The posting
Compensation: (pay rate or salary range)
We are seeking an experienced and resident-focused Food Service Director to lead our Dining Services department.
In this role, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of the community’s dining program, including menu planning, food quality, staffing, sanitation, budgeting, purchasing, resident satisfaction, and regulatory compliance.
We are looking for a hands-on leader who understands that dining is a major part of the resident experience and can balance hospitality, food safety, team leadership, and operational discipline.
What You’ll Do
- Oversee all daily Dining Services operations
- Lead, supervise, schedule, and support cooks, servers, dishwashers, and other dining team members
- Ensure meals are prepared and served on time and meet quality, presentation, and temperature standards
- Plan and maintain menus that support resident preferences, nutritional needs, and dietary requirements
- Coordinate with nursing and Wellness teams regarding resident diets, allergies, texture modifications, and other dining needs
- Monitor resident satisfaction and respond promptly to dining concerns or feedback
- Develop and implement special menus, holiday meals, and resident dining events
- Maintain appropriate food inventory and control ordering, receiving, storage, and rotation of supplies
- Manage food and labor costs within established budget expectations
- Review invoices, purchasing activity, and vendor performance
- Maintain accurate records related to food service operations, sanitation, inventory, and regulatory requirements
- Ensure proper food storage, labeling, dating, preparation, and handling practices
- Maintain compliance with food safety, sanitation, infection-control, and workplace-safety requirements
- Perform regular kitchen, dining room, storage, and equipment inspections
- Ensure kitchen and dining areas are clean, safe, organized, and well maintained
- Coordinate equipment maintenance and repairs as needed
- Recruit, interview, train, coach, and develop Dining Services team members
- Conduct orientation, ongoing training, and competency reviews
- Address attendance, performance, and conduct concerns in partnership with community leadership
- Promote strong teamwork between Dining Services and other community departments
- Support resident events, marketing events, tours, and community programs involving food service
- Participate in leadership meetings and provide updates on dining operations, staffing, resident satisfaction, and budget performance
- Maintain resident privacy, dignity, preferences, and confidentiality
- Complete additional duties as assigned
What We’re Looking For
- Previous food service management experience in assisted living, senior living, healthcare, hospitality, restaurant, or institutional dining
- Strong knowledge of food preparation, sanitation, food safety, and kitchen operations
- Experience supervising and scheduling employees
- Ability to manage food cost, labor cost, inventory, purchasing, and budgeting
- Strong leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to balance hospitality and customer service with operational expectations
- Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with residents, families, employees, vendors, and community leadership
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, verbally and in writing, as required to manage staff, understand dietary instructions, maintain documentation, and respond during emergencies
- Experience working with older adults is preferred
- Experience with modified diets, allergies, texture-modified foods, or healthcare dining is preferred
- Comfortable using basic computer systems, scheduling tools, email, and purchasing or food-service software
- Dependable attendance and ability to respond to operational needs when required
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and remain active throughout the workday
- Ability to safely lift and carry up to (physical requirement) pounds
- Ability to successfully complete required background checks, health screenings, and employment requirements
Food Safety and Certification Requirements
- Must maintain all food-safety certifications required by the state, local jurisdiction, and community
- ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent is preferred and may be required based on applicable regulations
- Must ensure Dining Services staff complete all required food-safety, sanitation, allergen, infection-control, and workplace-safety training
- Must maintain required inspection, sanitation, temperature, cleaning, and food-storage records
- Must remain current on applicable health department and assisted living food-service requirements
Benefits
- Medical insurance for eligible employees
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off for eligible employees
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Employee assistance program
- Employee referral program
- Paid training
- Retention incentives
- Flexible scheduling where available
- Supportive and team-oriented work environment
- Meaningful work serving older adults
Dining is an important part of the resident experience. We are looking for a Food Service Director who takes pride in building a strong team, maintaining high standards, and creating meals and dining experiences residents genuinely enjoy.
Apply today to join our leadership team.
We are an equal opportunity employer.
