Culinary Director: Lead Team, Menu Innovation, & Care

Whispering Oak Place; Ellendale (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and bonus potential

Flexible scheduling

Health, dental & vision insurance

Job summary

Whispering Oak Place in Minnesota is seeking a Culinary Director / Culinary Manager to lead our dining team and create meaningful mealtime experiences for our residents. If you’re ready to bring flavor, leadership, and care to every plate—we want YOU on our team!

Lead Culinary Excellence, Develop & Inspire Your Team, and Deliver Amazing Dining Experiences by overseeing menu planning, budgeting, staff development, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team.

Qualifications

• CDM certification or eligibility to sit for exam
• Accredited nutrition services/food service management program or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 2 years in institutional food service management
• Knowledge of therapeutic diets, quantity food prep, budgeting and food safety standards

Responsibilities

• Oversee all operations of the culinary department including menu planning, food preparation, staffing, and budgeting
• Create seasonal and therapeutic menus tailored to residents' tastes and dietary needs
• Maintain high standards of food quality, safety, cleanliness, and resident satisfaction
• Work with the Registered Dietitian to meet regulatory and nutritional requirements
• Supervise, train, and support culinary staff including cooks and aides
• Foster a positive, accountable kitchen culture with strong teamwork and communication
• Provide coaching and development to help staff grow
• Lead daily performance audits to ensure service, safety, and sanitation standards
• Coordinate food service for special events, holidays, and themed programs
• Attend care plan meetings to align with interdisciplinary teams and resident preferences
• Lead resident food preference surveys and adjust menus accordingly
• Maintain inventory, control food costs within budget, and prepare reports for regulatory compliance
• Lead kitchen readiness for health inspections and licensing surveys

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Team collaboration

Education

CDM certification or eligible

Accredited nutrition services/food service management program

2+ years institutional food service management

Knowledge of therapeutic diets

Tools

Kitchen technology

Software systems

Reporting tools

Job description

Whispering Oak Place in Minnesota is seeking a Culinary Director / Culinary Manager to lead our dining team and create meaningful mealtime experiences for our residents. If you’re ready to bring flavor, leadership, and care to every plate—we want YOU on our team!

Lead Culinary Excellence, Develop & Inspire Your Team, and Deliver Amazing Dining Experiences by overseeing menu planning, budgeting, staff development, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team.