or Executive Director.
• Emphasizes fresh, homemade-style meal preparation using quality ingredients. Meals should be prepared in-house whenever reasonably practical rather than relying on fully prepared, heat-and-serve foods as the routine standard of service.
• Ensures food quality, flavor, texture, temperature, portioning, consistency, and plate presentation are given appropriate attention at every meal.
• Creates a dining experience that is welcoming, respectful, and attentive, with food and service presented in a manner that reflects the importance of each resident's daily dining experience.
• Ensures meals comply with therapeutic diets and dietary requirements outlined in resident service plans and physician orders and accommodates individualized dietary restrictions or special dietary needs as directed.
• Maintains current knowledge of resident food allergies, dietary restrictions, preferences, dislikes, and other relevant dining needs and communicates them effectively to kitchen staff.
• Plans and participates in community events, celebrations, holiday meals, family events, and special activities. Bakes, prepares, cooks, and coordinates food for special activities and events as needed.
• Communicates and collaborates with the Executive Director, owners, administration, and Activities Director in advance to plan menus, refreshments, baked goods, special meals, and other food service needs for facility events and activities.
• Plans and prepares requested meals for on-site leadership as part of the community’s regular hospitality and food service operations. This may include preparing individual or small-group lunches and dinners, accommodating reasonable preferences, and coordinating timing with the owners or Executive Director. These responsibilities are considered a regular function of the Dietary Director role and should be incorporated into daily kitchen planning and workflow without compromising resident meal service or dietary needs.
• Oversees all Dietary Department staff, including training, delegation, scheduling coordination, performance expectations, accountability, workflow, and completion of assigned duties.
• Determines staffing needs for…