Director of Culinary Services
About the Role
TerraBella Senior Living proudly serves thousands of residents and families, offering a full range of lifestyle and care options including Active Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and short-term Respite. With a foundation rooted in purpose, hospitality, and connection, TerraBella fosters communities where both residents and Team Members thrive. As part of one of the largest senior living organizations in America, TerraBella communities have earned Great Place to Work® certifications from 2022–2026.
This position is for the TerraBella Thornblade community.
Responsibilities
- Develops and implements food services policies, procedures, and job descriptions.
- Plans menus and menu cycles according to cultural and regional food preferences, and resident dietary guidelines.
- Adjusts recipes to appropriate yield.
- Monitors the quality and consistency of the food to include food temperatures, portion control, palatability, and attractiveness of food, and implements changes to ensure quality according to established standards.
- Observes workers engaged in preparing, portioning, and garnishing foods to ensure that methods of cooking and garnishing and sizes of portions are as prescribed.
- Cooks and carves meats, and prepares dishes.
- Orders food and chemical supplies for the kitchen; receives and validates all food deliveries against order form.
- Inventories food items monthly.
- Conducts regular Quality Assurance Audits.
- Practices safe and sanitary food handling.
- Practices all safety and loss prevention procedures.
- Negotiates and signs food service agreements with vendors.
- Selects, schedules, and conducts orientation and in-service educational programs for personnel.
- Monitors monthly expenditures to include explanation of significant variances to ensure compliance with budget.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts program preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years of management experience in a food service environment.
- Must have successfully completed food safety training.
- Ability to handle multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficient organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines.
- Strong computer skills.
- Provides leadership by exhibiting confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well.
About the Company
At TerraBella, culture, growth, and heart define who we are. We continually aspire and invest in learning and development opportunities that support our team members’ professional growth, ensuring every team member has the tools to build a meaningful and rewarding career.
A large part of what makes Discovery Senior Living different from other companies in this industry is our willingness to embrace change. We are constantly challenging how we are doing things to ensure the lifestyle we are offering our residents is absolutely the greatest value proposition in the marketplace. It’s just as important to us that the environment and culture for our team members are constantly refreshed. Embracing and even encouraging change brings a never-ending supply of new energy to our business and our culture, translating to far-reaching positive impacts on our residents and team members.
Culture & Values
Our core values, which we call our “Pillars of Excellence,” include TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, COMPASSION, HARD WORK, and CREATIVITY. These values make up the fabric of our company and help us foster innovation and success.
Benefits
For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Competitive pay
- Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
- Paid time off and holidays
- A 401(k) with employer match
- Paid training and career growth opportunities
- Wellness-related benefits
- Additional support through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)