Culinary Services Director - Senior Living

Culinary Services Director - Senior Living

The Dietary Services Manager oversees the daily operations of the dietary department in a senior living community, ensuring residents receive nutritious, appetizing meals in a safe and welcoming dining environment. This role manages kitchen staff, maintains food safety and sanitation standards, coordinates menus with clinical or dietary guidelines, and ensures meals are prepared and served in accordance with established procedures. The Dietary Services Manager also collaborates with other departments to support resident satisfaction and overall quality of care.

Responsibilities:

• Develop rotating menus that balance resident preferences with nutritional requirements. Adapt recipes for modified diets (e.g., pureed, low-sodium) and address individual food allergies or swallowing difficulties common in memory care.
• Manage food, supply, and labor budgets. Oversee inventory control, vendor relationships, and daily production workflows.
• Oversee the management of daily operations of the culinary departments, including hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating staff.
• Maintain strict adherence to federal, state, and local sanitation and health codes. Ensure proper food temperatures, safe storage, and HACCP procedures across all facilities.
• Ensures the culinary department comply with all relevant codes, regulations, and company policies to provide a safe and comfortable environment for residents and staff.
• Recruit, train, and supervise culinary and dining staff. Conduct performance reviews, manage schedules, and foster a supportive, hospitality-driven workplace.
• Oversee all food production, dining room operations, and resident meal deliveries while maintaining operational and financial efficiency.
• Manage food and supply budgets, inventory levels, purchasing, and vendor relationships.
• Maintain strict adherence to local, state, and federal health department regulations, including sanitation, food storage, and safety protocols.
• Ability to create a high-quality dining experience and handle resident feedback effectively.
• On-call staffing responsibilities after hours and weekends as needed.
• Regularly engage with residents and families through meetings or feedback loops to ensure high satisfaction. Coordinate special events, catering functions, and themed dining nights to enrich community life.
• Serve as a point of contact for staff, residents, and external vendors regarding culinary issues.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 3+ years' experience of food service operations management, preferably in senior living, healthcare, or hospitality.
• Prefer Degree in hospitality management, culinary arts, or business management.
• Preferred Certified Dietary Manager (CDM).
• Strong leadership, financial management (budgeting), and proficiency in Microsoft Office, with experience in POS or dining management software.
• Ability to manage high-volume production and complex scheduling.
• Strong working knowledge of senior nutrition, therapeutic diets, and food safety standards.
• Food safety certification and Food Handler State Card required.
• Maintain confidentiality of all resident care information in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
• A genuine desire to improve the quality of life for seniors.
• Create and uphold an atmosphere of warmth, patience, enthusiasm, and a calm and cheerful environment.
• Must maintain and have an active CPR/BLS during employment.

Benefits:

We believe caring for others starts with caring for our own teams. Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, growth, and peace of mind—so you can focus on making a difference every day.

• Health Insurance:
  Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans. Low individual and family deductible.
  
  - Benefits eligible at 30+ hours/week.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with discretionary employer match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Premium Pay for Holidays worked, conditions apply
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Canopy:
  Free, confidential support for mental health, stress, family needs & work/life balance
• Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) options and CERA (Commuter Expense Reimbursement Account)
• Voluntary & Supplemental Insurance Options:
  Voluntary Life and AD&D, Short- and Long-Term Disability, plus Whole Life, Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Legal Services.