Culinary Training & Support Specialist

The Goodman Group is seeking a full-time Culinary Training & Support Specialist to join their collaborative & service-based Culinary operations team! The Culinary Training & Support Specialist supports dining operations across our Assisted Living (AL) and Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) communities by providing hands-on training, operational support, and technology implementation guidance. The ideal candidate is based in the Minneapolis metro area and has experience in food service training & operational management for both front of house and back of house dining services teams within healthcare or senior living.

This individual must hold a bachelor's degree in culinary arts, or equivalent, and have an active Certified Food Protection Manager certification or willing to obtain this within 2 months of hire. This role requires the flexibility to travel throughout the United States to our various senior living communities, up to 3 weeks/month (Monday-Thursday). The purpose of this role is to train & support our standards in order to consistently deliver high quality service, exceptional food presentation, and a dining experience;

this position reports to the National Director of Culinary Operations. The salary range for this position is $70,000-$80,000 annually, based on experience. The Goodman Group is a privately held company located in Chaska, MN, which manages senior living and health care communities, residential communities, and commercial properties located throughout the United States, which provide homes and services for more than 10,000 residents and employment for over 4,000 individuals.

The Goodman Group has been consistently voted the Top Work Places every year since 2018, along with receiving the Customer & Employee Approved award from NRC Health, which recognizes senior-care organizations across the country for creating an outstanding care experience for their residents & for engaging & inspiring their employees. The Goodman Group offers a competitive salary, generous PTO, 401K with employer match, full health benefits, long- & short-term disability, life insurance, pet insurance, employee recognition & engagement programs, along with so much more!

Training & Coaching - Front of House (FOH)

• Provides comprehensive training for servers and other FOH personnel to ensure exceptional service execution.
• Coaches FOH team members on hospitality best practices, service standards, workflow efficiency, and resident engagement.
• Supports onboarding and continuous competency development for all FOH roles.
• Supports culinary mentorship program development.

Back of House (BOH) Support & Quality Assurance

• Works in collaboration with Culinary Director and BOH employees in proper food preparation in alignment with approved menus, recipes, and nutrition guidelines.
• Ensures food presentation meets high-quality standards and aligns with organizational expectations.
• Conducts routine kitchen walkthroughs to identify training needs, food safety concerns, and opportunities for operational improvement.
• Partners with culinary leaders to reinforce systems that promote consistency, quality, and compliance.

Technology Rollout, Support, & Training

• Assists with the implementation, training, and ongoing support of culinary and dining-related technologies (e.g., menu platforms, ordering systems, production tools).
• Ensures FOH and BOH teams understand and effectively use assigned technology to support workflow and service quality.
• Communicates updates, provides troubleshooting support, and reinforces proper usage of digital tools.

Resident Satisfaction Monitoring

• Monitors resident satisfaction through direct feedback, observation, and formalized survey tools.
• Collaborate with community leadership, Regional Directors of Culinary Operations and National Director of Culinary Operations and Sales to identify trends, address concerns, and implement service improvements.
• Uses resident feedback to reinforce service standards and adjust training priorities for FOH and BOH teams.

Knowledge and Critical Skills

• Strong understanding of AL and SNF food service operations and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to train, coach, and motivate diverse team members.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to make independent decisions while maintaining alignment with organizational standards.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in culinary arts, or equivalent.
• Certified Food Protection Manager certification and or applicable state certification requirements or willingness to obtain within 2 months.
• Must meet all applicable state and federal requirements for healthcare dining operations.
• Prior experience in senior living, healthcare dining, or hospitality training is strongly preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position may have direct or indirect supervisory responsibilities depending on project or community assignment.

Travel Requirements

• Extensive travel will be required for up to 3 weeks a month minimum.

The Goodman Group is seeking a…