Food Services Director

Era Living is seeking a Food Services Director to join our team at Ida Culver House Broadview, a retirement community in North Seattle, WA. This role oversees all aspects of the day-to-day operations of our culinary and dining departments, supported by the Dining Services Director, Culinary Services Director, and nearly 100 staff. We serve over 300 seniors daily through one primary formal dining room and three satellite dining rooms for residents with higher care needs.

About the role

This position offers an opportunity to transition from the long, unpredictable hours of the restaurant industry or to grow into overseeing a larger operation within senior living. Ida Culver House Broadview is accessible via several bus lines and provides a parking space for leadership team members.

Responsibilities

• Drive resident satisfaction through a successful food services operation while managing the operating budget and ensuring safety and compliance standards are met.
• Set direction and priorities for the culinary and dining departments, partnering with department leaders to meet resident satisfaction and continuous improvement goals.
• Ensure departments deliver excellent customer service and actively engage with residents to gather and triage feedback.
• Lead planning and execution of resident, staff, and marketing events.
• Ensure high-quality food service, maintaining standards of nutrition, food preparation, service, sanitation, and resident satisfaction.
• Support all aspects of culinary and dining services, including orienting, training, and providing hands-on support to directors and staff during absences to maintain adequate staffing levels.
• Address resident and employee concerns appropriately.
• Oversee meal planning, food requisitions, and inventory systems to ensure adherence to budget and operational needs.
• Manage all operational programs and services of the Food Service Department, including budget maintenance, accounting, and annual budgetary plans.
• Oversee the POS system and program/special event planning in collaboration with the Executive Director and community leadership team.
• Direct recruitment, retention, and evaluation of qualified employees, developing plans to ensure adequate staffing levels.
• Ensure compliance with Food Service Department policies and procedures, including food purchasing, handling, storage, preparation, service, sanitation, and safety.
• Maintain current knowledge of city, state, and federal licensing laws and implement standards to meet regulatory expectations.
• Communicate with residents and staff regarding Food Service services, including monthly advisory meetings.
• Participate in the development of organizational goals and objectives for both long-term and short-term planning as a member of the community leadership team.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Oversee the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the department.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws, including interviewing, hiring, orienting, and training staff.
• Plan, assign, and direct work, appraise performance, and address complaints and resolve problems in collaboration with the Executive Director and Human Resources.

Requirements

• Technical knowledge and ability to perform all aspects of culinary and dining services functions.
• Knowledge of food service management, including preparation, service, menu planning, regulatory compliance, sanitation, nutrition, and resident services.
• Ability to apply principles and practices of dietetics and food systems management, including food values, cost, and collaboration with Era Living’s Registered Dietitian.
• Ability to plan menus for a large-scale food service operation and direct quantity cooking with economy and efficiency in compliance with dietary guidelines.
• Ability to plan, direct, supervise, coordinate, and evaluate the work of others.
• Strong communication skills with residents, families, staff, and support agencies, and ability to remain calm under stress.
• Creativity and flexibility in executing multi-faceted problem-solving.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate in English.
• Ability to perform duties in compliance with established Universal Precautions, fire safety, infection control, sanitation procedures, and Era Living policies.

Qualifications

• Culinary Arts degree or Certification, or Bachelor’s degree in restaurant management or a related field, preferred.
• 2 years’ experience in Food Services Management overseeing culinary operations, required; oversight of dining operations, preferred.
• Experience working in long-term care, preferred.
• Food Handler’s Certificate or ability to obtain within 14 days of hire.
• First Aid and CPR certified or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Washington State Alcohol Permit or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• ServSafe Certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.

Benefits

• Leadership bonus potential.
• Longevity bonuses.
• Medical, vision, and prescription drug plan.
• Dental plan.
• Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance.
• Long-Term Disability insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for health care and dependent care.
• 401(k) retirement plan with generous company match (eligibility contingent on age requirement).
• Progressive vacation package starting at 15 days per year.
• 8 paid holidays per year.
• 1 hour paid sick time for every 40 hours worked.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Employee discount programs.
• Discounted ORCA commuter pass.

Pay

$105,000 - $115,000 annually.

About Era Living

At Era Living and our eight retirement communities, our mission is to honor older adults by enhancing the quality of their lives. We are a diverse team united by a passion for this mission, with every role offering the opportunity to make a positive impact on residents’ lives. Era Living was voted “2023/2024/2025 Winner: Best in the Pacific Northwest – Senior Community” by the Seattle Times. Ida Culver House Broadview was one of three communities in the country awarded the 2026 Caring Super Star, with Resident Recommended Designation by Caring.com.