Food Service Director

About the role

The Food Service Director is responsible for delivering an exceptional dining experience through nutritious, flavorful, and beautifully presented meals. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who takes pride in their food, moves with urgency, and notices the details others miss.

You won’t stay hidden in the kitchen. You’ll be out in the dining room, talking with residents, learning what they love, and building relationships—while still keeping the kitchen running smoothly and on schedule.

This role is perfect for someone who has strong soft skills without being overly social—someone who knows when to focus on the work and when to connect with residents and team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise all dietary staff, including scheduling, training, and performance management
• Create a restaurant-style dining experience that residents look forward to each day
• Work side-by-side with the kitchen team to ensure food quality, presentation, and timing
• Step out of the kitchen to connect with residents and families, gathering feedback on meals
• Handle special requests with professionalism—knowing when to accommodate and when to set expectations
• Maintain high standards for cleanliness, sanitation, and food safety
• Plan and execute special events, themed dinners, and catered functions
• Promote a culture of teamwork, pride, and accountability

Requirements

• Culinary degree preferred or equivalent experience
• Senior living experience preferred OR minimum 3 years as a chef in a restaurant, hotel, or similar setting
• 1–2 years of food service leadership experience
• Serve-Safe Certification required
• Demonstrated ability to train staff in proper cooking techniques and food presentation

Qualifications

• Strong people skills, but know when it’s time to focus on the work
• Take pride in the taste, presentation, and consistency of your food
• Work with a strong sense of urgency and ownership
• Be highly detail-oriented and rarely miss the small things
• Enjoy interacting with residents and hearing their feedback
• Balance compassion with structure when handling special requests
• Lead by example and support your team wherever needed
• Believe that dining is one of the most important parts of a resident’s day

Skills

• Strong leadership and supervisory skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to handle special requests professionally and effectively
• Experience in food service operations and food safety regulations

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Health and dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Paid holidays and floating holidays
• Pet health insurance
• Employee assistance programs
• Retailer account assistance
• Retirement account assistance
• Employee appreciation programs

Pay

Compensation is commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Full-time position.

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Health and dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Paid holidays and floating holidays
• Pet health insurance
• Employee assistance programs
• Retailer account assistance
• Retirement account assistance
• Employee appreciation programs