Assistant Director of Dining Services

Culinesse LLC; Williamsburg (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision benefits

Long-term disability

Life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Culinesse LLC, based in Williamsburg, seeks an Assistant Director of Dining Services to lead high-volume dining operations across multiple venues in senior living communities. You will partner with the Director to drive service excellence, manage staffing, scheduling, and budget adherence, and elevate resident dining experiences.

You will oversee daily operations, ensure sanitation and safety standards, coordinate with culinary leadership, and mentor a team to deliver consistent hospitality

Qualifications

• Minimum 4-6 years of progressive dining, hospitality, or food service management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in a related field.
• Experience in healthcare, senior living, or multi-unit environments is a plus.
• ServSafe Certification (within 30 days if not currently certified).

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily dining operations across all venues.
• Ensure consistent service, hospitality, and operational standards.
• Provide on-site leadership during peak service periods, evenings, weekends, and emergencies.
• Lead, manage, and hold staff accountable for performance and service standards.
• Monitor meal counts, productivity, and operational performance metrics.
• Coordinate with culinary leadership to ensure seamless FOH and BOH operations.

Skills

Leadership

Hospitality

High-volume catering

Operations management

Staffing & scheduling

Budgeting

POS systems

Food safety

ServSafe Certification

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Dining technology platforms

Scheduling software

POS systems

Job description

Description

Who Are We?

Culinesse, from Latin culina (of the kitchen) and esse (essential nature), is a forward thinking boutique dining service company that elevates retirement community living by centering on highly personalized resident and guest experiences. We are designed for senior living communities who seek to develop their own individual identities while having access to our team’s expertise, support and resources. Helping clients nurture their brands is our passion because when they thrive, everyone thrives. Transparency in pricing, sourcing, communications, preparation methods and ingredients is the backbone of the Culinesse brand. All that we do is done with purpose and honesty. Culinesse understands the importance of nourishing the whole person and respecting the sacredness of the environment. Life-enhancing and authentic food connects us.

Job Description

Are you a hands-on, innovative leader, with hospitality experience? Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced team environment? Are you able to influence and embrace change by initiating creative solutions?

Culinesse, LLC is looking for an Assistant Director of Dining Services to join our team! An Assistant Director of Dining Services who can lead by example and has experience with high volume catering services.

The Assistant Director of Dining Services will be responsible for aiding the Director of Dining Services. The general responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, those listed below (under "Tasks"). These responsibilities may differ among accounts, depending on business necessities and client requirements.

This is a highly collaborative position that requires the ability to balance multiple tasks at one time, prioritize, work with diverse constituencies, and address competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Tasks

• In support of Director, oversee daily dining operations across all venues;
• Ensure consistent execution of service, hospitality, and operational standards;
• Provide on-site leadership during peak service periods, evenings, weekends, and emergencies;
• Assume full operational authority in the absence of the Director, including decision-making, staffing adjustments, and issue resolution;
• Lead, manage, and hold dining staff accountable for performance, conduct, and service standards;
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, and labor deployment, adjusting staffing plans in response to census, service demands, and operational needs;
• Promote a positive, team-focused work environment aligned with organizational values;
• Complete quarterly People Analyzer Tools (PATs) and utilize results to support performance improvement and recognition efforts;
• Ensure all dining areas operate in accordance with organizational standards for cleanliness, service, and readiness;
• Coordinate with culinary leadership to ensure seamless front-of-house and back-of-house operations;
• Ensure high-quality service and operational effectiveness during meal service by monitoring service flow and staffing levels, conducting routine rounds, and implementing continuous improvements to the dining experience;
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation and communication related to dining operations, service issues, and performance;
• Monitor resident satisfaction and ensure prompt response and service recovery related to feedback and concerns;
• Evaluate trends (comment cards, informal feedback) and drive improvements;
• Lead and support planning and execution of resident programs, themed dining, catering, and events to ensure service quality, presentation, and budget alignment;
• Enforce Dining Services policies and procedures, including sanitation, infection control, uniform standards, and conduct expectations;
• Participate in and ensures team compliance with required training, certifications, and competency standards;
• Support budget adherence and cost control (i.e., labor, food, supplies);
• Monitor meal counts, productivity, and operational performance metrics;
• Oversee dining systems, including POS, KDS, and other technology platforms to ensure accuracy and operational effectiveness;
• Ensure accuracy of resident dining charges and support billing audit processes (i.e., PCC/Cubigo);
• Lead or support execution of special events, holiday dining programs, and resident engagement experiences;
• Serve as a liaison between Dining Services and other departments to support coordinated service delivery, resident needs, and operational efficiency;
• The Assistant Director must conduct themselves in a professional manner and ensure their subordinates do the same;
• The Assistant Director consistently embodies the values of Culinesse;
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Competencies

• Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable in fulfilling obligations;
• Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing tasks;
• Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude;
• Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical;
• Stress Tolerance: Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.

Working Conditions

• This position is a full-time role;
• Full-time benefits include (but are not limited to): health, dental, life, vision, and long term disability;
• Generally in an indoor setting;
• Varying schedule to include evenings, holidays, weekends and extended hours as business dictates;
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is primarily in a controlled, temperate environment; however, may be exposed to heat/cold during support of outside activities;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Requirements

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required – Bachelor’s degree is preferred;
• Specialized training in dining services management and nutrition is desirable;
• Minimum 4-6 years of progressive dining, hospitality, or food service management experience required;
• Experience in healthcare, senior living, or multi-unit environment preferred;
• ServSafe Certification (if not currently certified, the employee must, at a minimum, obtain ServSafe Certification within thirty (30) days of employment);
• Experience with resident or customer-facing service environments requiring high levels of satisfaction and service recovery;
• Basic computer skills is a must;
• Demonstrated experience managing staffing, scheduling, and daily operations in a high-volume dining environment;
• Experience with financial oversight, including labor management, cost control, and operational performance metrics;
• Prior experience utilizing POS systems, dining technology platforms, and billing systems;
• Experience ensuring compliance with food safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements;
• Ability to maintain records and complete reports as required;
• Must comply with any dress code requirements;
• Must be able to work nights, weekends and some holidays.