Certified Dietary Manager

Fowler Care Center; Fowler (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Fowler Care Center in California seeks a Dietary Manager to oversee the daily operation of food and nutrition services in a long-term care setting. You will lead staff, manage budgets, plan menus, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance to meet residents’ nutritional needs.

The role requires relevant certifications or degrees, healthcare foodservice experience, and strong collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to support quality resident care.

Qualifications

• Certification as a dietary manager or food service manager is required.
• Culinary school program completion or equivalent national certification.
• Associate’s or higher degree in food service management or hospitality with relevant coursework.
• Two years of experience in healthcare foodservice management or as director of food and nutrition services.

Responsibilities

• Oversee budget and purchasing of food and supplies.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary environment.
• Oversee safe and timely meal preparation per residents’ needs and care plans.
• Monitor regular and therapeutic diets and texture modifications.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Participate in QAPI activities related to food and nutrition services.

Skills

Dietary management

Food service leadership

Budget management

Menu planning

Team supervision

Education

Associate degree in food service management

Culinary school program

Bachelor’s in hospitality with food service focus

Tools

Healthcare foodservice operations

Job description

Required Qualifications

• ~Minimum requirements include one of the following:
• ~Certification as a dietary manager.
• ~Certification as a food service manager.
• ~Completion of a Culinary School program
• ~Has similar national certification for food service management and safety from a national certifying body.
• ~Has an associate’s or higher degree in food service management or in hospitality, if the course of study includes food service or restaurant management, from an accredited institution of higher learning.
• ~Has 2 or more years of experience in the position of director of food and nutrition services in a nursing facility setting and has completed a course of study in food safety and management, by no later than October 1, 2023, that includes topics integral to managing dietary operations including, but not limited to, foodborne illness, sanitation procedures, and food purchasing/receiving.
• ~Must also meet State requirements for food service managers or dietary managers.
• ~Two years’ experience in foodservice management. Prior experience in healthcare foodservice preferred.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• ~Oversees the budget and purchasing of food and supplies, and food preparation, services, and storage.
• ~Maintains a clean and sanitary environment.
• ~Overseeing safe and timely meal preparation, including the provision of meals and/or supplements in accordance with residents’ needs, preferences, and care plan.
• ~Monitors regular and therapeutic diets, including texture of foods and liquids to meet the specialized needs of residents.
• ~Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings.
• ~Participates in QAPI activities when food and nutrition services are involved.

Dietary Manager Assigned Tasks

• ~Recruits, interviews, hires, trains, coaches, evaluates, rewards, disciplines, and when necessary, terminates employees working in the Food and ~Nutrition Services department.
• ~Develops work schedules to ensure adequate staff to cover each shift.
• ~Monitor budgets for cost-effectiveness and manage any revenue generating services.
• ~Uses forecasts, food waste records, inventory, and equipment records to plan the purchase of food, supplies, and equipment.
• ~Follows standards and procedures for preparing food.
• ~Participates in menu planning including responding to resident preferences, substitution lists, therapeutic diets, and industry trends.
• ~Inspects meals and ensures that standards for appearance, palatability, temperature, and serving times are met. Ensures that foods are prepared according to production schedules, menus, and standardized recipes.
• ~Manages the preparation and service of special nourishments and supplemental feedings.
• ~Ensures safe receiving, storage, preparation, and service of food. ~Protects food in all phases of preparation, holding, service, cooking, and transportation.
• ~Prepares cleaning schedules and maintain equipment to ensure food safety.
• ~Ensures proper sanitation and safety practices of staff.
• ~Processes new diet orders and diet changes. Keeps diet cards updated.
• ~Completes the assigned MDS section according to required timeline.
• ~Determines resident diet needs and develops appropriate dietary plans in cooperation with registered dietician and in compliance with physician’s orders.
• ~Reviews plan of care related to nutritional status. Documents concerns that can be resolved, improved, or addressed to improve the resident’s nutritional status and eating function.
• ~Reviews, revises, and implements, in cooperation with the interdisciplinary team the resident’s nutritional assessment and plan of care.
• ~Supports Registered Dietitian duties as needed.

Additional Tasks

• ~Treats all residents with dignity and respect. Promotes and protects all residents’ rights.
• ~Establishes a culture of compliance by adhering to all facility policies and procedures. Complies with standards of business conduct, and state/federal regulations and guidelines.
• ~Follows appropriate safety and hygiene measures at all times to protect residents and themselves.
• ~Maintains confidentiality of protected health information, including verbal, written, and electronic communications.
• ~Reports noncompliance with policies, procedures, regulations, or breaches in confidentiality to appropriate personnel. Reports any retaliation or discrimination to HR or compliance officer.
• ~Reports any allegations of abuse, neglect, misappropriation of property, exploitation, or mistreatment of residents to supervisor and/or administrator. Protects residents from abuse and cooperates with all investigations.
• ~Reports any occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and/or hazardous chemicals in accordance with facility policy.
• ~Participates in all life safety and emergency drills and trainings. Fulfills responsibilities as assigned during implementation or activation of the facility’s emergency plan.
• ~Reports work-related injuries and illnesses immediately to supervisor.
• ~Follows established infection control policies and procedures.
• ~As a condition of employment, completes all assigned training and skills competency.

Personal Skills and Traits Desired/ Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

• ~Ability to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
• ~Must be a supportive team member, contribute to and be an example of teamwork.
• ~Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• ~Ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
• ~Must have patience, tact, and willingness to deal with difficult residents, family and staff.
• ~Must not pose a threat to the health and safety of other individuals in the workplace.
• ~Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• ~Meets general health requirements according to facility policy, including medical and physical exams and checking immunity status to various infectious diseases.
• ~Ability to work beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary.
• ~Ability to assist in evacuation of residents during emergency situations.
• ~Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, perform overhead lifting and perform other common physical movements as needed for the position.
• ~May be subject to falls, burns from equipment, and/or odors throughout the day, encounter reactions from dust, tobacco smoke, disinfectants, and other air contaminants.
• ~Subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases and/or conditions which include AIDS, Coronavirus, Hepatitis B, and Tuberculosis.
• ~May be subject to hostile or emotional residents, family members, visitors or personnel.
• ~Effective verbal and written communication skills and ability to exercise judgement.
• ~Basic computer skills.
• ~Mathematical and numerical skills.
• ~Organizational skills.
• ~Positive interpersonal relationship skills, including with persons of all ages and cultures.
• ~Current awareness of relevant regulations and standards of care.
• ~Works in well-lit, ventilated area. Atmosphere is warm for cooking.
• ~May be exposed to heat/cold temperatures in the kitchen/storage areas.
• ~Subject to frequent interruptions.
• ~Communicates with medical and nursing staff, and other departments.
• ~Subject to call-back during emergency conditions.

This job description is intended to convey the general scope of the major duties and responsibilities inherent in this position. Other tasks not listed here may be assigned by the Administrator. Periodic revision may be necessary to reflect changes in expectations placed on long term care by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This job description will be reviewed and/or revised by the Administrator annually and as needed.