National Director of Culinary

About The Position

At Grand Living, dining is not a department; it is a defining part of the resident experience. Our In Grand Taste® program is built on exceptional culinary excellence, gracious hospitality, restaurant-quality execution, and meaningful resident engagement. Every meal, every interaction, and every dining venue should reflect the sophistication and elegance of the Grand Living brand.

Essential Functions

• Strategic Leadership
  Lead and continuously evolve Grand Living's In Grand Taste® program.
  Establish culinary standards that support Grand Living's luxury hospitality brand.
  Partner with executive leadership on strategic initiatives, community openings, and operational improvements.

• Culinary & Operational Excellence
  Ensure consistent execution of recipes, menus, food quality, presentation, hospitality, and service standards.
  Develop and implement culinary best practices across all communities.
  Monitor operational performance, resident satisfaction, food safety, and regulatory compliance.
  Lead quality audits and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
  Conduct dining audits, culinary assessments, and operational reviews.
  Develop corrective action plans and monitor ongoing compliance.
  Develop menu that reflects seasonal offerings, regional preferences, resident feedback, and culinary trends.
  Ensure every dining experience reflects restaurant-quality service and exceptional hospitality.
  Drive continual innovation while preserving Grand Living's culinary identity.

• Financial Performance
  Optimize food and labor costs while maintaining exceptional quality.
  Partner with community leaders on budgeting, purchasing, inventory management, and waste reduction.
  Analyze operational metrics and develop action plans to improve performance.

• Leadership Development
  Recruit, mentor, coach, and develop Dining Managers and Executive Chefs.
  Develop leadership succession plans for dining operations.
  Create comprehensive onboarding, culinary education, and leadership development programs.
  Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, teamwork, and hospitality.

• Resident Experience & Innovation
  Champion restaurant-quality dining experiences throughout the organization.
  Utilize resident feedback, surveys, and engagement opportunities to continually enhance the dining experience.
  Ensure residents receive personalized dining experiences that reflect their preferences and expectations.
  Introduce signature culinary/dining concepts, chef demonstrations, resident events, seasonal offerings, and themed dining experiences that distinguish the Grand Living brand.

• Vendor & Compliance
  Develop strategic vendor partnerships and purchasing standards.
  Standardize purchasing practices and approved product selections.
  Evaluate vendor performance, pricing, and product quality.
  Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements.
  Lead food safety initiatives and ensure ServSafe standards are consistently maintained.
  Maintain ServSafe and company standards across all communities.

• New Community Development
  Participate in planning, design, and opening of new Grand Living communities.
  Provide input on kitchen design, equipment selection, workflow, staffing models, and culinary programming.
  Lead culinary opening support and operational readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Restaurant Management, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Executive Chef certification or equivalent culinary education preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive culinary leadership experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years leading multi-site culinary operations.
• Luxury hospitality, upscale dining, hotel, country club, or senior living leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading culinary operations across multiple locations.
• Expert knowledge of culinary operations and restaurant management.
• Strong understanding of luxury hospitality and guest experience.
• Advanced knowledge of food safety and sanitation regulations.
• Proven financial management and budgeting experience.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and talent development skills.
• Excellent communication and executive presentation abilities.
• Experience implementing standardized culinary systems.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to influence leaders without direct reporting authority.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Passion for hospitality and creating memorable dining experiences.
• Certified Executive Chef (CEC)
• ServSafe Manager Certification
• Certified Dietary Manager (preferred but not required)

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and a full benefits package for full-time employees including 1) a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) program offering 120 hours of PTO in the first year, increasing to 160 hours in the second year, and continuing to build with length of service; 2) affordable insurance options for medical, dental, vision and more; 3) a 401(k) with a 4% company match on a 5% contribution; 4) automatic life insurance and AD&D coverage for all team members with a robust employee assistance program (EAP).
• Grand Living is a high-end upscale environment including exquisite cuisine and free employee meals (must meet eligibility requirements), Grand Spa & Fitness facilities available for use at designated times.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At Grand Living, our motto is "Your Life. Uniquely Embraced." We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all, where our differences aren't just accepted, but celebrated.