Culinary Services Director - Avamere Sandy

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.
• Ensure the culinary department complies with all relevant codes, regulations, and company policies to provide a safe and comfortable environment for residents and staff.
• 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.
• Cook up 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.

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience of foodservice 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.
• 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.
• Food safety certification and Food Handler State Card required.