Director of Dining Services

Recognized by Newsweek in 2024 and 2025 as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, Brookdale Dr. Phillips is an assisted living community with 66 units seeking a passionate and service-driven Dining Services Director to lead our culinary team in providing exceptional dining experiences for our residents.

About the role

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys both leadership and hands-on culinary involvement. The Dining Services Director plays an important role in creating a welcoming dining atmosphere while ensuring meals are prepared safely, efficiently, and according to company and nutritional standards. This role partners closely with community leadership and dining team members to deliver excellent hospitality and meaningful resident experiences every day.

Responsibilities

• Directs food service operations within the community including all food preparation, dining room operations, and dining delivery services.
• Purchases all food and manages inventory ensuring effective cost controls and vendor service and quality.
• Ensures the highest nutrition and food quality for the health and pleasure of the residents.
• Complies with all federal, state, and local regulations to ensure sanitary and safe operations.
• Plans and executes entertaining dining events and themes in conjunction with Activities Director, Marketing Director, and other administrative staff to optimize the life and pleasure of the residents. May also cater events as requested by residents or staff.
• Hires, trains, and manages all supervisory staff for the kitchen, dining room, catering, and delivery services. Ensures that supervisors maintain a safe and sanitary environment and provide a caring and pleasurable dining experience for the residents.
• Coaches supervisors in maintaining appropriate staffing levels and effectively motivating, disciplining, and training associates.
• Consults with chefs and cooks to develop and maintain pleasing and nutritious menus.
• Assesses and determines the desires and preferences of the residents regarding food selection and presentation through surveys and daily contact with residents. Ensures preferences are incorporated into the menu and events.
• Understands the dietary needs of residents and coordinates with dieticians, nursing staff, and care associates to ensure proper selection, preparation, and delivery of meals.
• Develops department budget including purchasing and staffing expenditures. Approves food orders from company or selected food vendors and ensures a proper level of inventory to meet demand and minimize cost and waste.
• Routinely monitors budget compliance and recommends changes as needed to maintain operational quality and resident satisfaction.
• Encourages the identification of enjoyable ways to encourage socialization and enjoyment of residents through the use of food presentation and events. Improves the décor and condition of dining rooms to ensure a safe and pleasant experience.
• Networks with Regional Food Service Directors to improve operations, reduce costs, and to obtain new program ideas for creative operations.

Requirements

• College degree in food service or hospitality management is preferred.
• A minimum of eight years of progressive experience in the food service industry including at least three of those years in a responsible supervisory role of others preparing food and servicing customers.
• Experience to include management of food inventories and budgets.
• Current ServSafe Certification required.
• Obtain/hold any local, state, and/or county required food handling/sanitation licenses and/or certificates.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of food preparation and delivery.
• Knowledgeable of all aspects of food service positions with food and beverage background.
• Ability to manage a food service operation budget providing 3 meals per day, 7 days a week to large numbers of residents and visitors.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations regarding the safety of food preparation and handling.
• Ability to address staff, residents, and visitors in a courteous and friendly manner.
• Ability to understand the dining and nutritional needs of residents and ability to incorporate residents’ desires into the dining services operation.
• Willingness to communicate perceived physical and emotional needs of residents to other skilled staff to assist with addressing their care needs.
• Applies existing guidelines and procedures to make varied decisions within a department. Uses sound judgment and experience to solve moderately complex problems based on precedent, example, reasonableness, or a combination of these.
• Ability to manage a large number of associates directly and through other supervisors to create a productive and motivated department.

Benefits

• Full suite of health insurance, life insurance, and retirement plans are available and vary by employment status.
• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Associate assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Referral program
• Early access to earned wages for hourly associates (outside of CA)
• Optional voluntary benefits including ID theft protection and pet insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Paid holidays
• Company provided life insurance
• Adoption benefit
• Disability (short and long term)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account
• Optional life and dependent life insurance
• Optional voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity insurance, and legal plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Full-time associates in role are eligible for an annual bonus incentive and sales referral bonuses.
• To support our associates in their journey to become a U.S. citizen, Brookdale offers to advance fees for naturalization (Form N-400) application costs, up to $725, less applicable taxes and withholding, for qualified associates who have been with us for at least a year.

Pay

Base pay in range will be determined by applicant’s skills and experience.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Standing
• Walking
• Sitting
• Use hands and fingers to handle or feel
• Reach with hands and arms
• Climb or balance
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Talk or hear
• Taste or smell
• Ability to lift: up to 50 pounds
• Vision
• Requires interaction with co-workers, residents, or vendors
• Occasional weekend, evening, or night work if needed to ensure shift coverage
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases and infections
• Exposure to latex
• Possible exposure to blood-borne pathogens
• Possible exposure to various drugs, chemical, infectious, or biological hazards
• Subject to injury from falls, burns, odors, or cuts from equipment
• Requires Travel: Occasionally